I hadn't until today. Trust me, you must go read the last two paragraphs on this page, look at the pictures and then tell me if it makes your little seamstress' heart beat faster!
http://theborgias.wetpaint.com/page/Italian+Renaissance+Clothing+and+Fashion
(Can you imagine? There are more than 130 little pictures of him in his new outfits...I can only dream of the day when I can say the same!)
Saturday, January 14, 2012
We Were There: Stripes!
Do you ever wonder what is going on with all the outfits in solid colored fabrics at events? I do!
I understand that an opulent damask or brocaded velvet in 100% silk or linen may be out of the reach of the average renactor's pocketbook, but what could possibly explain the absense of of that most basic of woven patterns-stripes?
Hmmm....?
I've heard some people claim that 'they didn't wear stripes in europe in period' but the pictoral record would seem to disagree.
So I decided to start a page on which I can post some of the lovely evidence I find for stripes!
Startng with this lovely at the Brookly Museum;
Portrait of a Lady as Mary Magdalen, Barolomeo Veneto, 1520's
I understand that an opulent damask or brocaded velvet in 100% silk or linen may be out of the reach of the average renactor's pocketbook, but what could possibly explain the absense of of that most basic of woven patterns-stripes?
Hmmm....?
I've heard some people claim that 'they didn't wear stripes in europe in period' but the pictoral record would seem to disagree.
So I decided to start a page on which I can post some of the lovely evidence I find for stripes!
Startng with this lovely at the Brookly Museum;
Portrait of a Lady as Mary Magdalen, Barolomeo Veneto, 1520's
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Well the ACC show-off-your-work-&-announce-the-winner event (otherwise known as 12th Night)is over...
Is there a winner? Is judging still going on? Did someone declare Internet silence until some later date?
I, for one wanna see some pictures!
I, for one wanna see some pictures!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Two Things
Thing One: Artemisians are starting to scare me.
I've been reading the project write ups the participants in the ACC are putting out on-line and after my initial reaction of amazed delighted awe I keep coming back to their lists of items and interesting tendency towards saying something on the line of:
"For the challenge I made one piece for each of the required four layers--oh, I made 2 versions of my layer three, one in linen, one in wool but both entirely hand sewn--and these seven additional accessories...oh and here I am, wearing the full outfit with the pin and bag and (insert 27 other items here) I made to go with it. I guess that makes a total of 41 items. Oh yeah, maybe I should include the 7 things I made which I'm not wearing because I decided they weren't *quite* the right color..."
Who are these people!?!
Where do they find the time!?!
Seriously, I keep thinking of what Anya said: "Nobody could do that much decoupage without calling on the forces of evil!"
:)
Artemisians. Yes, they're better than the rest of us.
Thing Two: Partlet progress report
As you can see, I have stitched together a great deal more of the seams to create the neckline of the partlet. It feels a lot better and looks better too, I think, so I'm now working on adding the additional pieces to finish the back of the partlet. I'm also still considering the question of bust support and coverage. I'm currently considering the potential of making a white linen partlet based on the bust supporting ideas posited by Robin Netherton with her work on the Gothic fitted dress. If I made it waist length and laced it closed to just the top of the bodice I wonder if it would work to support a bust my size? The pondering continues as I work on the stitching at the edges of my lacis pieces...
I've been reading the project write ups the participants in the ACC are putting out on-line and after my initial reaction of amazed delighted awe I keep coming back to their lists of items and interesting tendency towards saying something on the line of:
"For the challenge I made one piece for each of the required four layers--oh, I made 2 versions of my layer three, one in linen, one in wool but both entirely hand sewn--and these seven additional accessories...oh and here I am, wearing the full outfit with the pin and bag and (insert 27 other items here) I made to go with it. I guess that makes a total of 41 items. Oh yeah, maybe I should include the 7 things I made which I'm not wearing because I decided they weren't *quite* the right color..."
Who are these people!?!
Where do they find the time!?!
Seriously, I keep thinking of what Anya said: "Nobody could do that much decoupage without calling on the forces of evil!"
:)
Artemisians. Yes, they're better than the rest of us.
Thing Two: Partlet progress report
As you can see, I have stitched together a great deal more of the seams to create the neckline of the partlet. It feels a lot better and looks better too, I think, so I'm now working on adding the additional pieces to finish the back of the partlet. I'm also still considering the question of bust support and coverage. I'm currently considering the potential of making a white linen partlet based on the bust supporting ideas posited by Robin Netherton with her work on the Gothic fitted dress. If I made it waist length and laced it closed to just the top of the bodice I wonder if it would work to support a bust my size? The pondering continues as I work on the stitching at the edges of my lacis pieces...
Monday, January 2, 2012
The partlet is starting to come together
As you can see, I have begun attaching the lacis squares together to create my first partlet. I'd been thinking that if I only stitched the squares around the neck opening 1/2-way it would make a good neckline and the beginnings of a standing collar. I still like the concept but this picture shows me that I will need to close the seams a good bit further to get the fit I'd like. Maybe 3/4's of the way...?
I like it that the shoulder squares will clearly provide plenty of coverage down into the sleeve of my gowns...not so sure about a single square providing enough depth to the back of the partlet but I think I'll need to get the neckline fitted before I know if I'll need to add another row to the back (rather than just squaring it off as I had planned.)
My new quandary is the transparency question. This is clearly a racier style but I'm beginning to wonder if it is racier than I am comfortable with. I feel a lot naked-er in the lace than I expected. After some pondering I've come to suspect that my cafe-au-lait skin tone provides so much contrast to the lace that it screams "she's naked under here!" while the portraits I was inspired by (which are all of women with much lighter completions) merely hint at it.
I'm planning to continue on the partlet and see how I feel when it is finished and part of a complete ensemble. If it turns out that I am just too modern to wear it with a 1590's bodice I can always wear it with a gown with more fabric to the bodice, but I notice that the photos don't actually look nearly as naked as I feel...interesting.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Ooooo. Ooooo! OOOOO!!!
The final post re the ACC are starting to come out and boy howdy can you folks sew!
And craft!
And smith!
Etc.!
What amazingly beautiful work, my compliments to you all!
(ps: Happy New Year!)
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