in which our plucky heroine has a colorful if exhausting day...
Spent a chunk of the morning going over to the DHS office to make sure that my paperwork was in order, which I have to do every six months in order to keep my health coverage active. I miss being "young enough" that I could go to the office in my neighborhood, which was a long bike ride, or a short bus ride away from Acorn Cottage, unlike this office which is much further, and two bus routes, away. Leg was particularly annoying today, but nonetheless, I had enough bandwidth to notice this grouping of very bright and very small mushrooms just in front of the veterinarian's office. The color is similar to some chantrelles, but they are definitely something other than that...
Later, progress made on my new black linen SCA undergown, which I hope to finish before 12th Night this weekend. I blockprinted the cuff trim a while back, after carving a Laurel wreath block to use as part of my interchangeable block set. I am gradually using up the pieces of black/blue shot silk from Thora's discarded wedding gown, and it makes really wonderful trimmings. I used some of it on her fancy gown last year. This undergown will be my December piece for the Year Long Wardrobe Challenge, which was supposed to be "party clothes", and 12th Night is about as close as I get to dressing up for a party.
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today's gratitude - being able to transform discarded materials into items of new beauty, and the generosity of friends who share their finds and fragments with me...
This weekend, in order to have handwork of calmness, started another pair of Log Cabin Mitts, intended to be modified into gloves* by adding fingers and a thumb. Royston Ribbon: a kind of turquoise cut to show the vein of turquoise as a ribbon through the matrix stone, which is how it is often found... (bear in mind that most of the other pairs of Log Cabin Mitts I've knit also have various geological names)
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Saturday was the local Yule event, which I usually try to not attend, but since it was also the event where dear pal Marya was being elevated to the Laurel, I must needs be there. The event itself was every bit as overcrowded and noisy as ever, but being present to be one of the group of Laurels standing to honor her, and hearing the words of the four noble peers who spoke for her, (as well as seeing the beautiful clothing and regalia many of us had a small part in making for her) made it all worthwhile.
Marya on vigil
Marya kneels before the King and Queen,
Duke James Greyhelm in the background
Marya swearing fealty
photos courtesy of Ursel Lindenhayn ※※※
The other project I must need complete prior to this event was one of the original scrolls given out for various Baronial or Kingdom honors... this one was for Istvan Goryi, who was being made a member of the Baronial Order of the Mountain's Pride. It was quite challenging as the recipient has a Hungarian persona, and I couldn't find any manuscript illumination from his time period. So... I decided to use an image of an elaborate metalwork artifact, and to surround it with text transliterated in Old Hungarian letters, which look similar to Norse runes, but not the same. Quite pleased with the effect, particularly using several different colors of metallic paint to add dimension; the golden disc is about three inches across:
(prior to being signed by Baron and Baroness, and having the pendant seal applied) ※※※
Since all these various projects took time, there wasn't much left for me to create some spiffy new clothing for myself. (Though that is the YLWC plan for December, which is meant to be "dressy" clothing and accessories - I'm going to interpret that as SCA dressy, which I do have a use for) Instead, since I wanted to wear something vaguely Slavic/Russian in Marya's honor, I combined a vaguely Byzantine overdress with one of my undergowns with highly decorated cuffs. As a way of hiding the very inappropriate plaid fabric, I also added a lower hemline band about 15" deep, to cover the part of the undergown that showed at the lower hem. Said band being made from shot cotton with an lower decorative trim about 10" wide of block printed shot silk. (I figured a hemline band would be quicker than making an entire new undergown) My plan for December is to block print coordinating cuff fabric, and then make up a new undergown with plain linen rather than plaid, and remove and reapply the hemline band, leaving the plaid undergown in its original state... no reason why it wouldn't work?
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Stupid cranky ankle pain has been intensifying for days now. Doesn't matter if I am standing, sitting, or lying down. Topical meds are not helping with pain. Ankle brace has not helped with pain. Sleep is elusive.
Just checked the mail from yesterday received notice that the (simple, cheap, available on Amazon) ankle brace I was given (by the foot doc I was referred to by my regular doc) has been denied coverage, so I am now liable for that expense at whatever inflated medical price it was listed at.
I will have to phone in again tomorrow to find out what to do next. I am surprised that a relatively inexpensive first step treatment is not covered. I wonder what got coded in as wrong with my ankle. And, of course, I wonder what is actually wrong, and why it isn't improving, but becoming more and more painful. It has been almost a month now...
