doublet journal update
setting in sleeves today.... we'll see how that goes. meanwhile, here is a picture of the "skirt" with its lining all complete. 12 gores - 4 yellow, 8 orange.
becka on 08.31.05 @ 05:38 PM CST [link]
About Me
Puppet Gallery
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Textile Center
etsy.com
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beckarahn.rdf
| August 2005 | ||||||
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| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||
My Book of the Week:
The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope
What I'm Currently Reading:
Lady's Maid by Margaret Forster
Textile Word of the Week:
merino - High quality wool yarn made from fleece of merino sheep which is short, fine, strong, resilient and takes dyes well.
The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope
What I'm Currently Reading:
Lady's Maid by Margaret Forster
Textile Word of the Week:
merino - High quality wool yarn made from fleece of merino sheep which is short, fine, strong, resilient and takes dyes well.
| Becka's Library Shelf |
| Becka's Games Shelf |
Wednesday, August 31st
Tie One On: Mini Me
this afternoon was finish-up-stray-projects day. these aprons are my submission for the monthly apron challenge "Tie One On". This month the challenge was to make one for you and one for a significant someone in your life : Mini Me. I have renaissance on the brain these days, so when i saw this fabric on clearance for $2 a yard, i knew it was begging for a project. so we get faux-renaissance aprons for me and my littlest sister (who is getting to be not so little).
we made some aprons this summer, but hers was a little small because i didn't have enough fabric. hopefully i guessed better on this one rachel!
becka on 08.31.05 @ 05:34 PM CST [link]
Monday, August 29th
Pointy Hats
i ran across a reference to this wonderful website the other day. she has an absolutely marvelous tutorial (with lots of pictures) on how to make felted wool "wizard" hats. i am dying to try it, but i have to finish a few of the works in progress before i do. i love the one with the cherries...
becka on 08.29.05 @ 04:49 PM CST [link]
doublet journal update: makes you smile
here are all of the pieces laid out on the dining room table. i have stitched the "skirt" on to the "bodice" and it is currently hanging in the closet to relax for a couple of days. you do this with bias cut skirts before you hem and the lining and outer fabric are not being exactly cooperative about working together, so i am hoping a little relaxation will help. the outer fabric is a pretty loose weave that stretches and shifts a bit. i have started thinking about the pants to go with doublet #1...
becka on 08.29.05 @ 04:40 PM CST [link]
Tuesday, August 23rd
the doublet report
the first doublet is ready for handsewing - buttons, lining etc so i have moved on to number two. here's a shot of cutting it out. i had to do some creative cutting on this one because i didn't have enough fabric. i pieced together a bit to cut out the collar and decided to add in a marvelous yellow jacquard fabric that goes really nicely with the orange. yellow will be the lower sleeves and a couple of pieces in the "skirt".
the collar got a nice little ruffle of yellow organza - the recipient requested an alternate to lace. the jury is out on how well i like the contrast blue stitching on it....
then i moved on to stitching the trim to the sleeves. velvet ribbon and some satin with a gold edge. and finally, the piece-de-resistance...
the finished sleeve. doesn't it just make you smile! the top of the sleeve is "stuffed" with a yard of tulle netting so it has a permanent pouf.
becka on 08.23.05 @ 06:49 PM CST [link]
Sunday, August 21st
and then....
next assemble and trim the peplum and collar. more metallic purple over quilt batting for the bottom edge. this is a very straight forward pattern really. i did lengthen the doublet by about 2 inches but i haven't had to make many other alterations. i put it together differently than the instructions say - the pattern only has you line the body pieces and then edge the collar and peplum with bias tape. as you can see from the pattern envelope picture, this is not really that nice looking. i line everything with nice heavy quilting cotton, which means the lining breathes and i don't have to put in interfacing, which i don't like.
sew front and back together. this is starting to look like something. then i basted the collar and peplum and pinned on the lining.
becka on 08.21.05 @ 02:57 PM CST [link]
Saturday, August 20th
the doublet journals
it is nothing short of miraculous that i am remembering to take pictures as i go. i did a lot of research online this year looking for ideas for all of the costumes i have been working on and although you can find the odd "dress diary" documenting the process, i didn't find any doublet journals.
