Gallery of Finished Projects

[gypsylakat]

Indeed!  The Lady gone riding is an equisite ensemble.  Each piece is artwork!

I just finished up my first commission of the summer.   A black kilt for a friend at Tennessee RF who is in process of crafting his own black leather armour!   My first kilt, made without pattern but with all the fantastic info you can find on the web.  I see now why they are easier and faster in wool and in plaid!  Boy I would have loved to have some "straight of grain" to go by and some stripes to measure sets with.   And the fabric he gave me had a bit of stretch to the weave so that made for some challenges.  Anyone else make kilts?  I would love tips!

It is hanging kind of wonky on the hanger... I do hope it looks better on the body that the pics look.

So... this was forever ago- how do the belts on this work? My boyfriend wants a kilt, but also wants to make sure it will stay on.. I'm still trying to figure out a fabric for this project as well. I love the black here so I think his may also be black- but what type of fabric I wonder?

[isabelladangelo]

That would be a modern kilt and not the kind they actually wore in the very late Renaissance/early Jacobean period.  (The earliest reference to the great kilt is roughly 1590.  Before that, there is evidence of tartans being worn, but no association to specific families and not in the kilt style.  More as just a sash)  The great kilt doesn't really need a belt but is folded more like how we fold a sari today.  It's 8 yards of wool, with the last yard or so thrown over the shoulder.  If you'd like more info, just look up "great kilt 16th century" via your favorite search engine or feel free to start another thread.

[gypsylakat]

That would be a modern kilt and not the kind they actually wore in the very late Renaissance/early Jacobean period.  (The earliest reference to the great kilt is roughly 1590.  Before that, there is evidence of tartans being worn, but no association to specific families and not in the kilt style.  More as just a sash)  The great kilt doesn't really need a belt but is folded more like how we fold a sari today.  It's 8 yards of wool, with the last yard or so thrown over the shoulder.  If you'd like more info, just look up "great kilt 16th century" via your favorite search engine or feel free to start another thread.

Yup, I have done a ton of research on how to create both stitched pleats and the one time wear pleat. I was actually looking at how that specific modern style worked, My significant other wants something that he doesn't have to fool with recreating each time. I have explained the traditional kilt to him and he's not interested. He is interested in something similar to this non H/A Fairewear example.
Since I found this specific example from last year (yes I understand it was a long time ago) I thought I would ask Amy about her process here rather than hope that she sees another thread in response to a comment in this thread.

[isabelladangelo]

Yup, I have done a ton of research on how to create both stitched pleats and the one time wear pleat. I was actually looking at how that specific modern style worked, My significant other wants something that he doesn't have to fool with recreating each time. I have explained the traditional kilt to him and he's not interested. He is interested in something similar to this non H/A Fairewear example.
Since I found this specific example from last year (yes I understand it was a long time ago) I thought I would ask Amy about her process here rather than hope that she sees another thread in response to a comment in this thread.

Okay, cool!     I'd still start another thread so that, should anyone have a similar question in the future, this doesn't get "buried" in this one. 

[isabelladangelo]

DSC04265 par Isabella, on ipernity

My new chopines!


DSC04261 par Isabella, on ipernity

Ignore the jeans and Halloween socks.     I actually made chopines!   They are far from perfect but they work!  The core is pine (the board was 97 cents at Home Depot).  It's actually two pieces of the pine sandwiched together to give it height.   I then covered them in leather and added a green bow that probably will be changed out quickly.  I just used the green ribbon because it was the widest solid color ribbon I could find quickly for pictures.   

I hacked at the wood and sanded it down to something vaguely foot shaped.  The bottom leather sole is being held on with nails hammered into the wood.  I'm rather surprised at how comfortable they are. 

[Rani Zemirah]

Oh, how fun!  (love the socks, also, btw...   lol)

So... the part where your foot rests is a solid piece of wood all the way to the back of your heel, right?  And then that part is on top of a shorter oval-ish platform?  Does your unsupported heel cause any balance issues, at all, or pressure on your arch? 


Oh, and if you have a Lowe's nearby, they will let you raid their scrap lumber pile, and take home anything that is left over from a custom cut that was abandoned by another customer.  It's where we get all of our scraps, and they frequently have some really great pieces! 

[isabelladangelo]

Thanks!  The wood of the chopines is completely covered in leather.  You know those thick leather pieces they sell as scrap at hobby stores?  Those pieces just happen to be thick enough for soles.  :-)   I bought some a while ago thinking I'd make shoes eventually.   So I have a thick piece of leather at both the top and bottom while the red leather is more supple and a lot thinner (making it easy to stretch it around the wooden base). 

I thought I'd have balance issues too but...I don't.  There is a slight problem with my foot sliding but that's because I need to adjust the way the straps are on the chopines and not the chopines themselves.   (I put one strap a bit too high and just need to "patch" it so it covers my foot better.)

