Sewing Through the Years

 Finished April 26, 2021 I followed https://gorgeoustangents.home.blog/2020/02/26/minoan-mycenaean-bolero-jacket/ pattern and tutorial, though I did use two layers of this fabric (by folding it in half, essentially flatlining it with itself).  I started with a 40"x32" piece of fabric which I folded to be 40"x16". I then flatlined and cut the triangle out in the same seam which, although a little fiddly, worked quite well! I hid all the edges of the triangle inside the flatlining, which I should have done for the rest of the rectangle as well. I braided some green acrylic yarn (chosen for color and quantity available) then applied it to the bolero, starting at the tip of the triangle and going all the way around 2 times total. This helped the bolero to fit a lot better, especially after I stretched the 'arm holes' a little bit. The tassel is made of the same green acrylic with 3 sculpy beads that I made, 1 purple and 2 green, in graduating sizes. The tassel, ...

 Finished December 11, 2020 I based this on several different schematics and pictures I found online. This was made of some handmedown linen.  It is very simple - 1 back piece and 2 front pieces connected at the shoulders, a ruffle and inner neck lining. I used some heavy thread ties at the sides and up the front as a closure.  It turned out very cute! Next time I will made the side ties more permanent, rather than just being tied. 

 finished November 17, 2020 I pretty much just followed the pattern and the instructions. I didn't do the collar lining feature. I added gros grain ribbon ties at the ends of the wrap portions. I topstitched around, to keep the edge crisp (neither fabric ironed well).  Both the blue and black fabrics are of man-made fibers. I got both via fabric mart online. The blue is very slippery and shimmery. 

 finished September 2, 2021 I followed Opus Elenae's video tutorial   but this method of smocking is called North American, Canadian, or lattice smocking. You create a grid and create the texture by stitching in a particular pattern.  White cotton muslin, 30"x34" hem the lower 3 edges, then mark the fabric. I did ~1/2" apart both horizontally and vertically. I made 8 rows.  Using a black cotton thread I followed Opus Elenae's stitching pattern for honeycomb smocking.  I then attached the ties (4"x maybe 45"? I used a leftover piece and it is only just long enough to tie into a bow), enclosing the top edge above the smocking.  This turned out SO good! I'm super proud of it! I love how textural and dynamic the smocking is! It comes to my low calf, length-wise. The smocking was very easy to do, though a little time-consuming.  I wonder if other smocking patterns could be used in place of the honeycomb? That could be fun to try! Also, each row could p...

 finished September 1, 2021 Museum number D10608 Cap 56cm size same linen as Viking Apron Dress and the 'Woven Into the Earth' dress: 'ginger' colorway 5.3oz washed in same load as 'earth' colorway both from Fabrics-store.com very fast project and very cute! I stitched the band together, then stitched the top to the band (overlapping the edge of the top higher than the edge of the band) and felled the top over the band edge. I folded the band in ~half and lightly whipped it to the previously felled edge. I will probably make another with the original band height. I did a prick stitch around the bottom (folded) edge.   My band was 56cm x ~10cm The top had a 9.85cm radius. 

July-Aug 2021 Sprang pattern via " Enigmatic Beauty: The Decorative Headwear of Lengberg Castle " by Rachel Case, Beatrix Nutz, and Carol James. I followed the 'Tree of  Life' sprang lace pattern but the rest of the headwear pattern did not work for me, so I used the coif side panel from Margo Anderson's coif pattern  (out of some leftover white handkerchief linen) but I kept the original pattern pieces (made of white well-washed linen (from a linen shirt someone gave me that was starting to wear out in places) and hemmed) and used them as long ties. I finished off the front edge with a strip cut from my fabric.  For the sprang panel: I used some mystery cotton thread that my mom had and was willing to let me use. I calculated and warped for a 15" sprang panel. The original (and reproduction) seem to be half a sprang "weaving", whereas I wove to the middle as far as I could down the chart (I did not have enough space to sprang the entire chart) and ...

-white handkerchief linen finished April 26, 2021. ~13.5"x~29" (working with leftovers of linen, which limited the dimensions. I will be making another at some point.), small rolled hem and the bottom edge is a selvedge.   -white cotton muslin medieval-style round veil finished June 1, 2021. diameter of 100cm or ~40", small rolled hem edge, a bit heavy fabric-wise -18th century style kerchief in white cotton voile, finished July 8, 2021. square of 34"x34", small rolled hem edge. very light, transparent, fluffy. wrinkles somewhat easily -white cotton voile medieval-style round veil finished July 8, 2021. ~42" diameter, rolled hem edge, very light, transparent, fluffy. wrinkles somewhat easily. pile of veils!

Finished December 8, 2020  These were all made from old linen shirts that were handmedowns.  https://maniacalmedievalist.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/pattern-your-own-simple-coif-unpadded-arming-cap/ one 'straight' front the other 'curved' front, 2 different locations for the ties- at the front and at the back The two above are made from the pattern linked above.  I also made a simplified St. Birgitta's coif (no center lace work). This was based on Morgan Donner's video about her coif .  I also found another pattern for a coif from Margo Anderson, but with a central panel and 2 side panels. I made 2: 1 with ties and 1 with a button chin strap.  I still need to figure out what my hair should be doing underneath, as having a simple bun seems to not quite work for some of these (except the St. Bridgitta's). 

Finished December 14, 2020  I used the same gray fabric as my gray Morgan Donner medieval shift dress as well as a green linen ("evergreen") via Fabrics-store. This is reversible.  rectangle: 41" x 13"  squares: ~10.25" I had to deepen the slit in order to be able to pull the hood back over my head.