My loving DH, the pink Pirate, is helping me build my character. Lady Stitch, the sewing fairy, has been plotted out. One of the things she has done is picked up an old man's tail coat and started to sew pockets onto her coat to carry all her bits and bobbles in. The pockets I'm thinking of makeing to look like those pieces of patterns that some how always "disapear" while you are sewing.
I want to make a bandaleer of sewing spools but I'm not sure how I can do that, and still have it functional.
The big question is what should she have in her pockets?
I'm doing one lapel in safety pins. I'm making a place for all kinds of needles, and straight pins. What else should she have in her pockets? The consept is that she has all those little things that keep getting lost in your sewing/craft room. She is the person who sniches those things, and some how makes them reappear after you no longer need them. She is also the one who you want to visit to finish all those little projects you never can get done.
On the serious side, I want to have in my pockets , and maybe on my belt, anything someone would need if they had a garb malfunction at faire. Something I cna just whip out and fix for you in a jiffy while still in faire.
So, thoughts?
A thimble.
Actually, I have this awesome sewing case that I take with me almost everywhere that I'll try to take a picture of when I get home. I got it from Abraham's Lady in Gettysburg. It's just a rectangle of fabric -about 5" by 15" or so- that has a pocket a pocket on either end and you "stuff" your needles in the center. You can keep your mini scissors, pieces of thread (wound on a piece of cardboard like in most $2 sewing kits), and patches in it. It's very useful and I love taking it to both the renn fest and re-enactments.
But, yes, you need thimbles.
Mine are always gone....
Hmmmm.
Maybe extra fabric swatches and a measuring tape? One thing I always loose is my fabric pencil.
a needle threader for those of us that are sight challenged ::) Just might be a cute notion to add places..or make into earings?? A little ruler would be good as well.
A seam ripper.
Gina
I have a thimble that is made of leather with a metal insert where you would "brace" the needle...got it at Hobby Lobby
re: t he thread bandoleer...great idea- what if its set up like a bandoleer for large size ordinance but instead of a single long piece that runs the length of it sewn to hold the bullets you run shorter pieces from each side that you run one bit thru the thread/ bobbin and tie to the piece that meets it. you could tie all sorts of little things to it...
my first thought was thimble, measuring tape and marking pens/pencils. But it looks like other great minds have beat me to it ;D
Maybe a sewing gauge or two are needed.
srsly, I wish the sewing fairy would stop visiting my house :(
things that hide from me or that I tend to misplace:
my clear ruler
the stupid snips (why are the always on the other side of the room? Also, would that have to be peace-tied? lol)
the other half of a grommet set or either the hook or the eye
buttons (everyone loses buttons!)
my fabric marking device/pencil
other things that are small that i don't use often but i could see getting lost:
the short, flat head screwdriver to adjust my serger
thread wax
hem measuring tool (http://thedomesticdiva.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/panttutorial14-thumb.jpg)
the needle in my haystack wire thing that pushes turned corners out (http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?pageName=search&flag=true&PRODID=prd34443)
A friend of mine works at a wedding dress shoppe here in the Twin Cities, MN. She always has about a dozen or so pins stuck in her hair after work because she forget to take them out. The big ones with the plastic heads. Might be a cool addition to your character. She usually has her hair in a ponytail or a bun.
Bits of ribbon and leather, grommets, embroidery floss, other notions and doodads. I say, go to the craft store and get one of everything. Sew it into the inside of your pocket. You could be like one of those crackheads in Coming to America.
Hey man, whatchoo want, whatchoo want. I gots everythang here. Anything you want, I got. This is serious stuff here man, primo.
buttons? an array of buttons would be cute...
The new Alice in Wonderland had a spool bandolier, threadbanger built one in this video http://www.threadbanger.com/tb-projects/episode/THR_20091009
Here's a necklace (http://www.etsy.com/listing/48458628/petite-straight-pin-necklace-mint) made out of straight pins. I just love it!
