Hello again!
I'm trying to make this a super-speedy post because I haven't slept well lately and it's already 20:20 and I need to get up at 5:30 to have time to run before mucking out the ponies and going to uni! *Rushrushrush*
So I've made a little bit of time to do some more work on the kirtle and I'm really happy to say that it's almost done! Since I last posted about it I've finished the silk binding on the armscyes and made a 1.8m lace to close the thing. I ALSO remembered to charge my camera so I have some photos that are less fuzzy and more detailed than before, hooray!
I made the lacing cord from red perle cotton. I haven't been able to determine exactly what the period material/s for lacing would be, though I suspect linen or silk (determined by status). Since I don't have any strong silk handy I decided to use the cotton because the Guttermann linen thread I have didn't really cut it in termds of smoothness for ease-of-lacing. I worked on the lace each evening when I was watching Doctor Who (the only tv show I watch during semester :P), for 45 minutes to an hour per night for about 5 nights. Here's an image of my lucet. A lucet is a tool used for making a very strong woven cord from a single strand of thread. If you'd like to learn a bit more about it, check out http://kws.atlantia.sca.org/photos/lucet/ .
After I'd woven my 1.8m strand I stitched one end of it to the top of my bodice near the first eyelet and wrapped the other (lacing) end with some thread to make it more resilient. When I remember I'll buy some aiglets from Tudor Tailor or something. 1.8m seems like a lot but its really much easier to lace if you've got a bit more to work with than less.
I finished binding the armscye and now it really does look complete. :) Here's a picture of the side of the bodice, complete with Tudor-flavoured boob support, which hugs everything without turfing them out the top through the neckline:
Here's the front of the bodice:
Despite what appears to be gratuitous boob here I hold that it's just
the camera playing tricks - the neckline actually looks quite modest and
un-cleavagey and has worked really well! I will take more pictures in
my next post and will actually wear a chemise - it was just too.
Fricking. Hot. to wear even a single extra layer under wool here today
(37C/98.5F). Even for five minutes! The shape of the bodice has worked
out well too. There's no boning, only a layer of linen canvas
interlining. It's SUPREMELY comfortable. I'm going to take time here to
stress the importance of making a toile and taking time to fit it
properly - it's definitely worth waiting until you have someone to fit
you, but I've also got plans to post my tricksy cheats for patterning
yourself!
Here's a full-length picture:
I'm sorry about the kind of poor quality of these self-taken photos. I'll do my best to have someone take photos of the finished kirtle for me but in the meantime this should give you an idea of how it's come along.
Anyone who owns a cat will understand this photo, taken about 0.375seconds after I took the stupidly hot thing off and laid it on the bed. This is Troublecat, my 4 year old half-feral cat, and my previously very clean and hair-free kirtle. No more!
Alright, that's it for now! All I need to finish the kirtle is to pop it up on my mannequin and trim the hem, then bind it with strips of the same wool it's made from. I won't use the silk I've bound the armscyes and neckline with because it'll probably get ruined and won't wear as well. After that, I'll have to make something else! Feel free to take a look at my list on one of my earlier posts (http://elinorcliffordtailor.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/1525-wardrobe-project.html) and recommend something to me!
Until next time, manger un sac de bites!
~E.C. xxx
I'm trying to make this a super-speedy post because I haven't slept well lately and it's already 20:20 and I need to get up at 5:30 to have time to run before mucking out the ponies and going to uni! *Rushrushrush*
So I've made a little bit of time to do some more work on the kirtle and I'm really happy to say that it's almost done! Since I last posted about it I've finished the silk binding on the armscyes and made a 1.8m lace to close the thing. I ALSO remembered to charge my camera so I have some photos that are less fuzzy and more detailed than before, hooray!
I made the lacing cord from red perle cotton. I haven't been able to determine exactly what the period material/s for lacing would be, though I suspect linen or silk (determined by status). Since I don't have any strong silk handy I decided to use the cotton because the Guttermann linen thread I have didn't really cut it in termds of smoothness for ease-of-lacing. I worked on the lace each evening when I was watching Doctor Who (the only tv show I watch during semester :P), for 45 minutes to an hour per night for about 5 nights. Here's an image of my lucet. A lucet is a tool used for making a very strong woven cord from a single strand of thread. If you'd like to learn a bit more about it, check out http://kws.atlantia.sca.org/photos/lucet/ .
After I'd woven my 1.8m strand I stitched one end of it to the top of my bodice near the first eyelet and wrapped the other (lacing) end with some thread to make it more resilient. When I remember I'll buy some aiglets from Tudor Tailor or something. 1.8m seems like a lot but its really much easier to lace if you've got a bit more to work with than less.
I finished binding the armscye and now it really does look complete. :) Here's a picture of the side of the bodice, complete with Tudor-flavoured boob support, which hugs everything without turfing them out the top through the neckline:
Here's a full-length picture:
Anyone who owns a cat will understand this photo, taken about 0.375seconds after I took the stupidly hot thing off and laid it on the bed. This is Troublecat, my 4 year old half-feral cat, and my previously very clean and hair-free kirtle. No more!
Alright, that's it for now! All I need to finish the kirtle is to pop it up on my mannequin and trim the hem, then bind it with strips of the same wool it's made from. I won't use the silk I've bound the armscyes and neckline with because it'll probably get ruined and won't wear as well. After that, I'll have to make something else! Feel free to take a look at my list on one of my earlier posts (http://elinorcliffordtailor.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/1525-wardrobe-project.html) and recommend something to me!
Until next time, manger un sac de bites!
~E.C. xxx
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