Sheep and Wool was fun, though work. But mostly fun. One thing that was less than fun was the whole "I will touch all the stuff you have on display without asking" thing, but it only got really irritating when people either tried to rip my knitting off the board it was pinned to, or children with sticky hands grabbed things (and stuff out of my basket, which was not part of the display) while their parents smiled indulgently. Precisely two sets of parents asked their children not to touch.
I wonder if they'd feel similarly sanguine about me banging an ice-cream covered spoon on their really nice clothes.
Otherwise, it was good - I saw lots of people -
chargirlgenius, I know you don't think so, but you are smokin' hot, and I'm happy for people to think we're sisters any day - and talked to people, most of whom were absolutely mesmerized by my ability to talk and knit at the same time.
I got my mitten done (pic courtesy of
pinkleader):

(The grey thing in front is one mitten, the other is in my hands)
...and the lacing? Worked like a dream. I got lots and lots of compliments on my outfit all day, and one guy even took a picture and gave me a copy on Sunday:

A bunch of people were fascinated by my shoulder points - they worked well, so well that I'm putting point holes in my red bodies so I can wear the blue sleeves with them. I also ended up talking to a lot of 17th century museum/historic farm volunteers from all over; I tried to help a couple of them with costuming questions (I was grilled! Grilled, I tells ya!), and mostly did okay. I handed out my personal card to a number of people (who will probably be very confused by the Attack Laurel pages).
I had a couple of down moments (extra from the touchy-touchy, which is something I deal with at J'town too); one woman got really, really angry at me (in a restrained, but hostile way) because I didn't have the patterns for any of the pieces I was displaying - to be honest, I don't know how to write patterns. I guessed, and made notes to myself. I think she might have been a little confused about the purpose of the display, and I found out later that there was a central repository for free patterns, so maybe she was hoping I had them. Honestly, though - a mitten is a mitten, and a sock is a sock. I told her about the Plimoth pattern book.
The other one was a knitter who does 17th century stuff, and I was just chatting amiably about the knitting machine, and she cut me off with a "yes, I know all about knitting machines". I just wanted to enthuse with someone who would get the cool economic effects of knitting in the 16th century - I wasn't trying to demo to her. *sigh* I felt dissed.
But never mind - I got to discuss economic theory with several interested tourists who enjoyed it a lot, and said it really made the past come alive.
And I discussed my clothes almost more than I discussed knitting! People were all about the clothes, and I didn't mind showing off my new sleeves. :)
The petticoat/bodies lacing technique worked so well I'm doing it with all my bodies - I used the spacing of the Pfaltzgrafina bodies (with adjustment for boning), and got no gappage and a rock solid setup all weekend (I even stepped on my skirt twice, with no movement). ETA: The key point I was looking for with this project was not that the points need to be in - we were mostly talking about how and where, since we knew points were used, but the fastening of the opening of the skirt to the opening in the bodies - with them laced together, the whole outfit had a strength and solidity that pointing alone (which I've done before, once) didn't give me. It's all in the front.
(I just thought I should clarify, since a number of you will be going "what's new about points? I've done them for years". :) )
A couple of pics of the setup (I'll put the full set up when I write the article, but that may be a couple of months):


