Patterns of Fashion 4: The Cut and Construction of Linen Shirts, Smocks, Neckwear, Headwear and Accessories for Men and Women C. 1540-1660

I fell in love with this book in the shop at the V&A the other day. I adore ruffs so having a decent pattern that is accurate would be wonderful. My library only has two womans clothing additions and one for men and they are all in the stores which is maddening as its only on the third floor of the library but it costs eighty five p and takes a week for someone to go upstairs and get it. I've ordered the womans 18th 19th century one so that'll be available for my collection next week.

Hallow Queen mini beret fascinator

My entry for the craft juice halloween comp
votes would be greatly appreciated
http://www.craftjuice.com/story.php?title=Hallow_Queen_mini_beret_fascinator

All hail the Hallow Queen of the night. Once a year she rises from the night to reign supreme over the hallow celebrations.
This has a black knitted base with an orange and black lace frill, orange seed beads and black leather suffolk puffs. This has a felt bottom and a metal squeezie to attach

Found Handmade Feature

FoundHandmade was nice enough to feature my Victorian Pleasure Garden pendant in their section so here is a link

http://www.foundhandmade.com/news/itemize

Folk Art Felt Brooches

I've been working on some pretty little felt brooches for a hotel fayre next week and the photographs are rather nice on a plain white background.

I've also finished my briar rose and chains of nature neck pieces and my painted flowers need fixing so tomorrow is photograph day.

Mona

Michelle

Mary

Lulu

Isabella

Clara

Cassandra

Chloe

I've been Blogged

I've been blogged via etsy with my Pale Knight poets top by My Name is Michael so thank you to her.
Its a first via etsy and its a lovely feeling. That is such a popular piece for collection that I'm tempted to experiment with the style and theme.

link to pic of collection

Halloween09 comp and exhibition

I've decided on a hat for the craftjuice listing. Its going to be black with orange fabric and a black lace pleated trim for starters and a choice of pumpkins or a little point on the top.


I woke up this morning with all my plans for the day in a neat order. As to be expected non of them worked out and I was sat working out a cable when I was suddenly struck with the rememberence of an exhibition I will be taking part in starting on Friday!. I have a couple of pieces already that I want to show and I'm working on a theme of literature and the muse/inspiration.
One piece is to be 'Pale Knight' my favourite display piece and will be in the lit part as poetry. Another is to be 'The Green Faerie' knitted in coast its a wonderful floaty cardigan wrap that will take the part of the Muse and Inspiration. Another part is the hat that I am working on at the moment and will be a red and white snood hat in the Lit catagory with the inspiration from Dr Seuss. No 3 is to be Briar Rose art neckpiece which will be an icord decorated in mixed media roses.

Like most people I know I can hardly wait for the new Alice in Wonderland a la Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. I am in shivers of aniticipation with the mix of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman,Christopher Lee and Stephen Fry all in one movie, not to mention Babs Windsor and Frances de la Tour making it a bit like heaven.
I'm thinking No:5 has to have an Alice theme. Cabled blue fingerless gloves maybe

CraftJuice Halloween09 competition

I've just got an email about the CraftJuice Halloween09 competition so I'm really excited about what I'm going to do. Its going to be a toss up between
A: a hat with an orange base, lots of black lace, beaded bats and veiling,

B: A hat with a knitted witch and her cat perched upon a broomstick over a little wood again with veiling,

C: a set of my original design fingerless gauntlets in orange, and black with mega lace and spiders or

D: a corset, design which has not yet been thought about.

I'm trying to think which one would be the most original.

I've got a pattern somewhere for a knitted bat which would look fab on the shoulders or on a hat

First Machine Knit

Modelled by my sister and its going to end up as hers is my first machine knitted top, Mine own design that could be inproved by few more ruffles.

