Pluses and minuses
Minor grumps:
It is that time of the month for the drill-here headache. Not huge scale or particularly incapacitating (ie definitely not in the migraine category), just annoying - if I get sore enough to take Z up on his flint tool trepaning offer then you know it is serious.
Wandered to Gaganis Bros for the usual honey and real cocoa supplies and cause I needed sugar, picked some up there. Silly move as I could have paid a third of the price for half the quantity (we don't need that much) at the local supermarket. Will just have to try to use it up with Pumpkin pie, ginger and date cookies and spiced lemon cordial (those are probably not really minuses...).
Pluses:
3rd seam on the blackworked chemise is done:)
Chemise was started back in 2003 (while still in Blenheim Rd, Chch). Cotton voile (I think, definitely cotton in any case) with j random black (probably polyester) thread being used. Blackwork pattern loosely based on the mans/boys shirt with the blackworked seams in the V&A - got images somewhere. Got frustrated/bored about 1/2 a seam in and set it aside for a while/threw in a corner and ignored it. Picked it up again some time 2004/2005, finished that seam and vaguely started the next seam using a slightly different stitch order in doing the squares first and going back and doing the rest, got bored and put it aside. Also after a class at Festival decided Raglan cut sleeves weren't really the way to go and lost more enthusiasm. Must have picked it up again at some point to get that second seam more than half done, but really hadn't progressed.
Hence we get to about a month and a half ago when I sat down and decided to just finish a bunch of projects and picked it up again. Finished the 2nd seam, found a more consistent and easier stitch order and got a good flow - 3rd seam done in about a month... Works really well interspersed with wool and oilskin sewing for variety in fabric play and stitching. Will keep going this time.
So far the first seam (bottom in photo) was uneven, the second (top) too squished on the squares, but the third (middle) is just right...
And more photos can be found here onwards.
On the oilskin hood and cloak front, 1 set done and posted, 2 hoods cut out and machined - need the hand finishing on seams etc. 2 cloaks cut out but waiting on me biting the bullet and deciding on necklines etc, then should be about an hour all up (excluding breaks for swearing at the stapler) to machine and finish. And another order for a cloak and hood arrived today.
And then there is the blacksmithing workshop at our place this weekend.
Not a bad lineup.
It is that time of the month for the drill-here headache. Not huge scale or particularly incapacitating (ie definitely not in the migraine category), just annoying - if I get sore enough to take Z up on his flint tool trepaning offer then you know it is serious.
Wandered to Gaganis Bros for the usual honey and real cocoa supplies and cause I needed sugar, picked some up there. Silly move as I could have paid a third of the price for half the quantity (we don't need that much) at the local supermarket. Will just have to try to use it up with Pumpkin pie, ginger and date cookies and spiced lemon cordial (those are probably not really minuses...).
Pluses:
3rd seam on the blackworked chemise is done:)
Chemise was started back in 2003 (while still in Blenheim Rd, Chch). Cotton voile (I think, definitely cotton in any case) with j random black (probably polyester) thread being used. Blackwork pattern loosely based on the mans/boys shirt with the blackworked seams in the V&A - got images somewhere. Got frustrated/bored about 1/2 a seam in and set it aside for a while/threw in a corner and ignored it. Picked it up again some time 2004/2005, finished that seam and vaguely started the next seam using a slightly different stitch order in doing the squares first and going back and doing the rest, got bored and put it aside. Also after a class at Festival decided Raglan cut sleeves weren't really the way to go and lost more enthusiasm. Must have picked it up again at some point to get that second seam more than half done, but really hadn't progressed.
Hence we get to about a month and a half ago when I sat down and decided to just finish a bunch of projects and picked it up again. Finished the 2nd seam, found a more consistent and easier stitch order and got a good flow - 3rd seam done in about a month... Works really well interspersed with wool and oilskin sewing for variety in fabric play and stitching. Will keep going this time.
So far the first seam (bottom in photo) was uneven, the second (top) too squished on the squares, but the third (middle) is just right...
And more photos can be found here onwards.
On the oilskin hood and cloak front, 1 set done and posted, 2 hoods cut out and machined - need the hand finishing on seams etc. 2 cloaks cut out but waiting on me biting the bullet and deciding on necklines etc, then should be about an hour all up (excluding breaks for swearing at the stapler) to machine and finish. And another order for a cloak and hood arrived today.
And then there is the blacksmithing workshop at our place this weekend.
Not a bad lineup.