I also impressed a number of people with my apron setup - I tucked the ends into the waistband (like you do) and made a pocket for my wool, so I could knit while standing. Several people asked about my "pocket apron", and were flatteringly amazed when I simply pulled out one corner and showed them it was just an apron. I had Caemfind doing it by the end of Saturday - it's so convenient! - and a couple of other people saying they were going to do it, too, after I explained it was a correct usage of the apron.
Starting a new fashion (mind you, a bunch of you lot have probably done this for years) trend locally, yay me.
(apron=pocket!)
Caemfind was a delightful knitting/demo companion - we already have plans for improving our display if we're invited back next year (I have no idea).
pinkleadercame shopping with me, and (singsong voice) weeeee have something for
theblueleader(/singsong voice)! I also bought hemp thread (thick; perfect for braiding cords) from a great shop, www.flyingfibers.com, who also carry rare breed and organic wools from the UK in gorgeous colours. They have long-wool breeds, which produce a sheeny, gorgeous yarn. I highly recommend them, and they're super-nice people (she's American, he's British).
And, since it turns out we might not be supposed to accept money personally for the demo, if I get a cheque, I'm probably going to donate it to the Kingdom Travel Fund (or something).
Jamestown next weekend - I have to put lacing holes in my blue linen skirt and my red bodies. *excitement*
I wonder if they'd feel similarly sanguine about me banging an ice-cream covered spoon on their really nice clothes.
Otherwise, it was good - I saw lots of people -
I got my mitten done (pic courtesy of
(The grey thing in front is one mitten, the other is in my hands)
...and the lacing? Worked like a dream. I got lots and lots of compliments on my outfit all day, and one guy even took a picture and gave me a copy on Sunday:
A bunch of people were fascinated by my shoulder points - they worked well, so well that I'm putting point holes in my red bodies so I can wear the blue sleeves with them. I also ended up talking to a lot of 17th century museum/historic farm volunteers from all over; I tried to help a couple of them with costuming questions (I was grilled! Grilled, I tells ya!), and mostly did okay. I handed out my personal card to a number of people (who will probably be very confused by the Attack Laurel pages).
I had a couple of down moments (extra from the touchy-touchy, which is something I deal with at J'town too); one woman got really, really angry at me (in a restrained, but hostile way) because I didn't have the patterns for any of the pieces I was displaying - to be honest, I don't know how to write patterns. I guessed, and made notes to myself. I think she might have been a little confused about the purpose of the display, and I found out later that there was a central repository for free patterns, so maybe she was hoping I had them. Honestly, though - a mitten is a mitten, and a sock is a sock. I told her about the Plimoth pattern book.
The other one was a knitter who does 17th century stuff, and I was just chatting amiably about the knitting machine, and she cut me off with a "yes, I know all about knitting machines". I just wanted to enthuse with someone who would get the cool economic effects of knitting in the 16th century - I wasn't trying to demo to her. *sigh* I felt dissed.
But never mind - I got to discuss economic theory with several interested tourists who enjoyed it a lot, and said it really made the past come alive.
And I discussed my clothes almost more than I discussed knitting! People were all about the clothes, and I didn't mind showing off my new sleeves. :)
The petticoat/bodies lacing technique worked so well I'm doing it with all my bodies - I used the spacing of the Pfaltzgrafina bodies (with adjustment for boning), and got no gappage and a rock solid setup all weekend (I even stepped on my skirt twice, with no movement). ETA: The key point I was looking for with this project was not that the points need to be in - we were mostly talking about how and where, since we knew points were used, but the fastening of the opening of the skirt to the opening in the bodies - with them laced together, the whole outfit had a strength and solidity that pointing alone (which I've done before, once) didn't give me. It's all in the front.
(I just thought I should clarify, since a number of you will be going "what's new about points? I've done them for years". :) )
A couple of pics of the setup (I'll put the full set up when I write the article, but that may be a couple of months):
I also impressed a number of people with my apron setup - I tucked the ends into the waistband (like you do) and made a pocket for my wool, so I could knit while standing. Several people asked about my "pocket apron", and were flatteringly amazed when I simply pulled out one corner and showed them it was just an apron. I had Caemfind doing it by the end of Saturday - it's so convenient! - and a couple of other people saying they were going to do it, too, after I explained it was a correct usage of the apron.
Starting a new fashion (mind you, a bunch of you lot have probably done this for years) trend locally, yay me.
Caemfind was a delightful knitting/demo companion - we already have plans for improving our display if we're invited back next year (I have no idea).
And, since it turns out we might not be supposed to accept money personally for the demo, if I get a cheque, I'm probably going to donate it to the Kingdom Travel Fund (or something).
Jamestown next weekend - I have to put lacing holes in my blue linen skirt and my red bodies. *excitement*
Comments
For your bodies, did you simply add lacing to the skirt (via a couple more eyelets, I'm guessing, which I'd think would be longer lasting) and lacing rings on the doublet at the tabs?
Baby's not even here yet, and it's been so long since I've made any garb for me that I'm really starting in on the jonesing, lemme tell ya.
I put lacing holes in the skirt and the bodies (there appear to be no extant women's doublets with lacing holes at all; the place they show up in is on a couple of bodies), so that I could re-use the points on another skirt.
:)
I was so surprised at the comment that I didn’t think to thank her for the compliment until she’d walked away.
I’m fascinated by the bodies, by the way. One of these days… Now, is the front opening of that curved, or is it straight and just following the curve of the body? I’d always figured that the front was straight, but I saw somebody doing a fitting last week and she put a curve in it.
I don’t remember if Eddie touched any of your yarn. I did let him touch some that somebody showed us (I think it was
Eddy did not touch my stuff. :) A couple of kids grabbed my yarn, and a couple grabbed my knitting needle case and tried to get the needles out of it. Apparently, one toddler succeeded (I wasn't there), and Caemfind had to get it off her, because her parents weren't doing a thing.
I really, really, don't get this total lack of respect for other people's things - people were oohing and aahing over Caemfind's trunkhose one minute, then scrunching it under their hands as they leaned on the table the next. Mind boggling. >:(
Now may I please go back to thinking late 15th century thoughts? ;)
8P
Was the sheeny long-wool Wensleydale? It's absolutely gorgeous stuff. Spins up like buttah and knits up beautifully.
I'm looking forward to making my next set of Tudor (thanks to
In the meantime, I've signed up for a minor position in HRH
Heck, you can always unlace it, right? 8)
I certainly think so. :)
I really didn't see anything wrong with the socks, and the mittens were very cute!
I wish I had been able to geek knitting with you, but I was learning that I don't like to do sprang in a demo situation. So far I've spent most of my knitting research energy on construction details. I think people who've spent more time on general period texts rather than knitting sources have the advantage of me when it comes to the economics of it all, but I'm not even sure what I need to read to catch up.
As far as patterns go, I like
I'm sorry we didn't get to talk.
we do the apron trick often enough with aprons or even our skirts for harvesting... instant bag! am too young to feel dated!
I like the apron pocket, very practical. I've been (offhand-like) looking for something like that from the early 12th century. It'd be terribly useful, and not nearly as annoying as carrying a basket or bag. IMHO, that is.
Thanks for posting these pictures :-)
Sounds like loads of fun too. Love all the chat on garb too although to be perfectly honest considering that I'm in Pennsic OMG WHAT am I going to wear mode because garb is packed in store and I'll have to source a small wardrobe to travel light, I'm thanking the Saints my worries are all about drapes and one small bag for the plane!
But I have sourced a stunning Baroque pearl necklace for Court and a couple of handsome silk wraps.
Wheeeeee!
Oh by the way, what do you want brought over from the Motherland?