Just *off* the worktable (I can't have a dummy until we either buy a house or decide to live in two separate condos; a woodworker and a string geek bring too much equipment to an 800-square foot apartment) is the petticoat to match the cute 18th-century jacket I had the Silly Sisters make for me. They are made from one of the Indian cottons I sell; I'm hoping to try the outfit on this week and get some pictures up on the Web site. yeah, I know, having somebody else make the jacket is cheating. Back ON the worktable now is the scandalous turmeric yellow with red springs cotton gown I'm making out of a nine-yard sungudi sari. This one is also 18th century; the fabric is too thin for the amount of abuse the gown will get, so I have backed it througout with a yellow cotton/linen blend, and am sewing the two layers as if they were one, rather than as if it were lined -- though since I started I've found rather a lot of paintings that appear to show gowns lined in the skirts. The! yellow is the same as in this one: http://timetraveltextiles.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TTT&Product_Code=S174&Category_Code=S but the sprigs are a more orangey red and are, well, flowery sprigs instead of circles and squares. I've got the back pleats done and have sewn the bodice fronts to the back, but still have to add the rest of the skirts, finish the front, make sleeves, and then perhaps trim it.
But my happiest recent accomplishment is that I finally finished a second 18th century linen shift. Although the gowns are often held together with the flimisiest of construction, 18th-century shifts were built like brick outhouses; so it's taken me forever to get around to nailing one together. I've ordered some beautiful silver sleeve buttons to celebrate: http://www.historicdelights.com/misc.htm Since I've started cooking at re-enactor events, I'm also making aprons every chance I get. I've also got twelve yards of a blue brocade that will someday be my first 18th c saque-back. Usually I spend the winter doing Dark Ages-early medieval sewing, but lately I keep finding fabrics that inspire 18th century things instead. So competing with the saque is a pretty blue and brown Norwich wool stripe from which I hope to make a cozy everyday gown for the cooler months. I think when I get back to my Angles and Saxons and Vikings it'll be weaving rather than stitching for a while. I want to make some winingas and some belt and fillet tapes. I may make some hoods/coifs, too; and of course I need some more medieval shifts, too! L'shanah tovah to all! Lauren [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.timetraveltextiles.com _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
