Rosalie Gilbert

Progress is hard when you've mad sad discoveries about the thing you're working on. It kind of takes the will to do nice work and finish it.

I'm now sewing like mad on a green cloak. I unpicked the machine stitching to hand sew it and have discovered 9 tiny holes in the fabric. I knew it was recycled wool when I bought it, but hadn't seen all the holes until I started draping it and sewing on it, so now I'm sad that I paid a good price for a cloak that has holes in it already.

I had plans to put fancy jewelled brooches on it but I won't bother now, and it's already been dropped down to Not A Good Cloak already before it's even finished.

Sigh.

Photo to follow.

Down where the water lilies grow, wearing my sand wool surcote for the first time!

Another photo from AROW, one of the very few which is usable. My thanks to my friend Nigel for taking this one.

Slowly slowly. The neckline has two rows of stitching now and I'm sewing the sleeves on. it really is the loveliest wool to work with and I really am a bit in love with it.

I've made some good progress on my next kirtle brought about by needing a bigger size. The back and side gores are finished, and the side seams are partly done.


The neck is cut and a small linen facing strip is pinned in place.


I haven't put the sleeves on yet to allow better access to the neck, but I'll make a start  sometime this week.

So far so good, though, and the fabric is great to work with. Nice and light! 

These little green peas are all attached now and looking great!

I have a BUTTON MAKING TUTORIAL here if anyone should need it.

I've done this as a workshop a number of times with members of the public. It's always fun, and people have come up with the novel uses for their buttons! Re-enactors want to use them for clothing, some public also want to do this, but others have fun ideas like 3D frog's eyes on sock puppets, on a purse for decoration, to jazz up a Xmas jumper with a tree on it (they were going to add them where the baubles were printed on to make them stand out!) Anyway, for a fun craft idea, think outside the box and they could be almost anything!

And here they are in place!

I'm delighted to announce that the biggest wall hanging which is often used for a bed curtain is complete with green woven band at the top and hooks to hand with. I have a rope which goes around the tent poles which the curtain hooks on to. Hopefully I have spaced them well enough to not sag, but f not, a hook in between each one will rectify the situation.

It's not totally the end of the project. I have some extra panels of curtains which I also will be finishing, but as a backdrop to something I want to use the weekend after this one coming, it's big enough as it is. I really do need to complete another project which has been lingering for an extended amount of time. The long-suffering kontusz, which, I know for a fact, the owned would be delighted to wear for the same event I want the roses wall hangings for.

And, as always, a number of other things on the go which must be dealt with- walking the cat, taking time to play with her in the garden, reading research books, food shopping, house inspections, cat sitters, packing for events, my actual day job, writing on the next few books, doing paperwork for my group to attend the upcoming events, social media, and I really want to get the three blog posts done for the three tooth care recipes we tried at collegium.

I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

 Is it part 100 or more? 

I know this project has been ticking away for a long time, but it's getting closer to being finished. I'm still sewing the top band on but every bit I do is a bit more done.