Tired doesn't cover it.

Well that was an amazing 12 days. So here is the results of the Pelican Garb Project:

• Linen Undertunic
• White Silk Vigil Tunic
• Green Wool Elevation Tunic
• Vigil Book
• Pelican Necklace

Not bad. When I find someone who is willing to share pictures of the elevation I will post pictures. I am  too tired to do an extensive debrief at this time.

My Muse is a Demented Creature

So last night as I finished constructing Tadhg's under tunic I came to the realization that the linen is just too thin for him to wear by itself. So being the rational sane woman that I am decided that now he needed a Vigil tunic.

I have lovely white raw silk.

I have lovely brocade.

I have issues.

Tadhg has a Vigil tunic.

Here is the finished under tunic all pressed and pretty. That lasted about ten seconds, this linen wrinkles like a big wrinkly thing.

And here is Himself modeling the Vigil tunic. It is inspired by the Holy Roman Empire Alb. Sorry there just wasn't enough time to add the pearls.

The Vigil tunic actually needs a hem before I can call it officially finished. I am going to let it hang for a few days at least so that the bias can settle.

Tomorrow the St. George. . . at least I get to start on the lining.

The Calm Before the Storm.

So the measurements have been taken. The palette of colors and fabrics has been finalized, as well as the design.

Lucky for me we have had a lot of company and meetings at the house, so the sewing area was finally completed. Let me take you on the tour. . .

Here is the entire space. Note the striped bar that was left by the previous owner. It nicely cuts the space off from the rest of the dining room, and as it is actually two dressers it provides awesome storage. The bar also features a removable ironing surface.

Here is the desk, and drawer side of the striped bar.

Here you can see the doors open to all of my stuff nicely organized. Mostly. Also more storage from the vanity.

Left side of the wall 'o closets.

Here are the fabrics we decided on. The main fabric is a lovely mossy green wool. The complementing fabric is silver and blue silk.

Here is the concept sketch of the St. George Bliaut.

Well here we go!

You're getting your Pelican when!?!

So last night I attended Baronial Council. Tadhg stayed at home with the children, but we were texting back and forth regarding business. So when I got this message "King/Queen just called. Offered me my Pelican @ 11th Night." needless to say I just about lost it. So after the squeeing was over I realized that leaves me with less than 2 weeks to make his Elevation garb. Crap. So here I go . . . wish me luck!

Lucky for me Tadhg loves the Norman style, and has the perfect body for it as well. Also lucky I have a pretty good fabric stash. In the stash is a piece of fabric I bought knowing that one day he would eventually be a Pelican.

The fabric is a linen cotton, the color doesn't really show very clearly on the picture, but it is a green and black cross woven. There is enough of the fabric to do the lower trim on a Roger II style tunic.

So now the decision is what to do for the main portion of the tunic. So the three linen choices from the stash is a two toned silver, a green that almost matches, and black. So far I am leaning towards the black even though I had been saving it for myself.

 So stay tuned to the progress as I lose my ever-loving mind.

EDIT: Decided to change course, and go for a St. George style Bliaut. I have been wanting to do this for quite a few years, and since we already did the Roger II I get to try something new. I have a lovely light wool that has been telling me it wants to be a Bliaut, and Tadhg really liked it when I pulled it out. Since it is his ceremony I figure that I should make him what he wants, and luckily I married a man that likes the clothes I make him, so we both win.

Morrghan's Medieval Men's Hose

This is a rough outline of how I make my  Medieval Men's Hose. I plan on updating it when I can take pictures again (camera batteries refuse to charge). This hose pattern is made from three pieces. Each piece is generated by fitting against the wearer's leg and foot respectively. 

• Take a basic leg measurement

• Hip to Heel _____ 
• Thigh _____
• Ankle _____

• Cut a rough pattern on the bias to match the leg measurement, add in extra room around the pattern. This will become your seam allowance and ease. 

• Trace around the foot of the wearer adding S/A, and a point on the back of the heel. The point will come up the heel, and connect to the back seam about 2". Remember it is easier to trim off excess than it is to cut out a new piece so don't worry if it seems too big.

• Cut a square large enough to cover the foot from the toes up the ankle.
• Cut a slit up the center of the piece at the ankle. About 3"-4" enough for the leg to touch the floor without bunching at the ankle.
• Have your wearer, preferably in his braies, stand very still. Begin pinning the leg piece around the ankle fitting tightly up the leg. I use curved quilters safety pins, they are made of awesome and I recommend them to everyone. 
• Mark the seam on both sides before unpinning. Trim off the excess fabric leaving your S/A. 
• Take the square and insert the point as you would a gore (see Gore tutorial).

• Sew the back seam, leaving the bottom 2" open. 

• Have the wearer put the leg piece back on and stand on the foot piece. Pin the two pieces together around the wearer's foot. 

• Carefully take the hose piece off without unpinning, this is why I prefer the curved safety pins, no stabbity. If you cannot get the wearer's foot out of the hose you need to adjust the amount of ease in the heel.
• Once you have made sure that the wearer can remove the hose, trim the excess off of the foot pieces. Sew the foot seam.

• Finish all of your seams, and add a cord or eyelets to the top point, and viola you made hose.

Time Flies

I am sorry for the lack of content. It has been difficult to post without having a computer at home. In positive news, the journey of the past two years to becoming home owners is finally over. We are the proud owners of a 1969 Ranch style home. It is in desperate need of paint and flooring, and we are doing what we can there. The square footage of living space is double what we had, and even though I don't get my very own sewing room, I will have a dedicated space that can be safe guarded from the grabby hands of toddlers.

Now onto the tour:


Here is our pink wallpapered Bathroom. It is currently stripped halfway, because o_O who wants pink wallpaper!?!


This is the Front living room, this has a passthorugh to the Family room. We chose a Gold paint for this room, and the hallway.


Here is the Dining Room looking into the Kitchen. The teeny tiny Kitchen. Luckily the closet on the other side of the wall is expendable, and we will be expanding. The Table and Hutch came with the house! We also found the extension leafs for the table we will be able to have lots of people over for dinner!


This is the Family Room. The wierd Black and white thing is a bookcase that will be moved out. We chose a dark green for this room, and Husband wants to put the TV on the wall. We will need to have the Pellet stove inspected before we can use it, but woo hoo a pellet stove!

Here you can sort of see one of the closets that line the far wall of the dining room. There are four of them and with a little cleaning, and modification, they will turn into the sewing space. I'll have to get better pics.

Another view of the living room and the front door. Notice the crystal Chandelier. This picture does not do justice to the amount of dust and grime covering it. I think I will take it down and clean it up, but so many other things to do first.

Both the front yard and the back yard are good sized, and the neighbors have all dropped by to say hello. We haven't even been there a week, and I know more neighbors here than I ever met at any of the other places I've lived.

So that's my new house! We are still in heavy cleaning mode before we can move in, but the rewards are priceless. Now if only I could figure out how to raise money to replace the flooring. . . :)