Garb
As we are getting back into SCA stuff, David and I have been searching through the boxes we have left (there are many!) for our medieval/renaissance garb. We've found most of it, I think. What I have come to realize is that we are in desperate need of more garb. Now I know that I always want new things to wear ;-) but seriously... we need garb.
David has a crapload of tunics but neither of us are particularly impressed by them. Not that the tunics aren't nice, but both of us would rather he wear later period stuff. He has a beautiful Elizabethan outfit but it no longer fits. This was something I commissioned someone else to make. He also has a short houpelade (as opposed to the floor length ones) and under tunic which I made him. I feel badly because he sort of misses out on garb by me because I don't have a handle on fitting men's clothing. This is something I am determined to overcome though. I know that most of it is my own mental block anyway. David really needs some casual yet stylish attire more than anything else. I was thinking of doing something similar to the Gaston Phebus bag-sleeved tunic/doublet and dagged hood out of linen. I'll need to order some linen for this as the colors I currently have are pretty "girly." He has a pair of black linen chausses and some braies which were purchased because I can't wrap my head around fitting stockings yet (though I am working on it). I'm going to have to alter them to make them more of a stirrup foot rather than a full foot as he hates the seam, but that is no big deal. But they would go with the tunic/doublet just fine. I would also like to make him some more court garb. Houpelandes are easier because I don't have to make sure they are fitted, but they can be heavy and hot. He needs some doublets. I have the fabric for them and tons of patterns, just need the gumption.
A lot of the garb I have doesn't fit anymore. I have gained a few sizes in the last couple of years (infertility drugs can do that) so the really fitted stuff is a bit too tight or is just unflattering now. I had a couple of things which were slightly too big before and now they fit, so I have a few things to wear. One thing I don't have are cotehardies or GFDs or kirtles or whatever you want to call them. I'd love to be able to make one using Tasha or Robin's methods, but I can't do that by myself and David's efforts in that department aren't generally successful. So instead, I am going to pick apart an old one and use it to model a pattern. This old dress was made using the pattern that Simplicity put out a few years ago... the one with the big circle of fabric at the hip, remember that one? The skirt was totally wrong but it was a flattering dress. It was my first SCA "cotehardie" and hasn't been worn in years and years, but I kept it because I liked the fit. It is a pull over head style, but I want to make one that fastens up the front. As the old one is now too tight to comfortably put it on overhead, I figure that will work fine. I have tried it on and, except for the skirt section, I'll need only few alterations. I want to make a lace front one with buttoned sleeves and a button front one with either pendant sleeves or short sleeves with tippets, I haven't decided. I have plenty of linen to make these. I also have the design for a Eleanor dress and the fabric to make it so that will come next.
Shoes... always a problem. David has a pair of poulaines which we had made while we were in DC last year, but they are way too tight. They have never been worn so I guess I should try to barter or sell them to someone and get another pair. Of course I would have to figure out in which box they are currently residing. He also has a pair of "mary rose" type tudor shoes which are slightly too tight, but I think they will stretch out with wear. He hasn't worn those yet either. I also have a pair of the same poulaines he has (all three were ordered from Boots by Bohemond who does lovely work). I haven't worn them yet either, but I am fairly sure they fit me when I tried them on.
I haven't been able to sew since we arrived because my sewing machine is a US power one. I am getting a new machine for my birthday but it isn't here yet. Yesterday, David bought a transformer to use in my sewing room. Yay! So now I can use my machine. I haven't found my serger yet which is puzzling. The serger box was filled with sewing notions. I'm sure it will pop up somewhere. I promised myself that I wouldn't start sewing until I had my entire sewing room unpacked and all of the fabric catalogued. I have already ditched measuring and listing the rest of the fabric because it is either crap fabric that I will use for toiles or whatever or it is on a roll and there is far too much yardage for me to hassle with and stay sane. I have about 3 boxes left in the middle of the room... maybe 5 now that I think on it. All are filled with either scraps or partial projects from ages ago. I have felt compelled to keep this stuff, but today I decided that I need to go into "fuck-it-chuck-it" mode and just get rid of it. Do I really need all of those scraps? No. Any larger pieces I will either keep or list here for anyone who wants it. Plus, let's face it... I have far too many projects I want to do to go back to finish a size 6 victorian ballgown that I started 7 years ago which I will never again be able to fit into! I'll recycle what I can from it though.
