Day at the Park, Capelle aan de IJssel

The weather wasn't great but the public was very nice and it was wonderful to see some of our late medieval friends again. We do late medieval events way too little I am sad to say.

Audrey is handsewing. 

It's just one of the chores you "forget"

about during the winter.

Our son casting pewter while his

father was working on the soapstone molds

Me giving knitting in the round another try.

Peter doing some leatherworking

Medieval Knitting

There are three types of persons, those who knit, those who crochet and those who are lucky enought too enjoy both! I am very much a crochet person, somehow I feel knitting is too slow. Which has ofcourse something to do with my knitting skills or the lack of them. At this moment I a giving knitting, medieval style that is, a go.

I started out with four long needles.

As it wasn't working for me, I was poking my eyes out with three needles at once, instead of knitting. A friend suggested using five needles and I bought a set of short bamboo needles at Etsy.

This is much easier but I'm still not a big fan of knitting. On the other hand it will be nice to have something new to demonstrate at events. 

Detail from Visit of the Angel, from the right wing of the Buxtehude Altar, 1400-1410.

Painted by Meister Bertram von Minden

Victorian working class boy costume; pants.

Our son has decided that he wants to join us at our victorian events this year! He wants a working class outfit. Which will pair nicely with my 1840-1850's working class costume.

I have made him a pair of grey wollen trousers for him with Laughing Moon pattern #106, California pants. The pattern doesn't come in childs sizes so I made the smallest size, 28 waist. And took it in at the side seams. The pants are also much to long but will be given a wide hem just before the event. Hopefully this way he will be able to fit in it for a few years as all the seams can be let out.

Pants front, closed button fly, pockets and wooden buttons.

Front open, button fly with bone buttons.

Pants back, waist cincher.

We didn't purchase any new things for this costume. I already had the pattern lying around for years, unused I might add. The grey wool fabric was a left over scrap from his previous costume. He went with us to one victorian event when he was a lot smaller.  And got really cold and bored. So we left him with his grandparents every year since. The brown tweed woollen coat was a gift from a friend who's son had outgrown it. The red scarf I knitted myself and is actually one of my first knitting projects in years. The grey tweed cap I bought in a store for his previous victorian adventure.

We still needs shoes and a knitted sweater or flannel shirt and vest, but I think he already looks the part!

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsboys_Strike_of_1899

Source: http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/

Pictorial overview of current projects.

 Just in case you are wondering what I am up to these days...

A blue velvet 1885's bodice & sleeves, for a friend.

current status: work in progress

1840's -1860's wrapper

current status: work in progress

1840's -1850's quilted petticoat

current status: work in progress

Red and green knitted christmas scarf

current status: 1.30m of the 2m done, work in progress

Chunky Wheat  Crochet Cowl

Current status: done! Finished it yesterday

Yesterday i want to the KreaDoe beurs in Utrecht,

 looking for some prjects I can do with the childeren at school.

I got inspired alright but those where no projects for kids:

I don't even think they are project for me,I just haven't got the patience.

Bought myself a book on broomstick lace and a magnifier lamp.

A magnifier lamp, that feels like admitting that I am getting old...

At this moment flat on my back, because my lower back and legs are killing me.

Sewing crinoline tape to the hem of my quilted petticoat, 

to create more volume. I don't have the time or ambition to

make more victorian petticoats before December. 

So I am cheating!

My current status, busy!

When the going gets tough, the tough get sewing

My family has been through a couple of major changes Both of them where for the best for all of us in the end but we had a lot of stress. (No, don't worry we didn't get divorced!) So a lot of my friends are asking me if I am okay and the answer is Yes! Now that things have settled down a little and my mind is clear enough again to get back to my projects I am actually quite happy! Keeping my hands and head occupied seems to be a very good therapy.

At this moment I am working on several projects:

• A blue velvet 1880's cuirass bodice for a friend
• a cotton 1840's work dress for myself
• and a red and green striped knitted scarf special order by my husband as a colorful addition to his victorian/dickens costume.

So when the going gets tough, the tough get going...

Knitted Katia Toledo Scarf

I saw this Katia Toledo yarn at Pipoos and immediately fell in love with it, the colors and the softness. And conviently forgot how much I dislike knitting with special yarns like this.

I needed a present for a friend and decided to knit her a scarf. When I started it was 30 degrees outside and I was sitting in the shade in the garden.

Brei beschrijving

Zet 18 steken op met breinaald nr 12 (moet deelbaar zijn door 3)

En brei 1 steek recht, 1 omslag, 2 steken recht samenbreien.

Elke naald begint steeds met 1 steek recht enz.

Gebruikt 3 strengen Toledo en brei met de volle draad.

Copyright Pipoos.

English version:

Cast on 18 stitches (or another number you van dived by 3) with needle size (US) 17 

Knit the first stitch, yarn round needle, knit 2 stitches together, repeat.

Ever row starts with a knitted stitch.

You need 3 skeins of Toledo yarn en knit with the whole thread.

(This is my very first attempt at a translation of a dutch knitting desccription.  )

Copyright Pipoos

In my opinion the scarf is relatively short. I would cast on 12 or 15 stitches if I would knit it again or use more yarn.

Knitting

When life gives you lemons you make... a scarf.

There is a lot going in our personal lives so there is not much room in my head for a more complicated project. I started this scarf  because I needed something to do at the Anton Pieck Parade that was authentic and simple.  Now it's a good way to keep by hands and brain occupied. My husband really liked it, so he called first dibs. And as my son really would like to have one as well, I guess I'll have to knit one for him too.

Knitting

My seven year old son always loves to see me knit. This time he wanted to try himself! So this is what you get, when two fibre "geeks" have a kid !

The Oh-Dear-Refresh-My-Memory-Hat finished and My To- do-list for 2009

Apart from the very simple scarf I finished not to lang ago, I haven't knitted for over at least twenty years. Today I finished this really simple winterhat with rolled brim, which was only slightly more complicated that the scarf. I decided to make this hat because I wanted to make an clothing item with my hand dyed wool which could be worn in modern live, without raising any eyebrows. The description called for bulky yarn (ca. 80m/100 gr) and thick knitting needles, size 15!.
The yarn has been dyed with Fernambuk and is 100m/100gr. Eventhough it was really simple, a one night project they called it in the description, I did have to look at the how-to-manuals in the book to jog my memory.





To-Do-List

Necessary

* fix the hem of my white linen veil
* make hosen for my son Myrddin
* make thorsberg type trousers (without feet)of hand dyed wool,for Myrddin
* nalebind socks for Audrey
* nalebind socks for Petra
* put together a victorian style boys outfit for Myrddin
* answer all my e-mail!


I would like to:

* weave my own square shawl with natural dyed wool
* make a Burgundian Gown
* make a "horned" headdress for my houppelande dress
* make a smocked 13th/14th century apron (nicknamed by me the Lutrell apron)
* make a early viking hairnet in sprang
* make a new viking tunic for myself with hand dyed wool (madder)
* make a new viking apron with hand dyed wool (unionskins)
* make a victorian corset cover for my 1885's costume
* make a better victorian petticoat for my 1885's costume
* make a victorian ballgown bodice for my 1885's costume
* make a late victorian hat
* make a blue silk cotehardie with tippets


Ofcourse the to do list won't necessarily be done in this order and I'll probably think of a zillion things more during the coming year ;-)

Knitted scarf

Around this time of year, I just love making things that do not have to be authentic, just fun to make. Like this very easy knitted scarf.