Gallery of In Progress Projects

Kate XXXXXX · October 12, 2013, 03:00:09 AM

Queen Elizabeth's Mock Kirtle!

I've used the pattern twice before (Lady Prudence's frocks at Maelstrom), so I could just cut it and fly. I've had this sari in the stash for a few years, and the bit of brocade is something we got as a speculative piece but never got made up, so, as they go together reasonably well, we thought 'That'll do, Donky!'

This is our 'Mock Kirtle' pattern, developed to give a flavour of the 16th and 17th C without going the whole pair of bodies+farthingale+bumroll route to insanity...

I measured off enough for the skirt and checked the width. Then sliced the border off one side... That got used up the front opening and across the bodice...

I'm lining it with the remains of my black Ulster linen, last seen as the lining and kirtle of the Burgundian. It has a crispness that will be useful as the sari is very floppy.

The paisley brocade will be made into an underskirt. With pockets! I'll probably line it with cotton sateen.

Rani Zemirah · October 12, 2013, 03:40:12 AM

Oooooh!! Soooo pretty!!!

Lady Kathleen of Olmsted · October 12, 2013, 09:06:00 AM

Kate!

This is going to look outstanding! That Paisley is to die for! So clever of you to use part of it as trim. I have done that in place of actual trim as well with fabrics that are multi-busy.

Kate XXXXXX · October 12, 2013, 12:43:42 PM

It was fun working out what to do and where to put the trim! As I want a totally reeediculous collar, and the back of the neck is curved, I avoided putting the trim there...

I want this:

I'll probably have time to make this!

Kate XXXXXX · October 14, 2013, 07:08:14 PM

Well, the gown is done! Now I need to make the petticoat, the collar, and the cuffs! That won't happen for a day or two, as I have customer work to do first...

Not too shabby for a frock made out of a sari and some left-over linen, I don't think...

Lady Kathleen of Olmsted · October 14, 2013, 11:24:20 PM

Looking very good, Kate!

Kate XXXXXX · October 15, 2013, 03:14:18 AM

Thanks. With a few more inches of fabric, I'd have 'fussy cut' the front panels of the bodice so the pattern lined up... Who'd have thought it would be woven differently at each edge!

Kate XXXXXX · October 22, 2013, 07:19:03 AM

Some more localized insanity... Fret not! 'Tis not contagious - and anyway, I'm too far away!

For a different game at the same event as the previous costume, I need 'armour'. Character colour code is black and silver...

Last year, to play the same character, I wore the Funeral Suit and some silver accessories. This year the accessory will need to be 'armour'. I thought a silver gorget and possibly some vambraces to go over the suit would do fine (it's a single evening game. Let's not get into steel plate or vast expense! Though I may want to borrow a LARP safe axe!)

Dug fun looking pattern and some pictures out of teh interwebs... Dirk's gorget pattern was closest to what I wanted, so after a bit of skiddling with the printer to get it the approximate size, we had Paper Pattern Mk I.

I photocopied it and made it up. Hm... Took bits apart, put it on Caroline, re-stuck bits so it (a) fitted together better, and (b) fitted ME better!

Scribbled STUFF on pattern... Cut pattern apart again and traced of Paper Pattern Mk II, with added alterations.

I am currently debating within myself the method of closure... Mad silver frogs up the front, velcro on the left shoulder, lacing up the back... They have their pros and cons.

Mad Silver Frogs look good on the shiny fabric, and I've used them before on the silver doublet, but I HAVE used them before...

Velcro gives a neat smooth finish and allows me to use the decoration I want on the front (a heavy pewter Celtic gorget style necklace), but catches in my hair...

Lacing up the back requires help to get in, but also allows for necklace decoration at the front.

Suggestions welcome!

This will be made out of shiny silver fabric with a thick firm non-woven interfacing on the inside. It'll be firm enough to hold shape well, but not stiff like leather or hard like steel plate. I may bone the center front breastplate seam so it holds shape better... That will be light weight plastic boning (but NOT Rigeline!) if needed.

isabelladangelo · October 22, 2013, 07:51:55 AM

Kate, snaps? Or a couple of small buttons on the side that are out of the same fabric as the base so they aren't easily seen?

I'd just use metal frogs up the front to close it but I think you are saying there will be some sort of other decoration there?

Kate XXXXXX · October 22, 2013, 07:59:15 AM

I might try covering some buttons... I could put some on the other side to match! I don't think sewing snaps on this fabric would work, but there may be some of those hammer in type in the stash... Ponders... Like the idea of hammer in snaps. Putting them on both sides could make them look more like rivet heads!

Yes, I want to put the knotted beasts necklace on the front, so the frogs would interfere with that.

gem · October 22, 2013, 11:18:19 AM

Wow, Kate, what a project! And funny timing--Milord has been complaining that his Gimli cloak chokes him (nature of the beast; it doesn't have shoulders), so I want to make him a gorget to go under it. Did you say you found a prototype pattern online?

Quote from: Kate XXXXXX on October 22, 2013, 07:19:03 AM
Dug fun looking pattern and some pictures out of teh interwebs... Dirk's gorget pattern was closest to what I wanted

Kate XXXXXX · October 22, 2013, 02:25:34 PM

Here: http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/olafvanta/Dirk/armor/armor.htm

Kate XXXXXX · October 22, 2013, 04:01:37 PM

OK, time for the SHINY!

The fabric is the same stuff I made the first two items from... I made the thigh-high spats several years ago, and the doublet was Boo Boo Marlowe's in a Consequences game last year...