The 10th Century Rus (Byzantine Inspired) ensamble

[norsemans_honey]

Here is the sketch of the new outfit




I pulled out this fabric  - it had been waiting in the closet for about 6 years ;-)




GREEN LOOKS HORRIBLE ON ME!
For the Collar (Ozherlya) I had to find a color that didn't make me look sick
and that went well with the Olive and Gold

Considered - Brown, Light Blue, Red (no), Purple...
PLUM :-)

Shopped on-line for a week - looking for a plum that matched my beehive trim




I wanted a piece of fabric that was plum with large repeating geometrics in gold
Alas - not to be found
settled for a piece of plain plum cotton

I also shopped on-line for gold boullion(sp?) applique
found the perfect pieces and ordered them - from India ;-)
(would they get here in time?)

started the collar on Memorial Day Weekend







Work on the collar continues




and the linen underdress is started




I cut this out - hemmed every raw edge (by hand) and then sewed it all together with a herringbone lacing stitch
I left the lower arms unfinished so that I could add the decorated cuffs later

here is my gathering of fabrics for making the main dress




Shopped on-line (A LOT) looking for pieces to make my headdress
that would look sort of like this




here is the kolt




I found some stuff that sort of worked
well - kind of met the need

and after a bunch of work putting the hanging pieces together

I sat down one Saturday to make the headdress

here it is




here it is with the collar too




Oh - and the beginnings of the necklace too

Also I have cut the dress and hemmed all the raw edges
I am beginning to add the decoration in this photo
( this is starting to remind me of illuminating scrolls :-)




Finished the trim on Fourth of July




and finished sewing the dress together

I made plum tape(not bias) to finish the edges - sewed them on at the tops of the front and back pieces
and then sewed the back and front of the dress together - (again with the herringbone stitch)




I also bought some olive colored bias tape for under the arms and down the sides




finally added the underdress cuffs




It is complete enough to wear for the Peican Ceremony :-)




but still not finished...

1) I purchased a piece of garment leather and I need to line the collar so that all the stitching is protected.

2) I learned late in the game that the Rus made seperate highly decorated cuffs - and I now understand why. The decorations catch on everything and should be the last thing you put on - like putting on a bracelet. I need to remove the cuffs from the undergarment and make them separately.

3) I need to line the inside of the dress where the decoration is to protect the stitching.

I'm pretty happy :-)
I got close to the original sketch.
the main difference being - that I decided to only put one length of decoration down the front (rather than the two I had first imagined)

Cheers
Bronwen