There is also a yellow, white, and darker green too. Obviously they aren't usable anymore, but I think it's adorable. I was wondering how easy it is to make, maybe you could make one out of many different colors yourself or ask the seller to make you one :) I think your fairy idea is really awesome. It reminds me of the 'kiss' in Peter Pan, where Wendy gives Peter a thimble, right? Then he gives her an acorn, I think? Something like that ;D
And like gypsylakat said, the mad hatter had a spool bandolier, that's exactly what I thought of when you said you wanted one.
Quote from: Delireus on July 30, 2010, 02:23:03 PM
Here's a necklace (http://www.etsy.com/listing/48458628/petite-straight-pin-necklace-mint) made out of straight pins. I just love it!
wow - that is really neat!
I know! I think that person is a genius to come up with that idea, I never would have thought of it.
I have a measureing tape as a citation cord. Chalk on a string. I plan to sew buttons of all kinds and size on the coat.
Here is where I was working on her character originally. It's changed slightly but you will get the original gist.
http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=11083.0 (http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=11083.0)
Oh and tell me if you spotted someone dressed like me at a faire you would not come running if you had a garb emergency. ;D
BTW I do have a scabbard for a pair of sissors I sometimes carry around. I swear they are bigger than my angelsword dagger!
Maybe foot-long pieces of different types of lace trim, beaded trim, bias tape, strands of pearls, embroidery thread and one of those pairs of crane snips, mini tomato-shaped pin cushions, bits of cotton stuffing (cotton balls would work), strings of buttons and large hooks-n-eyes, a swatches palette, leather lacing, scraps for quilting...
Oh, and she could have two pairs of glasses (one to wear up on your head, one to hang on a chain around you neck, and you can either never find either pair, or have to constantly switch pairs to see different things). Maybe have her bodice or skirt pieced together from remnants of several different types of fabrics from different projects. Possibly a basket of mending to be done that she's gathered from the "villagers"? She could ask passersby if they had forgotten to pick up their mended stockings, or if it was that pair of bloomers in the shocking shade of pink?!?
Right now, the evil little sewing fairy is holding my magnetic pin holder hostage, with all of my large straight pins on it. It's been missing for almost a month now!
Also, just a thought, take a look at this guy http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway/season-8/designers/jason-troisi (http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway/season-8/designers/jason-troisi) in his critique with Tim Gunn video. He has what Tim calls a "fashion corset," which holds all of his sewing needs.
And though they're not period appropriate, you should probably be keeping some safety pins somewhere on your person.
At my theatre's costume shop, there's a corset someone made out of zippers. All different colors, it was really awesome. Even the ribbon holes were normal zipper pulls put sideways and the cording laced through them. I think the zipper pulls had been taken off the other zippers that made the body of the corset to avoid any 'accidental' unzippings :P
It was like this (http://img.coplusk.net/projects/0000/6202/DSC01633_1220504728.jpg), only a corset.
Anyways, it was very colorful and fun, but now that I think of it, maybe you're going for a more 'garby' looking outfit rather than being decked out in zippers.
I have a ton on zippers floating around and have wanted to make a zipper corset for sometime but had no idea how to do the corset lacing without it looking dumb, thanks for the tip Delireus!
Safety pins
Quote from: ArielCallista on July 31, 2010, 12:07:32 PM
I have a ton on zippers floating around and have wanted to make a zipper corset for sometime but had no idea how to do the corset lacing without it looking dumb, thanks for the tip Delireus!
No problem :) I thought the way my teacher laced it was really cool. I think it had shoulder straps too, not just an under bust, but either way I bet it'll look good. I'm sure it'll take some trial and error to get the pulls really secure enough to hold the corset together but good luck to you!
I started on a skirt this weekend. I am trying to decide if I want to make it gypsy style, all flowy and gathered, circle skirt, or just gathered at the waist.
I'm making the skirt out of all the bits left over from projects. I have more scraps then I know what to do with so this is working out great.
I like your idea about the trims. I might try the basket thing. I saved a beautiful basket from my mother in law recently and might put it to good use that way. The only problem is, I am natoriously forgetful. Unless it is clamped to my belt I will leave it somewhere. Another reason why I like the idea of everything sew onto the coat. :)
I think I may have to track down a pair of those maginfying readers that are half lenses. That way they can stay on my nose so I can see stitches.
