I have a large block of time between KZoo in March and the Feast in October. It's a good time to plan out what I need to make for the upcoming Feast as well as to restock my selection of haversacks. Because there is plenty of time between the events, I feel more relaxed as I sew. I also have time to upgrade my own sewing skills.
The Feast Sewing Circle is one of the places I go to tweak my own knowledge. My friend Brooke teaches it, and she knows what she is doing. There is always something for everyone, from beginners to advanced sewists.
The spring session of the Feast Sewing Circle began this past week, and I could hardly wait to go. It did not disappoint.
Me on the bottom left with some of the other sewists examining a sample of block print fabric. We are looking for evidence that it was hand block printed. (It was.)
Not only is Spring a good time to restock my sales haversacks, it's also a time to stitch up live show donations. I can't make something for every single live show, but I do try to support those that I can.
This pile of Stablemate pouches is a donation to a live show.
I was asked to make haversacks for the division champ and reserve winners.
I used one of my all-time favorite horsey fabrics and I think they turned out nicely.
Having said that, there were 32 to make - 16 champs
and sixteen reserves. Stablemate pouches are harder to turn right side out before the final pressing - they are small enough that there isn't a lot of room for the turning. It puts a lot of stress on my hands.
My hands hurt for several days after I'd finished all 32 of them (plus two extras, just in case.) I have some arthritis in them, but it rarely bothers me. That big of a project, though, proved to be enough to trigger that arthritis pain. I may need to make them in smaller batches stretched out over a longer time period if I get asked to make so many Stablemate pouches again.
Not only did I get a lumberjack sized spool of twill tape from Brandon, I also ordered some linen fabric.
This piece with tiny pink embroidered flowers was a must have.
I've been wanting to make myself an apron to wear over my new petticoat. (I'm checking width and color of twill for the drawstring here in this photo. I went with the white.)
I like how it turned out
but I think I need a lighter weight of linen.
I'm not sure I can find it, but I will ask Brandon and see if he has a lightweight version of this particular linen. If not, it's certainly still wearable.
I also needed to document the embroidered linen fabric to the 18th century. (Brandon's fabrics cover several time periods.) Linen, absolutely correct. But I needed to find proof that small embroidered flowers were added to women's garments.
After some searching, I found this photo of a similar print juxtaposed against a period correct door. It was a start but not yet proof that the fabric I was using was accurate.
Another photo of a similar fabric. I was getting closer but nothing indicates the time period in this photo.
Finally! A close up of a painting (right) that documents the fabric (left.) I am now good to go.
The April Give Away ends today at 11:59 PM EDT. Guess how many yards of twill tape are on my behemoth spool!
Comment on any blog entry posted Friday, Saturday, or today. If no one guesses correctly, then I will spin to win on Monday or Tuesday.
Good luck!
