Slow slow progress
In between naps, many naps, I’ve done some sewing.
There are many more panels in there than I would normally go with. This is because I’d usually allow more than three metres of broadcloth for a full length early medieval tunic dress, but this piece was a remnant of a little less than three metres, so I had to cut creatively to get the best use. In the words of the tailor of Gloucester there’s not enough left for tippets for mice
It’s an absolutely gorgeous wool, beautifully finished ( I had to invisibly mend a tiny tear near the hem) but not the easiest thing to sew as it’s rather tough and resists the needle somewhat.
Speaking of which, can I just reiterate how much I love flat fell seams? Every time I bake I conclude that eggs are magic, and every time I construct a wool garment I fall in love all over again with flat fell seams.
I was going to continue the upper stripe around the shoulder, but I’d leave it till last because it will use up the short lengths of silk from the skirt, but now I’m looking at the photo and thinking it looks nice as it is. I might have to ponder, maybe try it on and look in the mirror. I’m planning four stripes around the skirt and I’ve started basting the first into place.
The oddest things come in handy when you’re sewing – I’m using the piece of plywood I keep for wet stretching embroidery to prevent myself from basting two layers of skirt together. I’m doing one stripe at a time because I find ironing the edges of the silk strips so boring.
opusanglicanum 
I love this!
Thanks
Wow, you certainly sew quickly inbetween naps! It’s looking fab. What is it about flat fell seams then?!
I love how neat they are, and how well a garment hangs when made with them
That looks really fast work to me, but then I am rubbish at plain sewing. For what it’s worth, I think adding stripes at the top of the arms would make the top a bit too football-jersey-ish, and it’s elegant and well balanced as it stands.
I’m really fast at it normally. I was thinking rugby shirt, and they’re never very feminine, but I’m a bit worried that close up the cut off looks a bit clunky
To what century belongs this dress?
Early thirteenth
Lovely – and I agree, simple things, like eggs, or flat fell seams – can be more satisfying and pleasing than almost anything else!
Eggs, don’t get me started on how clever eggs are!
Wow.
That is 1) exquisite, 2) terrifyingly similar to some of the originals. Also, I love how puddly your hem is!
Alas it will not be quite so puddly when worn, although it is longer than me, the dummy is a bit shorter than me
I’ve tried mailing you and messaging you on Facebook, but your email bounces, I was trying to tell you about the study day and wondered if you’d like some silk scraps?
That fabric looks gorgeous, both the wool and the silk. Yum.
really good wool (this is hainsworths so pretty much the best) is every bit as yummy as silk, but far too few reeanctors recognise as much. I once dropped off a bolt of silk ple velvet to a merchant friend, and gareth (a non reenactor) commented that all the posh reenactors would be sure to want to buy it. Ian looked rather witheringly at gareth and said “theres plenty posh want an entire outfit for less than I’ll charge for a metre of this, this will sell to the quality”