Eva's journal

There was a medieval festival at a local 14th century castle this weekend and Anna and I went today. It was said to be placed in the 1330s-1340s, but I think I was the only one wearing that style, lots of later 14th century and some 15th and of course a lot of general "medieval-ish". But we had a lovely day, didn't buy anything except food and ran into lots of old friends, both local and others. And Anna took a really good picture of me in my periwinkle Herjolfsnes dress which was an incitament to actually put it on the web page

I came home around half past three and was met by the sight of a half naked, partly black man. Our new (laser) printer and a scanner (we didn't have one before) had arrived and somewhere in the process of disposing of the old one my husband managed to open the container with ink/coal and sprayed himself and the computer room with lots of black dust. It is very clean now.
While he was busy cleaning I started on dinner. Since myralea is vegetarian I decided to make lasagne with lentils in tomato sauce. It turned out very yummy. Then we started modelling the templates for the ornaments for the cuffs on Rickard's tunicella from some kind of plastic clay. After hardening them we sanded them. A lot. One of them isn't finished yet. I will then, when I'm happy with them make a silicone mold so I can make them from pewter. They will then be "bronzed" before epoxy glue with colour pigments in it will be used to fill the holes and create an impression of enamel.
I have sanded my fingers a little to much and I'm very tired. But also very happy and grateful to myralea for her help.
I have also felled all the seams on the body of the Herjolfsnes dress and will start on the sleeves tomorrow.

Since this holiday steals two working days from me, when pre-school is closed but Rickard still works I'm at work today, when he's free. I'm working on the introductory chapter and I think it's coming along nicely. I'm going to print it and read it through tonight, when the kids are in bed, and then do the changes on tuesday.

I finished the re-made sleeves on Rickard's tunicella yesterday and started on the Herjolfsnes dress. Of course it turned into a hand-sewing project, but you knew that, didn't you?
The thing with hand sewing medieval clothes is that it gives you a sense of well-being because it's the period way to do it. It is also not as much work as hand sewing victorian or 18th c. clothes, or even most renaissance, because there's usually less details to work on. Especially for the 13th and 14th century where clothes in general aren't very decorated.
Of course, my latest 16th century clothes have quite a lot of hand sewing too, it's usually only the skirt panels, bodice seams and sleeve seam that is done by machine. The skirt is always attached by hand because it's stronger and the sleeves are easier to fit to the armscye by hand. And all shifts, no matter period are hand sewn because it lasts so much longer. Back stitches in waxed linen thread beats machine stitching any day. But I'm digressing.
The weather continues to be nice. It's not as sunny as yesterday or friday, but it still is pleasant weather and around 50 F

I need more fabric. Having looked way too much at The romance of Alexander lately I feel a strong urge to make a 1340s dress from some periwinkle wool I have. But it needs a lining, and I don't think I have anything I can use that will look good. The white silk is dedicated to the murrey ensemble and I think wool, or possibly linen, would be a better choice anyway.
I will probably not make it laced, but as tight as I can get it without lacing and based on the Herjolfsnes tunics. I'm going for the late 1330s-early1340s barrel-shape here :)It's actually not just the Romance of Alexander that has inspired me, but also that I worked on the green Herjolfsnes-dress and realized how much tighter I could make it and still get into it. And I could use it under the green dress as well as under my "rabbit hunting dress", which I don't have a picture of, but it's made from a green and brownish(mud coloured?) cotton (yes, I know) brocade and based on this illumination from The Taymouth hours. Or maybe I should make it as the top layer, with hanging sleeves? But I still need an under cotte for those two dresses.
And I will sew it on machine, so it will go fast. I just need a lining fabric!!