It's a gown.... almost
The 6 yards of purple or burgundy (depends on the light) wool coating that has been languishing in my living room is now cut down to gown pieces.
I had originally marked the bolt at Denver Fabrics for a Birka coat, but then decided that it would be more efficient (time, money) to add to my Gothic wardrobe, than begin the Viking-era one. (Viking is now targeted for a spring event with Fjellborg. There is much wool in the house awaiting more primitive cuts.) I had conceived of the Viking stuff as a solution to last year's discomfort shopping with jupiterorbit and horsefriend after dark at Estrella. It was cold. The kind of cold that gets into your core, and stays there, even after wrapping up in the pile of comforters that layer my bed at the War. The Norsefolk list insists that the coating should be adequate for warmth, and I always have the option of layering it over my green wool gown, or a wool GFD. Or two. And I have the wool socks, which shall multiply in triplicate next week. (Yes, I have a date with the Sock Guy.)
I bought 6 yards of the coating, thinking that I needed my shoulder-to-floor measurement times 4 panels. Not quite all that was required, but I've got plenty left over for a hood. The gown is a quick sew; no buttons, no hems. The most fiddly parts are the facings/linings for the collar and cuffs.
Therein lies the only issue that I see right now. The large scrap of medium blue worsted wool that I have - the only thing I have in my stacks of fabric that I like with this purple/burgundy - isn't quite large enough to line the collar. That's not really accurate; there is quite enough, but not all in one piece. I just have to decide where to do the piecing. Center back seems most likely, although really anywhere will look painfully obvious, I think. Maybe another canvass of the available yardage is in order. Maybe I really should have gotten some of that yummy rose worsted that they had on the shelf at DF.
I had originally marked the bolt at Denver Fabrics for a Birka coat, but then decided that it would be more efficient (time, money) to add to my Gothic wardrobe, than begin the Viking-era one. (Viking is now targeted for a spring event with Fjellborg. There is much wool in the house awaiting more primitive cuts.) I had conceived of the Viking stuff as a solution to last year's discomfort shopping with jupiterorbit and horsefriend after dark at Estrella. It was cold. The kind of cold that gets into your core, and stays there, even after wrapping up in the pile of comforters that layer my bed at the War. The Norsefolk list insists that the coating should be adequate for warmth, and I always have the option of layering it over my green wool gown, or a wool GFD. Or two. And I have the wool socks, which shall multiply in triplicate next week. (Yes, I have a date with the Sock Guy.)
I bought 6 yards of the coating, thinking that I needed my shoulder-to-floor measurement times 4 panels. Not quite all that was required, but I've got plenty left over for a hood. The gown is a quick sew; no buttons, no hems. The most fiddly parts are the facings/linings for the collar and cuffs.
Therein lies the only issue that I see right now. The large scrap of medium blue worsted wool that I have - the only thing I have in my stacks of fabric that I like with this purple/burgundy - isn't quite large enough to line the collar. That's not really accurate; there is quite enough, but not all in one piece. I just have to decide where to do the piecing. Center back seems most likely, although really anywhere will look painfully obvious, I think. Maybe another canvass of the available yardage is in order. Maybe I really should have gotten some of that yummy rose worsted that they had on the shelf at DF.