Baby Steampunk

frilly victorian baby clothes with a twist for the alternative parents.

you heard it here first as I googled it to no result lol

Celtic Steampunk

We have a surplus of deer around here and I've found a whole load of bones whilst clearing the area. I cleaned one piece up and carved it with a ring pattern and have been waiting till something suggested itself to me. I was looking up brass rings on the net and I came across the phrase "Celtic Steampunk" on Brass Goggles and it immediatly struck a cord. Its similar to Gentleman Savage but much more original. I've got some lovely rabbit fur and leather as well as some large copper rings and handmade rosewood button so I might toy with the idea during the week

Elephant in the corner

I've been lax in posting with a good excuse. I've ben tackling the knitters version of the elephant in the room better known as*The Knitting Machine*. Itsa rather pretty ooking Zippyplus that I got buck she of a rather nice man from freecycle who races Huskies and is off to scotland in a converted van. After a few false starts seeing as I havnt touched one of them since uni we seem to have got to an agreement. I don't use anything thicker then 3 ply and its doesn't chew it up and spit it out, cast off stitches in the middle of rows and jam in the middle of a row. I've got a top in a ghasty yellow yarn pretty much done as a test pieces of a pattern I thought up, just a basic top with a ruffled neck and arms.

Red Riding Hood sketches

Getting rags to riches to flourish is going to be a bit tricky. Its quite a heavy yarn so the weight won't be a problem. It will be easy to calculate the increase on the cloack but I don't want the hood to die a horrible death and go flat. If I was using a lighter yarn I might crochet a wire through the front to finish it off but its impossible to crochet the yarn I will be using. I might just make it really big and let it fold


hood in black

hood in black and red

Hood in metallic pink sketch

Hood in red with stitch example

Hansel and Gretel Gingerbread board

Swan Lake Inspiration board

Swan Lake
One of the most beautiful ballets ever. I can just imagine Carlos Acosta as Siegfried, that man cleared the stage in three leaps whilst dancing Romeo.
Anyway back to Swan Lake

Rumpelstiltskin Inspiration collage

Etsy Sale

Harlequin Neckpiece sold on Etsy today :) I really hope the buyer likes it and has as much fun wearing it as I had making it.

Red Riding Hood collage of inspiration

Mixed Inspiration for red riding hood

Adult Fairy Tale Inspired Knits

Fairy Tale Inspired Knits.

I'm not talking about classic sweet pink designs for babies or even young adults (teenagers 12-15) I'm imagining red riding hoods cloak in Vintage Red Jaegar Rags to Riches, Rumplstiltskin in Rowen glimmer yellow, cream with gold patches not to mention Cinderella in Raw Silk and pure cotton. All these will be designs for adults with serious fabulousity in mind. I'll be working on sketches next week so hopefully I'll have some sketched designs up and running.

anywhohow here are some of my basic ideas to start with.

Red Riding Hoods cloak in Vintage Red Jaegar Rags to Riches
Rumpelstiltskin in Rowan glimmer yellow, cream with gold patches
Cinderella in Raw Silk and pure Cotton
Snow White in pure Cotton and black lace
Alice in Wonderland with Blue,Black and White cotton
Mother Goose in Grey Soy
Swan Lake in White Cotton and feathers
Hansel and Gretal in Black mixed media

Fearless Vampire Killers neck ruff/necklace

The wonder of youtube means that I have been watching said film in a bid to banish insomnia. It didn't work and I ended up watching bbc4 documents on the cell and robert hooke.
I have however been inspired by this wonderful red dress to create a neckpiece in blood red yarn, maroon, gold and black lace, pearls, hand crochet cream lace and roses.

pics of the necklace coming as soon as I get the setting for the photograph right. Something with old stone I think.

Pompadour

Pompadour

Sometimes an outfit says nearly everything you want but is missing that special finishing touch. You can find a lavish decorated ruff but that is just a touch too strong and the subtle message you had is lost.
That is where the Pompadour comes into its own. Made from pure blue cotton this fits snugly to your neck adding the finishing word to your outfit and making way for a sparkling evening.