The Edwardian Mourning Shawl.

I have finished my 1906 Edwardian shawl.  I made this shawl earlier in madder red and walnut brown and was very pleased with the result. The only problem was that the colors didn't go with my Victorian and Edwardian costumes, so I made this practical black (and light weight) version.

I call this shawl the mourning shawl as both versions have been made while I was saying goodbye to a loved one, the first version was while waiting for my husbands grandmother to pass. This time we had heard that our cat was suffering from cancer and nothing could be done for her anymore. In times of sadness I need to keep my hands busy.

second version

 first version

The pattern is called Seems Like Old times and you can find it here:http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/seems-like-old-times

This morning our little furry lady passed away surround by the people that adored her and that she loved so much. We are sad that she is gone but grateful for 14 years of love, friendship and companionship.

Blocked!

Blocking this shawl was a lot of work especially because I couldn't do the whole shawl at once.

It's almost 2 meters wide and 81 cm high. I left out some rows otherwise it would have been even larger which is way to large for me as I am only a short lady. It weighs 608 grams and that is one of the reasons why I might be tempted to be another version in lightweight wool. Hopefully next time I can keep gauge and proprotions in check.

Maximum capacity

A little while ago my husbands maternal grandmother passed away at the very respectable age of  96. Leaving behind eight childeren, a lot of grandchilderen and even six greatgrandchilderen. 

A lot of them inherited her love for crafst, collecting and antiques. My husband is no exception and although I am only related by marriage I also share their passion. She also was a skilled seamstress with a large collection of antique sewing and crafting supplies and some antique textiles. I have fond memories of her showing her collection to me and I vividly remember how proud she was.

I never imagined one day owning a large part of that collection, but after her death a lot of those lovely things went to my husband an me. Together with her entire fabric stash and all of her modern sewing supplies. With re-enactment as a hobby, or rather lifestyle, we always live with or house filled at maximum capacity, but  now it is bursting at it's seams. We've already donated 2/3 of her fabric collection to charity but still there is not enough room for everything. My mind is bubbling with a zillion projects I could make with al these lovely fabrics but for I can do anything I need to clear everything away first. I can't work in a messy house too much distraction! I can almost her laugh from heaven. We are very grateful for this abondance, thank you grandmother, I'll make sure to make nice things with it.

The Edwardian shawl is nearly finished, I ran off gauge and out off yarn so I left out some rows. It's still big enough to cover my entire back though. I have trouble figuring out how the finishing rows should be done. With all the clearing away that I still have to do and our first event of the year coming up this weekend I don't have the time or patience to figure it out. I really love how it's turning out and I don't want to mess it up.

Progress on Edwardian triangular shawl.

This is how far I was after day 3, progress is becoming slower as the rows grow longer.

The first row of puffs or tuffs, as they where called in Edwardian times, is in. I find it really great to learn new techniques and stitches.

Edwardian shawl project

This nifty gadget my husband found at a local thrift shop it's an umbrella swift or reel winder. It makes making balls from skeins of yarn a whole lot easier and faster.

I never ever expected myself to have the courage and the patience to start and work on a project like the one below. It's a slightly modified version of a Edwardian 1907 shawl. I found the pattern on Ravelry and couldn't resist trying it. It's called Seems Like Old Times by Michele duNaier

The completed shawl has 457 rows, and I am starting on my 12th. So I've got still a lot of rows to go.

Maybe I'll even find the courage for other historical crochet patterns:

http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/html/warm/catalog.htm

http://www.victoriancrochet.com/freepatterns.tpl?cart=1367490867457269

http://www.heirloomcrochet.com/hcstitches.html

http://www.heirloomcrochet.com/hcfreepatterns.html

Ball Gown Bodice

The shawl project has had several problems mainly with the tension of my warp threads and my cat chewing on a lot of them so that they had to be replaced. It left me terribly demotivated, so I haven't done anything in quite a while.

But I have kept my hands busy. I am making a red velvet ballgown bodice to go with my 1885's bustle skirt. I would like to wear it to the Elf Fantasy Fair, but I am not sure if it will be finished in time. I would like to make it properly instead of rushing things.

The pattern is from Truly Victorian, TV460 1885 Cuirass Bodice. I am making the Ball Gown Bodice option this time. The fabrics I used for my wash overskirt come I have also used for the small pouf sleeves. The description calls for a separte lining to put into it. I have seen several orignal pieces where the outside fabric, the interlining and the lining had been threated as one. As I always have problems getting my lining in neatly I thougth I'd try this for a change. To finish the seams neatly I have sewn satin band over it.




Here you can cleary see the three stages of a seam.
(l) seam with boning in casing, (m) finished seam,(r) seam with zigzag finish and sewn flat.

This is how far it is at this moment.



All boning has been sewn in and only three seams need to be finished with the red satin band. The top of the bodice is to wide and has to be taken in. Alas this also alters the neckline which is already in place. I would prefer to close the bodice with hook and eyes, but I am not sure if it's going to work. If it doesn't work, I hope to be able to use original victorian metal and horn buttons that I have purchased on Ebay.



Also on Ebay I purchased this amazing victorian beadwork. I think it will look amazing on the red velvet.

Busy

The last month or so I haven't had the energy to post messages here, that doesn't mean however that I have been sitting stil. Here a short and mainly pictorial update.

Regarding the shawl project.

We did try warping the heddle loom, but the wool warp stuck together and was to elastic to creat a gap large enough to weave with.
Than my husband, reluctant to give up, deciced to creat a very basic and crude looking warp weighted loom.

Here you can see him making the heddle




And here you can see me weaving.


At this moment there are to many projects buzzing around in my head for me to be able to focus on just one.

So I've almost finished my victorian corset cover. It only needs buttons and buttonholes and maybe some lace on the bottom hem.





While looking around for nice and affourdable buttons, I've started working on a ball gown bodice to wear with my red velvet four gore bustle skirt and wash overkirt, for a more glamorous look than my current cuirass bodice.