Tuesday, April 05, 2011

I've been unfaithful...

to my wooly fiber stuff. I confess, I've been obsessed with making Renaissance costumes. Only it's become kind of a serious obsession. Like I've now started hand-sewing trim to my bodices. Like I draft my own bodice, shift, and skirt patterns rather than using ready-made ones. Like I have a HUGE fabric stash comprised mostly of linen for garments and wool remnants for trim. Like I have linen and silk thread with which to learn how to embroider blackwork, cuz it's more period. Like I've completely ignored my lovely spindles, and have only knit a pair of stockings to use with my Ren Faire costumes. Yeah, an obession like that.

So, I've hit 2 Ren Faires thus far this year. If I have my way, I'll visit at LEAST 5 more. In Big Bear, San Diego, and Northern California too! So, of course, I had to make sure I have enough variety in my peasanty wardrobe. I mean, how embarrassing to be seen/photographed in the same outfit more than once...I mean, a peasant has her dignity!
So here's a pic from Ren Faire #1, the Palm Springs Ren Fest.

Yes, I also made my boyos' tabbards. I made the chemise, the bodice, the removable sleeves, and both skirts. I also have a coif I made, but ditched cuz hubby didn't like it. This Ren Fest was a total DUD, as it was comprised of like 10 vendors, and 2 stages, and the food court consisted of one booth for Chinese food, one ice cream booth, and one other that sold funnel cakes. At least there was an ale truck. Anyway, we stayed for no more than 1 1/2 hours. Sad :-(
This is from Ren Faire #2, the Spring Escondido Renaissance Faire.

This is my Flemish peasant ensemble. I made the side-lacing tan kirtle as well as the totally reversible over-gown. Drafted both patterns, thank you very much, and you may recognize the sleeves from the prior outfit...Hey, mix & match is SO period, dahling! And I made the linen shirt the night before/morning of, so the cuffs are not finished in ruffled cuffs to match the collar like I planned, but I had used the selvedge edges, so they're kind of 'done'. I love the pinky-coral linen of the gown! I still need a partlet and an apron, but I think this costume was a resounding success in the reproductin dept.
Google "Flemish gown", and you'll see :-) Here's a front view, just cuz. This Faire was little, but WAAAY cooler than that Palm Springs atrocity. The lovely grassy, oak-shaded setting, the engaging, costumed attendees, and the entertaining stage shows really made this one worth being at. I'm even planning on going back for the Fall version later this year!

In other costume-y news, I've most-recently finished a front-lacing brown heavy-linen kirtle with really cool felt guards on the skirt & bodice, but I still have to hand-sew the eyelets. Bugger! I have also made 3 new skirts, and 2 other new bodices for this year (in addition to the ones I've already worn), so I think I'll be ok for future faires. Maybe. I have some really pretty dove grey and some deep terracotta linen I just HAD to buy! Oh yeah, and I made that really cool pirate coat, so I need to make a costume to go with it, right? Yeah, an obsession like that :-)