Because I was worried about balance, I made sure to force the weight to the center of my foot rather than walking on my heel.  When I traced out my favorite pair of flats to get the upper pattern for the wood, I checked where the longest and widest parts of the sole were and drew those out.   I then used that center point to align and design the other pieces of the chopine.  This helped immensely later on.  Since the middle of the patten should be somewhat inclined (ie, the Italian chopines all have waist lines), The bottom of the board where I drew my foot needs to be smaller and more...oval.  I then drew that same oval on the top of the other board, and on the bottom made the wider oval for the base.   Each of these pieces lined up with the center point - I sandwiched the two pieces together and sanded them.   

It sounds a lot more complicated than it was but it all allowed the weight to be distributed more evenly and gave proper alignment.  It probably makes more sense in my blog post since I have more pictures.   

http://isabelladangelo.blogspot.com/2013/09/historical-fortnightly-19-wood-metal.html

I didn't know about Lowes, thanks!   I did look at Home Depot but they no longer have a scrap pile.  However, the knotty pine boards worked perfectly.   

[isabelladangelo]

DSC04513 par Isabella, on ipernity

Not really for the Renaissance Faire - I'm planning on wearing it to one of the many 18th Century faires we have in the Washington DC area- but I thought most people here would be interested in a nice bright red cardinal cloak.   For more info: http://isabelladangelo.blogspot.com/2013/10/historical-fortnightly-20-outerwear.html

[gem]

*Sigh.* Why doesn't Kansas City have an 18th Century fair. (Ok, that's obvious... but I'm going to pout about it nonetheless.) It's lovely, Isabella!

***
I have some last-of-the-season updates, photos of some pieces in action I didn't have a chance to post before. (And I'm very sorry; I don't know why these photos look so huge here! They're not actually that big IRL.)

First, the fur shrug turned out GREAT, and I love the extra impact it gives the Valkyrie ensemble. I think it actually makes the armor more noticeable!



And here's a nice back view of the tabbed bodice so you can see how nicely the fit of the back turned out! I think this is one of my favorite photos from the whole season (only a seamstress would think that.)



And last but not least, the Obnoxious Hat! I didn't finish the dress that was supposed to go with it, but it turned out to go strangely well with my purple kirtle!



...I can't believe this season is already almost over. And I'm already thinking what I want for next year! (I really need to find a year-round outlet for this madness.)

[Rani Zemirah]

I definitely wish we had Faires nearby which we could attend all year round, as well!  We would be paupers, because I would end up spending all of my income for it... but I'm sure there are ways to make even a hovel homey... right?    heheh


Isabella, that cloak is very eye catching!  And your "model" seems to be deep in prayer... as any good Cardinal should be! 


Gem... how lovely!  The fur shrug does exactly what you were hoping it would, and I agree about it setting off the armor!  It really seems to jump out, and the fur gives it just the right amount of... luxurious barbarism, maybe... while the armor actually seems to suggest more... order and civility, almost... because of it's intricacy and workmanship. 

Almost as though these two items mirror the purposes and origins of each other... since the usual role of each is the opposite of how they appear here... with fur generally being portrayed as a symbol of wealth and refinement, and armor being one of the accoutrements of violence and aggression. 


Flights of fancy... likely because of the hour, I suppose.   Still... it looks wonderful together, and I'm glad you were able to get it done in time to wear! 

[DonaCatalina]

Gem, they all turned out wonderful.

[isabelladangelo]

Gem, I do like the hat.  It will look awesome with the German outfit when you finish it.


DSC04853 par Isabella, on ipernity

My 25 y/o baby brother's new cape!   It's out of some fabulous orange brushed denim and brown flannel backed satin.  It's not h/a but the basic cape shape hasn't changed in a few eons so I think he'll be fine.  ;-)   I'll try to get some pictures of him wearing it later.   

[Maithu Ruadh]

My finished Landsknecht costume ... at last! All hand-sewn too, but still easier than trying to figure out how to work a sewing machine.

[gem]

Oh, huzzah!!! Well done, indeed. Did you document the process anywhere? (I feel silly asking if you have a "dress diary."  )  We don't have enough German garb on the boards, and yours looks marvelous. Tell us more about it!

[Maithu Ruadh]

Thanks! I have some photos and commentary in a Facebook photo album I made during the process ... sort of like a garb diary. The first two hats in the folder were unsuccessful, but I did end up making some nicer ones that I didn't get a chance to photograph.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152595399130082.962976.525160081&type=1&l=f91d4b5a05

This is my latest piece ... not really Renaissance, though, but close -- a soldiers coat from the English Civil War. It's 100% wool with cotton lining. A nice upgrade for my ECW musketeer ensemble.