I think the DH might get a little anoyed with me carrying around mending. :) He already is being driven nuts by me carrying around my cross stich in RL LOL
Oooooh, can't wait to see what you come up with! Sounds like Lady Stitch is going to be fun to portray!!!
I see a BIG needle and thread tucked into a pocket or worn like a sword :D
I suppose you could make that from a dowel rod and paint it silver. You would have to carefully drill out the head for the 'eye'....
The Pink Pirate has really got into making props. I'm going to see what he can come up with. For all I did to make Jean Flamingo the Pink Pirate, he can help me a little with Lady Stitch. :)
To be honest what I REALLY would like is a pair of antique industrial sissors. They are like 18-24 inches long. These were the sissors the cutters would use in factories before machines took over. That is the sword that Lady Stitch needs to carry. I already have a pair of fully functional sissors/dagger that I keep in my cleavage. I don't know how many times I have had to snip a thread for someone with those. ;D
Try searching for ceremonial ribbon cutting scissors.
Like these...
http://www.ceremonialscissors.com/?source=googleaw
Those look cool, Dinobabe. I can just see Lady Stitch being the first person to have to peace tie a pair of scissors, too!
Quote from: Lady Kett on August 03, 2010, 07:22:04 PM
Those look cool, Dinobabe. I can just see Lady Stitch being the first person to have to peace tie a pair of scissors, too!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Lady Kett on August 03, 2010, 07:22:04 PM
Those look cool, Dinobabe. I can just see Lady Stitch being the first person to have to peace tie a pair of scissors, too!
I would most certainly have to peace tie those 20 inch functional ceramonial sissors. ;D
How about a collection of bodkins? I had a sterling bodkin and so regret selling it.
On the other end- unseen but helpful Fabric glue or super glue!
I love fancy embroidery scissors too!
Oh!!! I was just perusing eBay, as I often do, and came across this little item (http://cgi.ebay.com/Renaissance-Medieval-Scissors-Dagger-Dirk-Knife-Bodice-/200510702828?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0), and immediately thought of your new character!!! Looks like just the thing she might carry! You'll have to hurry, though, because it ends in less than 2 days... Decent starting bid, though, and free shipping, and so far no other bids! :D
If you don't bid on those I will hunt you down and slap you silly! ;D
Well, she hasn't logged in here since the 23rd, so I'm afraid she's going to miss them!!! There was another pair in silver, though, but I didn't look to see when the auction ends on that pair.
Oops, just found another pair in black steel (http://cgi.ebay.com/10-Medieval-Renaissance-Bodice-Scissors-Dagger-Knife-/110418604578?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0), of all things, with the gold handles, on a "buy it now" auction, with no expiration date!
They look readily available from other vendors too, in case the ebay auctions expire:
Swords Swords (http://www.swordsswords.com/medieval-renaissance-scissors-bodice-dagger-knife.aspx)
Sword N Armory (http://www.swordnarmory.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=KE-001GD)
Best Knives & Swords (http://www.bestknivesandswords.com/Medieval-Renaissance-Scissors-Bodice-Dagger-Dirk/A/B0032ZF6R2.htm)
Of course I have no idea who these vendors are and there's no ebay feedback, so your Google Roulette experience may vary.
Well, for the price I'd say take a chance on any of them! They're pretty cool... :D
Quote from: Queen Bonnie on August 04, 2010, 05:46:12 PM
How about a collection of bodkins? I had a sterling bodkin and so regret selling it.
On the other end- unseen but helpful Fabric glue or super glue!
I love fancy embroidery scissors too!
second the bodkin idea... as I am always losing mine!
I already own them. :) They were one of the first pieces I picked up. I've been REALLY busy lately so haven't been able to get on here.
Awesome!!! :D
The sissors dagger has been my bodice dagger for a while now. :)
BTW I added a bag/pouce to my design. I hand cross stitched a design on it that has all kinds of sewing impliments, and says "What ye sew, ye shall rip". Fitting huh? :)
I'm thinking of taking the pattern for the string of thread spools and make a boarder pattern to stitch on a cuff or collar of my coat... if I can ever get it.