Broderie Anglaise Partlet

I found a broderie anglaise skirt at the Op Shop (Thrift Store) for $2 and thought how pretty it would be as a partlet. I wasn't sure if there would be enough fabric, but I thought that it was worth the risk for $2.

Now, I know that broderie anglaise is a more modern style of embroidered decoration, and that this was made by machine, but I thought it probably wouldn't be too obviously modern if trimmed as a partlet. After all, cutwork and pulled work were done in the sixteenth century. 

I used my trusty collarless partlet pattern and cut the pieces out. As usual, I french seamed the sides and shoulder seams, and hand finished them. I did a narrow zigzag around all the edges, but the cut outs in the embroidery meant that there were shaggy edges even after finishing. I was disheartened, and put the piece aside for (mumble, mumble,) an unspecified amount of time.

Then last year I started working on my WIPs and UFOs again and pulled the partlet out. I decided to use a faux silk (polyester) bias binding to trim the edges. I machined the outer seam and hand sewed everything else.

I liked the way the binding tidied up the edges, but it just looked too shiny in outside light. So I went through my stash looking for some lace that could go over the bias to tone down the shiny and add a bit more to the piece. When I found a suitable cotton lace, I hand sewed it on.

I toyed with the idea of embroidering along the front of the lace with embroidery floss but didn't like the way it looked. It feels like it needs a little something to elevate it a bit, but I'm not sure what. I have some gilt cord, but it is not especially durable and I throw my partlets in the washing machine after wearing. I'll stew on it a bit and see if anything jumps out at me next time I am rummaging through my stash.

Embroidery Challenge Tokens

 I have been continuing to work on WIPs and UFOs lately.

This week I managed to get some tokens finished for the most recent Embroidery Challenge participants.

This latest Embroidery Challenge has an open theme. It began late last year and finishes very soon. The aim is to encourage all skill levels of embroiderers to get involved, and hopefully inspire others in the Barony.

The tokens are glass beads and date pendants strung on tigertail wire and secured with a couple of jewellery crimps.

I have also been doing some scroll illumination, but of course, I can't share any of that until the scrolls have been presented.

UFO Pile of Shame and The 100 Day Project Inspiration

I've been spending some time lately trying to prioritise my works in progress (WIPs) and UFOs (UnFinished Objects) so that I can really get some finished this year. I am very good at starting projects- buoyed by the excitement of something new - but lack of energy, lack of time, and often lack of confidence make the project stall. It is amazing how quickly time flies, and suddenly something you put aside 'for a little while' has been sitting around for a year (or more). Covid certainly didn't help with any of that!

In a happy coincidence, I was reading a social media post by the Baroness of Politarchopolis and she mentioned #The100DayProject. #The100DayProject | online art community It is basically on online project to encourage people to be creative and commit to 100 days of creating. Very much the same as #100 Days of A&S which I loved being involved in, and which has set up really good habits of doing at least ten minutes a day on SCA A&S projects (and which I have pretty much continued with). This new project has given me a shot of motivation to spend the next 100 days focusing on UFOs and WIPs. Probably for only a short time every day as I am at a very low spot right now health wise, but every little bit helps.

I won't be posting day-by-day updates on what I have been doing because I think it will take a while to achieve anything as I will be working slowly (and it will be boring to readers). But I hope to at least have some Finished Article victory posts for you soon!

(Please imagine a tidy little pile of nicely folded UFOs here. In reality my UFO/WIP projects would probably take up half a dozen storage tubs and that is downright embarrassing.) I try to console myself with the thought that a lot of them are embroidery which takes a very long time to do.