That Fabric Store....
OK.. So I went in AGAIN. I think they thought I was casing the joint out for a robbery, I spent so much time in there NOT buying stuff. Well I finnally did. I bought 3 yards of GORGEOUS Red Raw silk witha twill zig-zag weave. I would have preferred for it to be made of Linnen, but I will take silk. Guess how much it cost? $25.00!
OK, so Now I have to make a plan. I need an underdress worthy of this fabric. They Had some gorgeous Blue linnen that might work. They also had some Yellow linnen. I don't want to be all Mc Donalds looking, but I really like to wear yellow. Also I need to weave some trim for the hems. OH and get some Wrist clasps for the under gown. I already have a good linnen Shift to wear underneath too.
My original plan was to make a new Peplos, or tube dress, but since this is silk, available in the pagan period (pre vikings) only in very small amounts, I think I will make a later Christian Dress from Kent around 900, the age just after Alfred the great's death. He had correspondence with people as far as Bagdad and Jerusalem, so there was definately SOMEONE going to the middle east where they had silk. I can use all kinds of Byzantine stuff. I really like Byzantine earings, and they would be very portable...
The dress itself will be an under tunic of Linen and an over dress which opens down the front and is held together by brooches or Buttons made from beads. The archeology is not clear but there are grave finds with lots of Vertically arragned strings of beads. they were either hangingin a single strand down the front of a dress, or sewn on. I am going to try sewing htem on and using them for buttons. It cant hurt to try.
Oh, and then there's the neckline controversy... Don't get me started on THAT.
So, I will also need to do some embroidery, because who would have a one of a kind silk dress without custom embroidery? I should have enough fabric to make embroidered strips of trim, or I can get extra linnen. Ican use silk threads for the embroidery and maybe even include some gold thread.
I will have to have a headrail if I am going to make a christian outfit, but I already have a lovely silk veil. It just needs to be cleaned. I can weave some extra trim to make a Fillett. (I don't know how to spell that!).
AND then there's BLING. I have some lovely Bronze pins made by Vortigern with Radiate heads. I don't know as much about the later period A-S brooches, so I will have to check those out. I know they are heavily influenced by the continent, so it should be pretty easy to find the info. Especially after Aelfred's educational Push in the 9th century. Lots of people were reading and writing.
Anyway... I am not allowd to even START this project until I make shoes. That is my first order of business. I think I have all the materials I need at home, but I will need to get tools(a triangle type awl and needles.). easily do able!
C