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December SMART goals (x=extra)
#
THINGS MADE
THINGS FIXED
THINGS GONE
1
x
x
extra tartlets**
2
x
x
-
3
x
x
-
4
x
x
-
5
x
x
-
6
x
x
-
7
x
x
-
8
x
x
-
9
x
x
-
10
x
x
-
11
x
x
x
12
x
x
x
13
x
x
x
14
x
x
x
15
x
x
x
* gloves are needed, it is wintery here, and they were also part of the November YLWC
** does it count as a "things gone" if I give the platefull of extra quincemeat tartlets to my neighbors, rather than have the little sweets hang around here until I eat them? I think so, since otherwise they would end up adding clutter to my waistline!
in which our plucky heroine cogitates more on YLWC and other sewing plans...
Back in October, when the Year Long Wardrobe Challenge concept showed up on Stitchers Guild, it fit in nicely with my ongoing wardrobe refubishment efforts... So, looked through the Vivienne Files archives and sorted out what combinations of garments and accessories Janice has chosen, month by month for a year of wardrobe creation:
JAN - top, pants, cardigan, loafers, earrings FEB - dress, shoes, scarf, necklace, clutch bag MAR - skirt, sweater/top, scarf, watch, canvas shoes APR - tunic, pants, shoes, earrings, necklace MAY - tank top, cardigan, shorts, sandals, bracelet, earrings JUN - summer dress, sandals, tote, earrings, bracelet JUL - tee shirt, tee shirt, shorts, sandals, necklace AUG - blouse/top, skirt, cardigan, ring, brooch, boots SEP - shirt, pants, puffy vest, scarf, gloves, low boots OCT - shirt, pants, sweater, tote, necklace NOV - winter coat, hat, gloves, scarf, boots DEC - dressy top/sweater, pants/skirt, bag + shoes + jewelry
For October, my plan was instead of pants, a pinafore from my wardrobe, and a sweater from my wardrobe, and to sew a shirt, which I did, the flannel shirt, which is in steady rotation as a new cozy favorite. I had hopes of also sewing a new tote bag, which may yet happen...
For November, my plan was to finish the rain capelet, to call my current winter hats and boots good enough, and to make myself a new scarf and gloves. I just finished yesterday the new grey linen cowl scarf with multicolor wool tiny tassel trim. It would be great if I also knit a pair of thin warm gloves, to layer under my Log Cabin mitts, but this month has mostly been all about sewing projects for other people. So, my next transit handwork ought to be glove knitting... and realistically about a day and a half should get the rain capelet edge-binding stitched on (I've been wearing it as an unfinished poncho for the last year or so) and a tote bag for October put together.
I've already figured out that for December, when the plan calls for "dressy" clothing and accessories, I am instead going to work on some special SCA clothing for me (for our big wintertime 12th Night event in January) I have no real use at all for modern party clothes, but a new historical/medieval dress, underdress, and accessories would be a treat, as a lot of my SCA clothing is at least ten to fifteen years old. Something similar to the new gown I made for Thora would make me really happy, so some time block printing fancy trim fabrics will be my next personal project... tune in next month as I try and fit it all in...
As far as SWAP, my only goals currently are to #1. finish the other blouse toile, for the bias front blouse conversion, and #2. start and finish the indigo pinstripe dress, which is intended as the Pre-2019 SWAP Dress Challenge" project that will also be part of my Winter 6PAC. The blouse toile has been cut out and is sitting waiting for my non-sewing projects to be completed...
Back in SWAP 2017, I duplicated a favorite pair of loose cropped knit leggings to fulfill the "bottoms" requirement that year. Those leggings have proved to be ideal as a cool season layer, and it would be a great idea to make some more... perhaps even include a pair or two in my SWAP 2019. As it heads towards winter, it is time to go check and see if there is any suitable fabric on the resource shelves!
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This dress and the "burrito method" of creating a reversible garment came up in discussion on SG. While I don't much need a reversible summertime mini-dress, making a pinafore in this way would be basically creating a layered pinafore with an attached slip. This could have some real potential for deep winter, or if using thinner than usual fabric...
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Gosh it looks like what I really need to do is spend some time every day doing some decluttering. Every month has seen more and more activity in the making things happen zone, and less and less in the sorting and clearing clutter zone. It would also be good to start on phase number next in the ongoing clutter saga, and start digging into the actual closed storage, like drawers and cupboards... Given all that is currently scheduled for this last week of November, that won't happen, as it is very unlikely to include enough time to fill five more grocery sacks of clutter to be removed. Aim for at least one more, and see how that goes...
in which our plucky heroine makes steady if scattered progress...
