Eva's journal

 They said they were going to be 1000, they were 500. 

We were 8000-10 000. They were allowed by the police to march from their meet up place to were their demonstrations should start. But they tried to break away to walk where they wanted to walk and attacked the riot police and were detained in a park. They never reached the place where their demo was supposed to start.

Right now we are waiting to hear that the police has bussed them away, but they may still allow them to march back to their original point, which would be a bad thing. So I'm delaying my plans of taking a bath until I know that I won't have to rush down town again.

Tonight there's a risk they may go to parts of Gothenburg known for lots of leftist, feminist and LGBT friendly pubs etc and start beating people up, so we'll be out guarding the streets probably.

On the 30th the nazis are marching in Gothenburg. They're counting on being a couple of thousands and there are several protests against them scheduled. And one of them works with humour and plan a "Star Wars LARP" where they will walk before them, blasting the imperial march, wearing rebel outfits.

And ever since somebody who saw a photo of us together said that Rickard and I should do Rey and Luke cosplay I've sort of wanted to do it. But I don't have money for fabric and I don't have time for it, since I'm totally broke, will be away from home from tomorrow until Saturday night and then will work an insane schedule the following two weeks.

But I would have loved to. But we'll join some of the other protests against the nazis instead.

The photo:

So today started with a long walk to a manifestation for afghan refugee kids who will in all likelihood be deported back to Afghanistan by Sweden. It is absolutely horrible and a disgrace for my country, but I won't dwell on that here, because this blog is supposed to be about historical clothes and sewing. But I must say that the only way I can continue to live my life as it is when this is happening is to not let myself feel, to push those feelings away, because it is heartbreaking to know that these young boys will be sent away, very likely to die.

So I pushed it away, and enjoyed our walk, and the sun, and when I came home I sat down to sew, and  and listening to The Cleric Quintet on audio book. This is was the last day of my holiday, so I thought that I'd do something that I really enjoy.

First I started re-making my regency stays again. I showed the first re-make in my previous post, when I had taken them in c. 8 cm. However, while they worked as they were I knew that my bust would look more correct if I shortened the bust gores. So that's what I did.

Yesterday I was at my friend Anna's place contributing with advice and moral support (and artificial whale bone) when she started patterning her first stays, late 18th century transitional stays with cups. While talking (i'm good at multi-tasking ; ) I took in my regency petticoat.

Current version of stays and petticoat:




When they were first made:



Then I started on the bodice. I made the sleeves yesterday, though I think I may have to re-do them, they are maybe too wide. We'll see how it looks when they are sewn in to the bodice.

First I had to make a new pattern, but with the help of my previous, too large pattern, or at least the front piece, since I couldn't find the back piece, it wasn't that difficult.

Apart from the usual sources such as Patterns of Fashion and Kvinnligt mode under två sekel by Pernilla Rasmussen and Britta Hammar, I also looked at a couple of patterns from the internet, generously shared by the 19th US Regiment of InfantryCapt. Angus Langham's Company1812-1815.
Here you find their images and patterns of extant gows and outerwear.

And I sort of make it up as I go along. It is all hand sewn, as the rest of my regency clothing except for the stays, which were a test version whee only the lacing holes in the back are hand sewn. And making things by hand you can do it piece by piece and figure out, for example, exactly where to attach the skirt later. So I am basically making it up as I go along. There is one narrow channel more to make, the bodice will be gathered in front, before I have to figure out the skirt. And I can do that tomorrow, when I'm less tired.

I think that my cold is gettting a little better, I don't feel like I am going to die all the time - or wish that I could ;) Today I even managed to go out, and stay out two hours in the freezing cold, again standing ready if the neo-nazis would march this Saturday.

Other than that all I've done today is to make potato gratin for Valeria and Maja. Rickard is in Norway playing X-wing, and Vendela is with her dad. I've also knitted a little, I'm on the final sleeve on my cardigan.

Tomorrow Alfhild is coming over to see if she wants something from the pile of clothes that I cleared out yesterday, when Rickard and I brought up boxes with spring/summer clothes, and clothes that used to be too small. Not that spring will come soon to Sweden, not even here in the southwest, but next Friday Rickard and I are going to Florence for the weekend (leaving Friday morning, going home Monday lunch) and while they maybe wouldn't call it spring, it is likely that it will be spring by Swedish standards, so I may need some clothes not made from wool :)

Two boxes were still too small and wer brough down to the storage again, and I box was filled with too large clothes instead. Because I may need them again, I'm being realistic.

I know, it's Saturday and all, but I have an article that is due on the 30th. It is the one I submitted the 3rd of February, afte rbeing ill for tow weeks. So of course it wasn't perfect, but I didn't expect the rather scathing peer review that I got (from someone I'm acquainted with, she didn't erase her name). I think that I have adresses the most important problems, but I also realized that I want (and probably also have to) work in some stuff in the whole article, tieing it closer to the material, to theactual objects, and that takes time. And Ikeep getting derailed by other stuff that I also have to change in the article.

But I also need to rest, so I have decided that work is for tomorrow, today I am resting. Of course I've been on holiday for a week, but it wasn't really resting in that way: I worked on teh article one whole day and the rest of the time I walked and walked, which of course takes its toll on me.

So, rest for an hour, then down town to demonstrate against a racist demonstration, and then crafting and resting the rest of the day (except for cooking and such, Rickard is working).

The weekend was rather busy. On Friday I finished an article and to celebrate I went to my friend and former high priestess for tea and cookies, and ended up having an improvised ritual which was really fantastic and not getting home until 1 am. Then on Saturday we did laundry and then Rickard and I went to a gig with one of Sweden's best and most legendary rock bands: Sator.

An old song:



(It's a not very good fan video, but the song is good)
( Read more... )

Sunday was spent out of doors. First Valeria and I went to a protest against an extreme right rally here in Gothenburg. And there really wasn't any rioting, I just wanted an "r" for Sunday too in the headline. Some of the protesters tried to stop the racists from marching by sitting down in front of the police, there was some egg throwing and the police used horses and dogs to clear the way for the racist march, but there wasn't any rioting. I know what a riot looks like. And I wouldn't bring my daughter to one. Oh, and some even more extreme right organization threw something that exploded with a very loud bang in to the anti-racist demonstration, but didn't harm anyone as far as I know.

After the police had blocked the whole anti-racist demonstration from entering the towns' center where the racist public meeting was to be held (it must be practical for the police with a moat that encloses the whole centre at times like this ;)) Valeria and I went home, changed clothes and the whole family went to the other side of the river to a football match. Of which I will say no more than that it was still sunny and it was fun to do something with the whole family. And that we lost with 3-1.

I now had new freckles and yesterday my forehead and nose were pink from the sun.

I knew the guy was evil, since (a) he belongs to the rightwing party "Moderaterna" and b) he at least has been involved with the swedish oil company Lundin Oil and their many killings and other crimes against humanity in Sudan, but this is both evil and stupid and shows extreme lack of empathy and likewise extreme lack of judgment.

The swedish minister of foreign affairs trying to be funny on twitter:

I don't normally do this, since I mostly write about my life here, but I think this is both interesting and scary. Read it!.

And the very real risk that Sweden will get a racist party in the parliament:

The Specials AKA: Racist friend

While it won't do anything for the people already killed or their families I am happy to hear that doctors Manga and Gardell are alive and in prison in Israel.