But I have done some sewing

[frualeydis]

I badly needed a hand sewing project for when having tea with Anna, so I started on an Italian 15th century working class gamurra (kirtle) from a hand woven cotton that I bought two years ago. I started with the skirt, since that requires less thinking, but today I actually cut out the bodice.

With the brain fog from my exhaustion I almost always start with the skirt nowadays, because it's easy to cut an it is after all the hand sewing I am after - and then I make the bodice on a day when my brain feels okay.

The reason I did it today was that I got enthusasitic about transcribing 17th century probate inventories, and I am not supposed to work more than 1,5 hours at this stage of my work rehab, so I had to come up with something to occupy me. It was rainign, so I couldn't go for a walk.

I am quilting two layers of linen together for the front tlining, to give it more support, so that will take some time since I am doing it all by hand.

Comments

[clothsprogs]

I shall look forward to the pictures.

I sometimres start with cutting the skirts, if it's a small length of fabric, because they're the big part and then I see if I can get the bodice parts out of the smaller offcuts, or whether they need piecing.

Occasionally, if the style will allow, I'll cut an interlinging layer for the bodice pieces and applique the bodice pieces down to it with a wide gap around the opening edges (neckline, and openings) whihc I then cover with a guard of contrast fabric that I also use on the skirts, that way I don't need enough bodice fabric to cover the areas that would be hidden under the guards so can get them out of smaller pieces. The red brocade parts of this gown were made from jsut over 2.5 metres of offcuts from an upholsterer, and the offcuts of velvet from a set of curtains somebody had already cut a full garment from: https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/f190/guyelfkin/.highres/P1240059.jpg

Admittedly, Alison is tiny but the same principle applies to larger garments: https://flic.kr/p/2iB1mjq
This woman is my height, and it took under 4 metres of pink and green brocade to make the skirt, sleeves, and bodice (cut in that order from progressively smaller pieces of fabric). In this instance, however, I should have used something more substantial to interline the front edges of the skirt, as the velvet doesn't support itself so the guards tend to sag.

Sorry, this became a bit longwinded.

Teddy

[frualeydis]

Beautiful.
I will have to make the sleeves from another fabric, since I didn't have enough, but that is okay, since there are many examples of that in Italian 15th century art. I have of course made a Pinterest page about this ;)
https://www.pinterest.se/andersson0540/italienskt-1400-tal-med-olika-%C3%A4rmar/

/Eva

[clothsprogs]

I really need to remember to start by checking your pinterest boards before I go hunting the wider web for images...

Teddy

[frualeydis]

thank you!

/Eva