Baronial A&S Tablecloth/s

Something I have been concentrating on for the last couple of weeks is making up a new A&S tablecloth for the Barony.

The old A&S tablecloth that I made some time in the 2000s is really showing it's age, and we had some blue tablecloths in storage that were not being used. Someone suggested that they be turned into A&S tablecloths which sounded like a great idea.

I machine-sewed on some white bias binding around the edges of the tablecloth and marked out the candle-in-arch A&S design with a template. I made up some fabric paints using acrylic and textile medium and started to paint. I thought a couple of coats would do it, but each motif ended up needing seven or eight coats because of the composition of the fabric and the way that it soaked up the paint.

The motifs haven't turned out as crisply as I would have liked, but the overall effect is much nicer than the previous tablecloth.

Public demo at new venue

Yesterday I Attended a public demo at a new venue. It was an interesting day with wild weather which probably put off a lot of potential visitors. Our arts and sciences display table looked good, and I got to chat with lots of interested people while working on my embroidery.

A&S Pentathlon Display Table

I mentioned in an earlier post that I am running an A&S Pentathlon in my local group to get people motivated to do Arts and Sciences and to develop new skills. At a recent event we held a display table where people could show what they have been working on. I only had two of my five entries available for display; I am working a coif with purple embroidery, and I also displayed my second piece of braid woven on the rigid heddle loom.

An A&S display table is an excellent way to let people showcase what they have been working on in a no-pressure environment. People can come and have a look at people's projects and documentation and hopefully get inspired to try something new or develop an existing skill or knowledge area.

Hand sewn tunic by Lord Faelan and my braid and embroidery

Class notes and sundial by Master William and embroidered game board by Lord Faelan

Hand-sewn doll's dress by TH Baroness Linet

Klosterstitch angel by Lord Faelan

A&S Century Challenge - Split stitch heraldic badge

I'm still sick and not to be trusted with anything remotely complicated, so finished off my heraldic split stitch patch today.'
It just needs to be sewn onto the cloak now.

Yesterday I woke up sick and had to cancel all my plans, so I worked on this project too.

100 Days of A&S - Split stitch Badge

Today I finished the split stitch badge for a friend.
In my SCA Barony, we have cloaks that the Heavy, Rapier & A&S Champions wear. They are decorated with the devices of the Champions & this is what these split stitch badges are for.

100 Days of A&S - Seam treatments and split stitch badges

Today I worked on seam finishing inside a camicia (chemise). I have three cut out and assembled to a basic level. When I have a bit of spare time (e.g. in front of the telly) I can pick one up and do a bit. I'm getting there (very) slowly.

I also did some stem stitching on another heraldic badge for a friend.

Days 8 & 9 - 100 Days of A&S (Hemming and Split Stitching)

I couldn't post yesterday, so you get two day's worth today!

Day 9
Boring old hand hemming again today.

Day 8
Spent a good part of the day adding spangles to an embroidered caul at an SCA demo, but also managed to finish off the split stitch championship patches.

Day 7 - 100 Days of A&S - Hemming

Today I have been hand-hemming table linens.

Day 6 - 100 Days of A&S - Cartridge Pleating a Renaissance Skirt

Today I spent my time setting cartridge pleats. I made bigger pleats than normal, setting them at about 1cm apart. (Sometimes I do 0.5cm.) I cheated and drew the pleats up with a single thread of crochet cotton because I wanted the job to go faster. The 'proper' way to do it is to use 2 parallel rows of very strong cord/thread, and draw your pleats up. The big risk with the single crochet cotton is that it will shred and break and you will have to start all over again. Luckily, that didn't happen to me today.

Chalking out the 1cm markings

Adding the crochet cotton 'draw thread' (the smaller white thread is a tacking stitch to secure the top hem of the skirt panel during pleating and not related to the cartridge pleating process.)

Pleats ready for adjustment

The skirt panel ready to sew to the bodice. I divide my skirt into quarters and divide my bodice into quarters. Then I tack the points together and adjust the pleats evenly in each quarter section. It makes the job much easier and results in nice even pleat adjustment.

A&S 100 Challenge - Day 5 - Eyelets

Today I am tackling eyelets on an unfinished front-lacing gown. I struggle with eyelets because I have a lot of pain in my hands and fingers. I tend to put buttonholes off because they hurt so much - so I always have plenty to do.

Why does only the last eyelet ever turn out the way you want it?!

Day 4 - 100 Days of A&S (Seam Finishing on Body Linens)

More seam finishing today.

A&S 100 Challenge - Day 3 (Flat felling seams on body linens)

Flat felling seams today. My hands are protesting yesterday's fingerloop braiding experiment, so I'm keeping it simple!

This is one out of a pile of chemises/smocks waiting to be hemmed and made up.

A&S 100 Challenge - Day 2 (Finger Loop Braiding)

Today's challenge was to attempt fingerloop braiding for the first time.
It was interesting; I understand the process and the terminology much better now. I don't think my stiff, sore fingers are dexterous enough to ever be comfortable doing fingerlooping, but I will keep practicing until I can get the tension right on a simple braid.

2016 Projects In Review

It can be a bit disheartening when you are not well and feel like you never finish anything. So I decided to compile a bit of a list of the projects that I completed last year. It certainly is a helpful tool to make me feel better about the state of my ''to-do'' list. I will try to keep a running record this year as well, so I don't forget that I am making progress, even if not as fast or as far as I would like.

 

A range of necklaces to use as largesse and gifts - as well as some for myself

  

A new girdle of porcelain and glass beads

A small heraldic device for a friend to use on a cloak

A large indoor wall hanging with applique and embroidery on velveteen

An embroidered napkin

My first attempt at leatherwork; a cutlery pouch

A handsewn linen chemise with embroidered knightly virtues on the neckband and embroidered cuffs
(Hemming by Baroness Linet atte Falcon's Nest)

 
A large number (12+) of scroll illuminations - most of which cannot be shown as have not been presented yet
(Calligraphy by Lord Derek of Innilgard)

New striped tie on sleeves

Embroidered Mouse Guard pouch

Velveteen caul

Participation in the Innilgard Girdle Book project

Creation of the Innilgard Championship Cloak

Embroidery on a hand made napkin (made by someone else, embroidered by me)

A new front lacing tourney dress

Another heraldic device for the Innilgard device banners

Design and illumination of 'Households of Innilgard' scroll (Calligraphy by Lord Derek of Innilgard)

A new front lacing court dress

Participation in the Innilgard tablecloth project (doing background patterns of grape leaves and borders)

Another heraldic device for the Innilgard device banners

New billament

A man's fencing doublet with removable sleeves

A child's Italian style dress with hand sewn pintucks

Another heraldic device for the Innilgard device banners

A heraldic token embroidered in split stitch

 

A Viking style tunic for an infant (with split stitch embroidery motif)

A new forepart for front opening dresses

Another heraldic device for the Innilgard device banners

Alcoholic liquors

More heraldic devices for the Innilgard device banners

Two entirely hand sewn Roman tunicas

Another embroidered napkin

First attempts at narrow band weaving and hand-making spangles

Two more cauls

I am sure that I have left some items out, and I never did find time to write up the dress diaries for the garments. I will try to work on that in 2017. Although my unfinished item and to-do lists are as big as ever, I do feel that I have improved in terms of prowess and franchise. I will continue to strive to improve all aspects of my SCA game this year. 

Projects for this year include another Roman tunica, some new camicias/smocks, a new tourney dress (or two), continuing service to my Barony/Kingdom and helping other people with projects, and working on reducing the Unfinished Items pile.