What I've been up to

Just a little 'update' post. I've been weaving like a mad woman - the gold plate finally arrived at the end of last week so the brocade is being finished. In between, a silk girdle has been woven and sent out (pics as soon as I get them downloaded from the camera) and an order of 16 metres of woven braid has been started. Oh, and a load of tassels!

The new loom is totally wonderful, I am a very happy chappy so far, and my hubby now has the task of seeing how much we can get it made for...

Keeping on track....

I've recently received an image of the Tudor/Elizabethan overgown by Harman Hay, for which I made the decorative buttons, a la Janet Arnold. Of course, black on black isn't the easiest thing to see, but they are there!

I'm very busy at the moment, so if things go a bit quiet, you'll know why. Still finishing off the red brocade, and very near the end of my supply of gold plate. And the plate on order hasn't been made yet - though I'm promised they are catching up with their back orders (Good thing, as I have subsequently ordered quite a few different gilt and silver threads for other projects).

Girdle tassels, again for Tudor dress, seem to be quite the rage this year, and I have quite a few of these to complete, in different styles.

I also have a vast amount of weaving to complete. More on some of these as they are completed, but I have to say that at this point the new loom has worked brilliantly. The longest warp I've tried so far is 6m and everything's lovely - especially my sitting position. Both tablet and inkle so far are working as planned on the loom. Of course, having so much weaving lined up as work does mean I won't be able to fully 'stretch' the loom and tensioning device by using it at its longest warp, but I will certainly be able to ensure the strength -I tend to work at very tight tensioning when tablet weaving. And, as I hoped, it is also an excellent general warping frame - tassel warps for said girdle tassels are all measured and ready.

Hopefully you all will have a lovely Easter break, and perhaps those of us in the UK will get a nice Bank Holiday weekend? ;)

Article now live

My article, Victorian Trimming and Embellishment Ideas, has now gone live over at the online magazine Your Wardrobe Unlock'd. Unfortunately, you do have to be a subscriber to read it. (if you visit the site, and scroll down the front page, you can see what this month's articles are all about)

Basically, the magazine is running quite an ambitious competition - 'The Single Pattern Project'. A surviving 1860s day dress has been chosen, now subscribers will be given information about scaling patterns, construction (including all of the underwear) fabrics, accessories - basically everything that is relevant to the original and to clothing of the period. After all of the advice has been given, there will be a competition with quite a few different different categories, from most historically accurate, most inventive (do something crazy!) and thriftiest, amongst others. (and this is besides the other great articles on historic costume).

So, the title of my article says it all really. There are instructions for basic tassels, fringe, braids, button covering and cord-spinning, as well as how to best attach trim to fabrics. Hopefully it will help some of the entrants.

Do have a look at the 'freebies' section of the site to get a flavour of what the magazine is all about. (Shameless promotion I know, but I am actually a subscriber as well as now a contributor!)

And will I be entering? Originally, yes, though not in the historically accurate section, as I have no need for a full Victorian day dress! Now, however, I'm getting quite alot of work lined up (including metres and metres of tablet weaving), so I'm not sure I'll have the time. ;)