i skipped taking pictures of cutting things out. it really is the boring part. and so we move on to trim. this is 2 different ribbons that i got for $1 at the textile center's garage sale and strips of a nice crinkly slightly metallic purple fabric that i cut with the rotary cutter.
the main fabric has a little purple in it, so i decided to do purple trim, which happens to be impossible to find this year. not a fashionable color, i guess. so i went with fabric and the ribbon stitched over the edges.
i actually started with the ribbon on the back. it is difficult to make "v"'s match up. i ripped out the stitching 3 times. the front was a bit easier because i did a lot of measuring and pinning before stitching, and it is a little more forgiving since those parts don't have to be stitched to one another.
next was flanges. i made a nice edge by cutting more strips of purple, sandwiching a piece of quilt batting in the middle and stitching it in the seam like piping.
finally, i had to set everything out on the table and take a look. i like to stitch all of the trim first so that the ends all get caught in the seams later, but it means you have to have the design figured out before you know what anything is going to look like. i am a fan of making it up as i go along rather than making sketches. it was at this point that i realized that i forgot to get cord for the button loops and i need some black bias tape. off to walmart and maybe caribou coffee since i am in the neighborhood.
becka on 08.20.05 @ 07:28 PM CST [link]
Friday, August 19th
i opened a shop
beckarahn.etsy.com
for years i have been saying that i was going to have a web store and it has finally happened. for several weeks i have been stumbling across references to www.etsy.com which is an online marketplace for handmade items. it is just too cool. i had to try it out. i have listed just a couple of things up there but i will add more when i get a chance.
becka on 08.19.05 @ 04:16 PM CST [link]
Thursday, August 18th
Wednesday, August 17th
step one: remove the plastic
for reasons that are hard to fathom, the makers of the black fabric decided to stick a piece of rubbery plastic to the back. since i think plastic coated doublet would be next to unbearable, andy helped me peel all of the yucky stuff off of the fabric. everything is now in the washer.
becka on 08.17.05 @ 08:37 AM CST [link]
Monday, August 15th
the doublets are coming
the fabric choices are in. i have volunteered to make doublets for two friends of mine to wear to the renaissance faire. thanks to my lovely friend lynn, who used my project as an excuse to clean out her stash, i had a whole stack of fabrics for them to choose from.
the picture really doesn't do the pattern justice. i have made a doublet from this one before and it turns out beautifully. not nearly as dorky as the picture. the orange will be the long tunic style and the black, a regular short doublet. i will post progress, for sure.
becka on 08.15.05 @ 11:28 PM CST [link]
Wednesday, August 10th
fabric find of the day
i took the afternoon off and had to stop in at one of my favorite little fabric stores. another of the kids in my life is having a birthday later this month and i needed fabric for little zippered bags. all of the little kids are getting these this year because i just love making them. this particular little boy would not be satisfied with multicolored dinosaurs or cowboys, so i knew i was on a mission. i found the perfect thing - these fabrics from australia with flying squirrels and platypi. they are printed in very nice sparkly gold and look sort of magical to me.
i also got this to make myself a summer sundress.
becka on 08.10.05 @ 04:43 PM CST [link]
Tuesday, August 9th
Illustration Friday: Empty
for my friend ben. inspired by his new love for painting.
becka on 08.09.05 @ 07:12 PM CST [link]
lonely blog....
i have been busy as usual and the poor blog is getting very lonely. here are a few highlights from the past week or so...
we got a new board game called "Amazonas" and played with some friends. i love board games. had an interesting encounter with a guy in the games store, who told my friend danielle and i how "great it is to see girls that are interested in gaming" and how games tournaments were a great place to pick up guys.
some *&!$@% tried to steal our new car and shattered the drivers side window. the car was otherwise unharmed and the $@%$! left without it. the nice glass guys came and fixed it yesterday.
i am working hard on a new renaissance costume for the Ren Fair. i love to go in costume and this one should be great. the top is blue and the skirt is blue-green plaid. i have embroidered this guy on the front of the bodice.
i have been commissioned to make more costumes for some friends and i will post pictures as those start to come together.
summer camps are almost done. things are starting to get peaceful.
becka on 08.09.05 @ 04:52 PM CST [link]
Thursday, August 4th
