My first really complex costume!

The various pieces were constructed/collected over a broad timeframe - the stays took about two years to make, and the jewelry is stuff I'd collected over about four years, and the shirt and breeches were made in the few days before my very first festival, when I went "AHHH! I don't have a pirate costume!" and ran to the fabric store. The breeches were totally experimental - they need some adjustments, but I'm astonished they worked as well as they did. Also, it was my first time performing a principal role, and I'd had only two days to prepare, but that's another story.

Costume: Brigit O'Malley/Pirate Queen

Costume Pieces

Constructed: Linen shirt, stays (18th century corset - period correct!), black linen breeches.

Purchased: Sashes, jewelry, shoes, stockings, belt and sword frog (from theinnerbailey.com - awesome people), rapier

Borrowed: Black frock coat (for the purpose of the play only) from David/Nathaniel. The coat was rather too dignified for his character - good thing we're both tall and lanky.

Combat Utility:

The costume is a bit problematic. The stays mean I have no spinal flexebility at all, and the breeches mean my ability to bend at the knees is rather limited. I can do sword fights just fine, but any stunts are right out. Oh, and my breathing's really restricted.

Comfort:

None. It kinda sucks to wear. Though I finally get to wear pants. That was exciting. Trips to the bathroom are a challenge, and pretty much require completely undressing. (Might seem TMI, but it's a serious concern when you're performing for a 12hr day.)

I like it. I like it a lot.

More pictures!

Stupid guards can't keep a castle secure. Except maybe by accident.

Some actual sword fighting (street theatre!), vs. the true owner of the black coat. See? I told you we were both tall and lanky. And here you can actually see what the bottom part of my costume looks like. The gauntlet is there because of a loose wire on the hilt of my sword, and yeah, my hair really is that long. (Now that I'm performing, I always get asked if it's a wig...)

Left to right: Nathaniel (David), Lucien (Luke), Brigit (Me)

It was a good gig. Grueling, but good.

A Brave Jacket

So, I've figured out the gauge for my next knitting project (I know, I know) which is sort of a momentous occasion because I have this really bad habit only paying lip service to swatching at best - I will maybe make it through about five rows, measure it, smush it until it fits, and say, good enough. Mostly I knit smaller things or things where gauge doesn't really matter, so it's been okay. But since my Mariah sweater turned out, well, huge (but wearable - don't worry sweater, I still love you) I'm taking way more care this time around with things like fit.

So now I am agonizing about what size to knit of the Heroine jacket, which I fell in love with because it resembles an 18th century workman's jacket. (Resembles. Sort of. It's most likely inspired by something like one, what with the facings and everything.)

I am agonizing. Seriously. I think tomorrow I shall have to measure various items of clothing in my possession and try to make a decision that way.

New year come, old year go

One of the things that happens when you lose track of reality for a bit is that I spend so much time actually talking to myself in my head that I sort of stop needing to talk to myself on the internet. Hence the fact that I have not kept track of my projects here at all for a while, and I'm sure the way I'm now italicizing like some idiotic Recency heroine has something to do with it. Because while I am no longer spinning in circles, I'm still trying to figure out which way is up.

Most fun news - I finished the Thing That Was Supposed To Be Done For Christmas For My Mom. (aka a Waves of Grain scarf in Knitpicks' Shimmer (colorway Sherry) and damn if I don't desperately want to do something with the colorway Blue Glass because it practically glows.) Anyway, the scarf turned out well, but is as of yet unblocked, so I'll wait to photodocument until there are actually photographs.

The method for grafting-in-lace described it extremely clever, and is otherwise awesome because it worked really well, and the times when I don't screw up when trying to graft things I feel like a queen.

In other news, I finished a pair of Endpaper Mitts, and learned a new cast-off and cast-on. Also they are supremely cool,very warm, and not bulky due to fitting snugly and being knit out of fingering weight wool. They were also my first bit of two-color knitting in a really, really, really long time. So they were fun.

One of these days, I am going to do a sort of year in review post of the stuff I've knitting/finished this year. And I'm going to title it something like Tragic Love Stories Are Only Nice If They Are Not Actually Your Life, just because I can.

Found!

Haha, I found the yarn for my mom's Fetching and started my brother's sweater! Woohoo!

Final exams and papers suck.

On the other hand, (and I don't even remember if I made note of this yet) I finished my scarf, except for the fringes. Hopefully this scarf won't go the way of my Doctor Who scarf, which was finished a year and a half ago and still hasn't been fringed.

On the other hand, I have absolutely fallen in love with some of the patterns in the new Twist Collective. Looks like my knitting frenzy isn't over after all - I just need to finish my mittens for real (embroidery! must take all that home and make myself do it), fringe my two scarves, cast on for my other embroidered mittens and get cracking on Andreas' sweater. And work on my Muir, which I love and which should be very, very warm.

The sweater largely because it has gotten horrifyingly cold here and I bet he's feeling the cold right now as well. I greatly regretted not taking my new scarf to work. Or any scarf. My neck was very cold.

In other news, I have a lot of sewing that I want to get to as well! Argh. So many projects, so little time! I can't wait for my new and improved extended winter break. And Thanksgiving break, of course. Although I do hope that I can manage to get my evolution paper done this weekend, or I won't end up having much time to work on my projects!

PS. May I add that going visiting this past weekend was the best thing ever? Not only for my desire to work on my projects, but also my energy for working on school work and job applications.

Exciting Things, Trip Included

So, I started a pair of mittens today. (I know, I know, but my scarf is coming along so nicely!) I'm excited about them, but not entirely sure about the sizing.

In other news, on a trip to DC during fall break, my traveling companions agreed to take a trip to Mt. Vernon.

It was wonderful to see it again. I got so sick of sewing over the summer due to the tight deadlines for difficult projects. Visiting the Washingtons did a lot to remind me of why I like it so much. (On top of that, everything I learn about the General only makes me like him more. My impression is that he was a person of true quality.)

Also? I got a fan. A pretty pretty painted fan, which I had been hoping to get, but hadn't mentioned, and actually ended up sneaking away from lunch to go purchase. (I love it more every time I look at it, and it's even double sided!)

The fan and the visit to Mt Vernon have inspired me to continue working on my nicer period clothes, and my brother's - since due to an odd arrangement of holidays, I can be home for the regiment holiday party!

Durrow

Working on swatching for my brother's sweater. As he's a skinny guy, the pattern needs some adjusting so it'll fit him the way he'd like it to.

Adjustment notes:

Needed Gauge: 21sts=4in
Body length: 17in+?=length to armhole
Sleeve length: 18+?=to armhole

I need Mom to grab him and take some measurements. Meanwhile, I'm trying to swatch without a limit of needles.

First attempt: 4mm needles