Brief Update

Well, yes it has been a while since I last wrote. I have been busy with Faire, with a new house, with work, etc. So there are lots of great photos and some research. Some historic cooking, some knitting, and some clothing work that I will post about as soon as I get a break from the whirlwind that I live in right now. I am learning a great deal about fitting mens' hosen and making patterns for a variety of Landsknecht sizes dealing with loaner gear and things for individuals. The only things I haven't worked on recently are the ones for me and my guy. Oh well, cobbler's children and all that I suppose...

But I truly promise more details on clothing and pictures in November/December. I plan to update my professional page then as well. So I hope to start gathering materials soon for that. Check back next month for far more interesting blog bits.

Tardis Geekery

This post is not historical at all. And not about theatre or truly even knitting (although it does connect to that tangentially). No, this is shamelessly showing off the cool thing I made. If you don't watch Dr. Who (in which case what planet are you on?!) you won't get the full awesomeness of the geekery involved in this project. It is a double point knitting needle holder themed on the Tenth Doctor. I even got special print on fabric so that I could print out the Tardis Police Call Box signs and the surprise Doctor image on the inside. No iron on was used in the making of this. It is all layered appliques with quilted designs for contouring the Tardis panels.
It was made as a gift though, so it is enjoying its new home somewhere in time and space away from me. Although, I may have had just enough scraps left over to make a second, similarly themed project...
 

New projects

Yes, I'm still alive. I may, in fact, start making myself blog a bit about things I am up to so I start keeping track of What I am doing currently.

Plans for this spring involve in no particular order:

Making four sets of Landsknecht outfits for lending purposes
Making a mid-18th century ensemble for myself (exact date TBD)
Finishing knitting the other four socks to go with the first half of four pairs I have started already
Design and build a dance show for work
Attend several workshops and play production events throughout the area
Start researching/designing for Twelfth Night this summer
Get geared up for the next reenacting season with research and kit enhancement
Find a house and move into it by the end of summer
Finish the tub of sewing WIPs that have languished for far too long in the closet(already begun)
See if I can get involved in volunteering at the local historic home site
See about making some friends local to the area so I can hang out and play games with people without driving a minimum of two hour each direction to see them

Updates on this as time progresses. As a teaser, here is the design sketch for the first Landsknecht lending outfit.

S'okay....ummm, yeah, it's been awhile. I have been a bit busy though. Lots of shows costumes, some commission costumes, a bit of knitting (although mainly I am merely amassing a vast collection of, "I want to make this" pattern instead of getting time to actually knit.)

But until now, nothing for me. So, after four years, yes, four years of not making any Ren. clothing for myself, I have embarked on a new adventure. And not just any ol' garb. I have a nice trossfrau in the making for my intention to join a Landsknecht reenactment guild. For those who don't know, basically the Landsknechts were the really awesome looking "Germans" in the 16th century or so who were mercenaries throughout Europe. Yes, lots of death, drinking, dismemberment, debauchery, depression and tons of other unhappy things went along with their life. But more to the point, they dressed really cool! And for the purposes of this set of blog posts, that is what counts. If they went out, they were going out in style. (and practicality, but style is always good too.)

On the to do list I therefore have:


one hemd (chemise/shirt/shift type thing) of fine linen, smocked

one set of linen drawers (period or not? who quite knows, but I don't like drafts in the cold or my thighs getting stuck together in the heat, so there. nyah)

one set dove grey wool hose

one set linen hose(I might even go all out and do vertical stripes on these babies, oh yeah)

one underskirt of tawny wool with gold wool band

one underskirt of linen (color TBA)

one kleid(dress) of dark brown wool with peache wool guarding and gold wool to be seen beneath the slashes

one apron of honeycomb smocked linen (probably to be worked during faire hours so I have something to keep me looking busy)

one gollar of wool (color TBA)

one set of leather medieval style mittens(the ones with the Vulcan style three fingers)

one wulsthaube and steuchlein of fine linen and wool wadding(mushroomy head wrap thing. It's cool, really, just go with me on this one)

two woven belts

one knit and felted tellerbarret(big sun and rain stopping "platter hat")

Wow, when you type things all out, they seem much more numerous than when they float around in your head. Sheesh. And no rush or anything, I only have to have most of it ready by, oh, the 1st of May. How do I get myself into these things again?

I'll post later with more serious stuff about character and research, but for now I have acquired most of the materials and am plodding through patterning and pleating. The wool underskirt is done except for attaching the band, hemming and adding a closure. All of the, "do while watching a movie" hand sewing stuff.

The kleid skirt panels are ripped out of the fabric and I have done sample pleating to figure out how I want the pleats to work. I think I am ready to put that together now.

The kleid bodice mockup has been fit once, and after I make the adjustments from the fitting I think that will be all set.

The hose pattern was made a while ago, but I am debating re-doing it to be the style of seaming I prefer. Not sure yet...that one is on hold for the moment. Also, I could get away with wearing my many pairs of long stocking for dress rehearsal I am sure if I had to, so that one is on the bottom of the list.

I have ordered swatches for the hemd.

Most other things have to wait until the important stuff is done before I get to them.

Pictures, progress updates, and general costume rants to come in the near future. That's all for now folks.