Fabric for 1909 ladies coat costume

I have been searching all winter for fabric to make my ladies coat costume from. But everything here seems to be grey, black and dark blue. Which is not what I am looking for. While browsing Ebay, I found this lovely medium weight plum (dark purple) colored wool fabric.



Which I bought, eventhough I am broke at this moment, it was just too perfect! Ofcourse it will take a while before it's here, probably about 6-8 weeks, enough time to make a mock-up version of the skirt and maybe do some viking or medieval costuming. The 17th of april will be our first viking re-enactment day in the Archeon, we will be guests of the Girbeson family

Progress on the 1909 Ladies Coat

After whipstitching the sleeves in place, by hand. I have dediced that this blue wool version, of the 1909 Ladies Coat, will have to serve as the mock-up model. The wool fabric that I have used, is simply to stiff and thick to ever work as a coat. The good news is that I don't think it's that bad of a solution as the fabric cost be something around €3,- in a thrift shop.
On the other hand the bad news is that I will have to look for a new wool fabric, and everything that is available at the moment is grey or black. While I am looking for purple, red or royal blue.

Spring is here

Finally spring is here and all of a sudden I have started things up again! Most of it is behind the scenes, at least for now. I have decided that I want to change my Re-enactors Household website drastically. It is in desperate need of updating and trimming down. I have several website, too many websites if I am honest, and they all need to be streamlined, in order for me to be able to maintain them. Also I want a totally different look for the Re-enactors Household Website.

My husband pinned the sleeves of my 1909 coat in yesterday and hopefully I will have the time to sew them in today! So there is also a little progress in that project!

Not much happening here

As you'll probably all have noticed, it's been a while since my last post. There is not much to tell at this moment. My 1909 coat is hanging unfinished in the closet. The head of the sleeves are too big, and the collar is too small.So some remodelling has to be done, uncertain of how to make the necassary changes,I hung the coat in the closet. Awaiting inspiration and courage.

With my inspiration and creativity at an all-time-low, I haven't started with another project. I guess I am just waiting for spring to start...

Ladies 1909 coat

While toying around in my mind with several ideas for medieval costumes, I deciced to work on a 1909 Edwardian coat. A few years ago I started to work on a Edwardian Walking Costume, but I never finished it because I wasn't completly satisfeid with how it was turning out.
At this moment I am making a mock-up version of the coat, with a pattern from the Rocking Horse farm # 909 Ladies Coat suit. If all goed well the mock-up might end up as the coats lining. I must Admit, I am not wildly enthousiatic about the pattern and would not reccomend it to any one. The sewing description is minimalistic and I think it is only suited for the experienced seamstress.
I intend to make the coat out of blue coat quality wool, which I bought at a thrift shop a couple of years ago together with the yellow fabric I am now using for the mock-up model. At first I wanted to make the coat suit out of bright red wool, but as I am currently quite broke and bright red wasn't common in the Edwardian age. I deciced to use the fabric I had available. The blue wool, mostly likely, isn't enough for a coat and skirt, so it won't technically be a suit.

Sherlock Holmes Movie

Without expecting much I went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie, but when I came out of the theater I had to admit that I actually liked it.

No, the costumes are not perfectly authentic, but it doesn't pretend to be a "costume" movie and considering that it is a hollywood/guy ritchie movie, it's not that bad! Rachel Adams, who plays Irene Adler, wears a corset underneath her lovely bustle gown. It is a shame that they made her wear so much modern looking femme fatale make-up. Probably to hide the fact that she is too young, inexperienced and sweet looking to play the femme fatale Irene.
The storyline, although not based upon a actual book by Conan Doyle, is entertaining. But if you are a big fan of the original books and charactgers you might be better of not going. Personally I found the approacht to Sherlock Holmes and his companions refreshing.

Out with the old, bring in the new or new years resolutions

The start of a new year is always a good time to make up the balance, this was my To-Do-List for 2009.

Necessary

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

I would like to:

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


Overall I didn't do too bad! I finished all the necessary projects and managed to some of other things as well. Obviously my personal interest this year was mainly victorian, so I did a lot of the victorian project.

To-do-list 2010

Necessary

* two pair of nalebound socks for Myrddin, this is a yearly recurring project.
* make a pair of hosen for Myrddin, this is also a yearly recurring project.
* dyed the pini (apron dress) of a friend, with a horrible modern chemical dye,the
fabric isn't suitable to dye with natural dyes.


I would like to

* Work on, not necessarily finish, my Edwardian Walking Costume project.
* make a "Burgundian" gown
* make a smocked 13th/14th century apron
* make additions for and to my 1880's bustle costume.
- adding ruffles to the hem of the skirt
- make a diner bodice
- make a new, style of, overskirt.
* gather information and ideas on how to make the early tudor/transition style dress I've been wanting to make for years.

I try to keep the plans and ideas for this year as realistic as possible. There are things in my personal live at this moment, that take a lot of my time and energy. Next to making costumes I have also an other hobby. Which is writing short stories, in Dutch, I publish them somewhere else on the internet.

My new years resolution for this year is: cleaning up and decluttering our house before starting a new costuming project. My household has three creative persons, who like to create things and cannot through anything away, in it. Our house is bursting at the seams, so it is time to through things away and if possible find new homes for others. This will mean selling some costuming patterns, costumes, books, jewellery and accessories. Just to make room in my house and in my head for new projects.