Today one of the tasks is setting up the fourth go-round with persimmons in the food dehydrator. Thank you so much Bob and Sam for sending it my way! the pantry here now has several large jars full of dried orange autumnal sweetness...
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Finished the grey linen gauze cowl, and the wee tiny wool tassels add color (as I had intended) and are not at all itchy (as I had hoped)... a new addition to the accessory wardrobe, and the only part of the November suggestion for "Year Long Wardrobe Challenge" I've managed to complete. But there was a lot of sewing for other people instead...
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After an unknown number of hours (many) of stitching, the embroidered trim for the rubakha (silk undergown) for my friend Marya's elevation clothing is finished, and handed off to Kieran who is sewing the silk gown they will be attached to. There are five pieces: a collar, two front neckline panels, and two cuffs. All based on actual textile ornamentation from medieval Novgorod.
...in favor of tiny tassels, which are much easier and quicker to make! A while back I fell in love with the concept of a scarf with multicolor "bobble" trimmings. It all started when I saw this designer scarf which reminded me of my pom pom cowl, that whimsical and useful accessory made in 2012, but sadly no one makes multicolor pom pom trim in any kind of appealing colors. (I assume that the designer scarf has handmade pom poms attached individually) So, that concept went to the back burner, until one day this Tiny Tassel Tutorial turned up... It occurred to me that another linen gauze cowl would be a perfect accessory to coordinate with my 2018/19 sewing challenge garments as well as the rest of the wardrobe, and would pay homage to the inspiration without slavishly copying it.
Whilst out and about today, I had cleverly packed up this project as transit handwork, but somehow forgot to include the 5mm knitting needles that are the suggested spacers. A handy fallen twig, and a bit of whittling made shorter spacers which are actually easier to use than the long double pointed knitting needles. EDC for the win! (what do folks do that don't have a pocket knife, or multitool, or stuff like that?)
Yesterday I finished the flannel shirt for my October wardrobe piece (6PAC + YLWC*). This is one of several attempts currently underway to sort of some kind pattern for a woven fabric top, my perennial and many years long challenge... It is quite cozy and comfortable (even a bit loose, as I have lost some weight in the last several months) and will look well with most of my pinafores, and can also layer a turtleneck knit top underneath when it is really cold. I am quite pleased with the collar shape, given how simple this was to put together. The rounded lapel and collar ends are echoed in the very slightly rounded sleeve ends, which rather than a button cuff are simply pleated into a fixed narrow band.
The pattern I'm using, based on a shirt jacket I made years ago, has very dropped shoulders, which I don't really like, but is so loosely fit that they don't cause mobility issues. folding out about a half inch in width from the sleeves may smooth out the slight gathering at the dropped shoulder seams, and make this pattern easier to put together. The other thing I will change in the future is to lengthen the bodice. While it works well as my desired length for cropped jackets, and is long enough to fit properly under my pinafores, it doesn't have quite enough weight to not try and creep upwards when being worn, which a bit more length would take care of...
My next attempt at a woven top will be based on my everyday dress, which has a bias cut front and narrower shoulders, it will be interesting to compare the results
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Sigh, persimmon ketchup is a fail... compost without guilt. I am not sure if persimmons are unsuited to substitute for tomatoes, or if the recipe from Food In Jars called for too much clove for my preference, or if simmering it overnight in the crockpot was a mistake... The result tasted vaguely like pumpkin pie, but then made my mouth numb, which was quite alarming until I remembered that cloves do that, and that I was not about to go into anaphylactic shock! OTOH, the dehydrated persimmons seem like they will make good treats for folks, and certainly will likely store well in the pantry
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thinking about a new black denim tote bag, possibly based on the concept of the knitters backpack, a tote bag being the other October YLWC piece that I could really use; and finding yarn to knit fingers onto one of my pairs of log cabin mitts from last year, to create gloves (gloves, a cowl, and possibly finishing up my rain capelet being the pieces from November YLWC that I have planned...
Later, progress made on my new black linen SCA undergown, which I hope to finish before 12th Night this weekend. I blockprinted the cuff trim a while back, after carving a Laurel wreath block to use as part of my interchangeable block set. I am gradually using up the pieces of black/blue shot silk from Thora's discarded wedding gown, and it makes really wonderful trimmings. I used some of it on her fancy gown last year. This undergown will be my December piece for the Year Long Wardrobe Challenge, which was supposed to be "party clothes", and 12th Night is about as close as I get to dressing up for a party.