David has a crapload of tunics but neither of us are particularly impressed by them. Not that the tunics aren't nice, but both of us would rather he wear later period stuff. He has a beautiful Elizabethan outfit but it no longer fits. This was something I commissioned someone else to make. He also has a short houpelade (as opposed to the floor length ones) and under tunic which I made him. I feel badly because he sort of misses out on garb by me because I don't have a handle on fitting men's clothing. This is something I am determined to overcome though. I know that most of it is my own mental block anyway. David really needs some casual yet stylish attire more than anything else. I was thinking of doing something similar to the Gaston Phebus bag-sleeved tunic/doublet and dagged hood out of linen. I'll need to order some linen for this as the colors I currently have are pretty "girly." He has a pair of black linen chausses and some braies which were purchased because I can't wrap my head around fitting stockings yet (though I am working on it). I'm going to have to alter them to make them more of a stirrup foot rather than a full foot as he hates the seam, but that is no big deal. But they would go with the tunic/doublet just fine. I would also like to make him some more court garb. Houpelandes are easier because I don't have to make sure they are fitted, but they can be heavy and hot. He needs some doublets. I have the fabric for them and tons of patterns, just need the gumption.
A lot of the garb I have doesn't fit anymore. I have gained a few sizes in the last couple of years (infertility drugs can do that) so the really fitted stuff is a bit too tight or is just unflattering now. I had a couple of things which were slightly too big before and now they fit, so I have a few things to wear. One thing I don't have are cotehardies or GFDs or kirtles or whatever you want to call them. I'd love to be able to make one using Tasha or Robin's methods, but I can't do that by myself and David's efforts in that department aren't generally successful. So instead, I am going to pick apart an old one and use it to model a pattern. This old dress was made using the pattern that Simplicity put out a few years ago... the one with the big circle of fabric at the hip, remember that one? The skirt was totally wrong but it was a flattering dress. It was my first SCA "cotehardie" and hasn't been worn in years and years, but I kept it because I liked the fit. It is a pull over head style, but I want to make one that fastens up the front. As the old one is now too tight to comfortably put it on overhead, I figure that will work fine. I have tried it on and, except for the skirt section, I'll need only few alterations. I want to make a lace front one with buttoned sleeves and a button front one with either pendant sleeves or short sleeves with tippets, I haven't decided. I have plenty of linen to make these. I also have the design for a Eleanor dress and the fabric to make it so that will come next.
Shoes... always a problem. David has a pair of poulaines which we had made while we were in DC last year, but they are way too tight. They have never been worn so I guess I should try to barter or sell them to someone and get another pair. Of course I would have to figure out in which box they are currently residing. He also has a pair of "mary rose" type tudor shoes which are slightly too tight, but I think they will stretch out with wear. He hasn't worn those yet either. I also have a pair of the same poulaines he has (all three were ordered from Boots by Bohemond who does lovely work). I haven't worn them yet either, but I am fairly sure they fit me when I tried them on.
I haven't been able to sew since we arrived because my sewing machine is a US power one. I am getting a new machine for my birthday but it isn't here yet. Yesterday, David bought a transformer to use in my sewing room. Yay! So now I can use my machine. I haven't found my serger yet which is puzzling. The serger box was filled with sewing notions. I'm sure it will pop up somewhere. I promised myself that I wouldn't start sewing until I had my entire sewing room unpacked and all of the fabric catalogued. I have already ditched measuring and listing the rest of the fabric because it is either crap fabric that I will use for toiles or whatever or it is on a roll and there is far too much yardage for me to hassle with and stay sane. I have about 3 boxes left in the middle of the room... maybe 5 now that I think on it. All are filled with either scraps or partial projects from ages ago. I have felt compelled to keep this stuff, but today I decided that I need to go into "fuck-it-chuck-it" mode and just get rid of it. Do I really need all of those scraps? No. Any larger pieces I will either keep or list here for anyone who wants it. Plus, let's face it... I have far too many projects I want to do to go back to finish a size 6 victorian ballgown that I started 7 years ago which I will never again be able to fit into! I'll recycle what I can from it though.