Finishing

Posted by on Monday, March 7th, 2011


I don’t have a lot of time, but I do have a few pictures.  Forgive how schlumpy these all look–I don’t have a dress form, so you have to imagine a body inside these.  All of these garments are fitted to the waist with full skirts.

This is a new linen Hedeby traggerrok (apron dress) over an old linen dress.

Let’s look more closely at the jewelry.  Because, really, that’s what it’s all about.  Those fantastic brooches started all of this trouble, forcing me to make new Scandinavian stuff for the first time in ages.  They are are reproductions of a Finnish design, and I got them from Scot and Maggie last year. The two lunikeits are astoundingly beautiful examples of granulated silver, and were presents from Scott.  I’ve talked about them before.  My friend Ragnheld made the silver coins on the agate strand.  The lowermost necklace is new too–I strung up a bunch of lampwork beads I’d been collecting for ages along with my old silver Romersdal reproduction hammer.  Every single one of those lampwork beads was worked by someone I adore.  One is my particular favorite–feel free to guess which.

Look at how gorgeous those beads are!  I don’t need to take up lampwork, I don’t need to take up lampwork, I don’t need to take up lampwork . . .

They’re resting on a new woolen traggerrok which I’m currently unhappy with, so that’s all anyone is seeing until I spend some time with it.

I also made myself a coat, which is much prettier than it seems here.  It’s a lovely fine teal textured wool lined with a raw silk lining.  Oh, the glories of the silk road!  It also has a heavy flannel interlining, so it should be nice and toasty–probably too warm for the long hall.  I’m hoping to find the perfect brooch for it.  I made a similar coat for Scott, which will get handmade buttons.  For whatever reason, the women’s coats found so far were just closed with brooches, so that’s what I’ll do.

This next ensemble is absolutely ludicrous in its extravagance, in historical terms.  It’s a cranberry silk dress (documentable) under a wool/silk blend dress (also documentable), and between the two I probably used about 10 yards of fabric.  Ludicrous.  And so comfortable and pretty.  I won’t wear it to work, I won’t wear it to work, I won’t wear it to work . . .

And, in case you thought I abandoned my quilt . . . here is the test square.  I quilted it, subjected it to the cats, and machine washed it a couple of times.  It’s holding up beautifully.  Yarrow’s fur does show up on the black, but so be it.  My hope is that they’ll choose to lie on this rather than the full quilt.  I am used to being disappointed by my pets.

Filed in blather,Celtic,sewing,Travel | 5 responses so far

5 Responses to “Finishing”

  1. Gudrunon 08 Mar 2011 at 11:14 am 1

    I love the Viking garb! Which traggerrock pattern/layout do you use? And the coat, any pointers to documentation/patterns? Thanks!

  2. gayleon 09 Mar 2011 at 9:18 am 2

    Okay, I just spent a happy hour+ rambling around looking at Viking garb research. (Thanks! :} )
    Love the ensembles – the jewelry is fabulous! (I’ve felt that lampwork temptation, too…)
    Thanks for the photos! I love costuming.

  3. bullwinkleon 13 Mar 2011 at 6:47 pm 3

    Love the clothing. But the jewelry is just fabulous! (But I will not do lampwork. Not. No. (Those colors get me every time!))

  4. kon 18 Mar 2011 at 10:37 pm 4

    I probably would learn more hanging around with you and yours than in school.
    That coat looks like just the ticket.
    (No. I am not even going to look at the cranberry dresses. No.)

  5. lellaon 03 Apr 2011 at 12:24 am 5

    Lovely, gorgeous, stupendous work! Love your sewing!

    I want to be a young metal smith again, but will not live another life just for that. Silly, I know.

    Go ahead and take up a bead class. You will love it, and you don’t really need a lot to make amazing beads. I’ve seen people at rockhound shows making them with a butane torch, brazing rods and only a can of perlite set inside a firebrick “oven”, and heated by another butane torch. Bad writing, I know and too long. I’m enthusiastic for you to try your hand. nighty night! need sleep!

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