Rosalie Gilbert

The little linen early 14th century gowne is finished.

I stayed up late and after completing the side seams and hem, pinned in the reinforcing strip around the neck, stitched it into place and made two little eyelets for a brooch closure. I'm very happy with it.

I have cut a gore for the back of the gowne, but since it's being worn by a slender young lady in a few months, I feel it isn't really needed. Before I was it, I will split up the back and put the gore in, as the amount of growing likely to happen before next year and the next wear will be substantial. The extra gore will make a nice flow over her shape, whereas this year, the young lady is still quite slender.

Anyway, it's finished, and I'll post up a photo of it soonish.

I had a little down time last night so I pinned the linen reinforcing strip to the inside of my new, sand coloured surcote, and since the movie wasn't quite finished, I started sewing it in.

I'm using a stab stitch for a firm result, and I did manage to complete both the top and the bottom. The strip itself has the raw ends folded underneath, making it neat and since it goes around, it provides extra stability over the shoulder seams.

I've been redoing the photos for some of my sewing galleries.



The ones for my own medieval clothes now have blue backgrounds with my Crowned R logo at the left hand at the top, and an accompanying image from a manuscript or painting. You can't quite see the three little dots on the surcote of the lady in the picture, but it's quite a common design.



The dress accessories and things I've sewn for other people are on clear backgrounds along with a watermarked Crowned R and picture as well. I really love the clean, clear look of the white background, but the dark blue backgrounds of the others look pretty nice too! I originally planned to do everything on the blue backgrounds, but for now, the clear ones are quick and easy, and I may go back later on and do the blue. Or maybe I should have stuck to the clear.

I plan to do my entire medieval inventory with the logo just because it's fun, but it's a lot of photos. At the moment, they have white backgrounds, so it would be easier and faster.

I really should be working on other things, but sometimes I just need to turn my brain off and do something else and I do love fiddling around with my website, and the entire inventory and galleries are online so I can find them when I'm out and about on my phone.

Once they're all done, I can upload them, hopefully in the next few days.

The wool surcote made with the double-sided wool is coming along nicely! I've managed to get a lot of it finished, though I still might add an extra gore in the front. I have enough fabric and many of the extant ones do. Sewing the edges of the gore. I have discovered over the years the sewing the edges first of thicker wool is easier, but absolutely not stronger than a good old-fashioned stab stitch. I still sew the pieces together first if it's a really thin wool.

I've checked the back gore before sewing the edges and pinning it in. This will be a bit tailored around the body and have high armholes to keep me warm. I've learned that when sewing large wool pieces, it works well to sew each piece then stitch together after. It's not as strong as sewing the pieces together first, but on over-garments, it works fine.

Here's the back gore placed and ready to stitch in!

I'm very happy with how this is progressing!

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!