Simple Crafty Life

So … what have I been so busy with lately?

Well, child rearing. Okay, what else?

Costuming! I participate in the SCA, which is a basically a bunch of people who get together to reproduce medieval arts and crafts, costuming and combat. You may have heard of them, they are everywhere!

In my local area we have a festival at Easter that I’ve been preparing for. So far I’ve made a chemise (a long white undershirt), a corset, and I’m in the process of making an early tudor kirtle.

A kirtle is a supportive dress that performs a similar function to a modern bra, with a dress included. A tudor lady would wear another dress over the top of this. That’s a fair few layers of clothing!

I’m about to put some temporary lacing onto the bodice of my kirtle, so that I can fit and sew the skirt.

Here are a couple of pictures of what I’ve been up to. 🙂

The chemise is made of geometric shapes. Very economical with fabric!

Rolling the hem on the square neckline

The chemise, sewn except for hem and cuffs

There is a square gusset connecting the sleeve to the body. I used french seams this time (this was hard!!)

Making a corset is like quilting: I’ve basted layers together ready to sew boning channels.

Finished sewing the boning channels.

“Finished” corset. I still need to make proper straps and ultimately use eyelets instead of a lacing strip, but it will do for now.

The top of the kirtle is square fronted and laces at the side. I need to pleat a skirt onto the waistline and add lacing strips or eyelets.