So, over the past couple of years I've been steadily losing weight. This would normally be labelled as "success", but for those of us who make clothing to fit a very specific shape it's a giant bunch of dicks. Expensive and time-consuming dicks.
As things stand, the brown wool kirtle from my previous post doesn't come close to fitting me now - I patterned it when I was a size 12 about 6 months ago and adjusted a little bit when I cut out the pattern 4 months ago. It was a little on the big side when I took the photos for the last post but now I'm an 8 up top and it's monumentally uncomfortable and unsurportive.
So I'm going to try and find someone who can fit it so I can either give it away or, if they are in a position to do so, perhaps get some money for it to put toward making replacement stuff. With that in mind, anyone who is a size 10-12 (12D bust) who might be interested in trying it on or who would like the measurements so they can estimate for fit should comment here or email me at elinor.clifford@gmail.com.
ON TO NEW THINGS!
Now I'm littler and none of my stuff fits me I've decided to have a look at my stash of fabric and make some plans. Firstly - I think I'm finally ready to make something from a piece of incredibly beautiful brocade that I've been hoarding since my last trip to India a few years ago. It's entirely hand-woven from red silk and is brocaded with 22-carat gold-plated silk threads. It's heavy and drapes beautifully. These are actually my heraldic colours:
And here's a picture of the stuff:
I have 3.5yd and its 43" wide. This is enough to make a middle-class Tudor kirtle, but it's NOT middle-class cloth! So: what can I make that will do justice to the quality of the material? Not a Tudor court gown, though I could do a forepart and sleeves for a 1540s court gown. It would be good for something Burgundian, which I've never made, but there's not enough of it. I was thinking a C14th overgown (cotehardie or transition cotehardie-houppelande style).
1378 tomb-rubbing:
A bit earlier, 1350s:
Late C14th again, I think, a sideless surcote (efficient for use of fabric since the bodice can be furred but not as pretty as a full gown, I think):
So: thoughts, opinions and various helpiness would be gratefully received! Help me drown out the memories of all of the garb I've painstakingly constructed and can no longer use.
<3 E.C.
As things stand, the brown wool kirtle from my previous post doesn't come close to fitting me now - I patterned it when I was a size 12 about 6 months ago and adjusted a little bit when I cut out the pattern 4 months ago. It was a little on the big side when I took the photos for the last post but now I'm an 8 up top and it's monumentally uncomfortable and unsurportive.
So I'm going to try and find someone who can fit it so I can either give it away or, if they are in a position to do so, perhaps get some money for it to put toward making replacement stuff. With that in mind, anyone who is a size 10-12 (12D bust) who might be interested in trying it on or who would like the measurements so they can estimate for fit should comment here or email me at elinor.clifford@gmail.com.
ON TO NEW THINGS!
Now I'm littler and none of my stuff fits me I've decided to have a look at my stash of fabric and make some plans. Firstly - I think I'm finally ready to make something from a piece of incredibly beautiful brocade that I've been hoarding since my last trip to India a few years ago. It's entirely hand-woven from red silk and is brocaded with 22-carat gold-plated silk threads. It's heavy and drapes beautifully. These are actually my heraldic colours:
1378 tomb-rubbing:
<3 E.C.
