Broider Me 'Bethan
Elizabethan, Tudor and Renaissance inspired embroidery, clothing and accessories - historical costuming, embroidery and re-creation
Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Another Embroidery Challenge
This year I ran another Embroidery Challenge within my local SCA group; pre-1600 embroidery with an open theme.
The aim of the Challenge was to provide opportunities to display work in a low anxiety, non-competitive environment and hopefully inspire others to get excited about embroidery, with everyone welcome to participate regardless of experience or skill level.
I like to make tokens to recognise those people who put the work in and take part. These are the tokens for the latest Challenge. We had a fair turn out, given the busy time of year.Friday, December 6, 2024
New shinies
I recently bought some simple fibula for some ancient garb from my talented costumier friend Bhri. (I'm planning on making some hot weather friendly garb soon.)
I also got some pretty hand made pins for the period sewing kit that I use at demos.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Maroon Balzo
I recently finished this balzo. It was an easy make, but sewing all the little beads on took quite a long time.
Construction is relatively simple; make a long fabric tube big enough to go around your head and allow ease and add about an inch/2.5cm extra on each end (this is to allow for the end to be turned under).
Turn the end of one end of the tube under and pin it over the other end, creating a donut shape. Pin securely. Try it on to make sure it fits. Adjust if necessary, and hand sew the opening securely closed.
Next, you are going to use the donut as a pattern for the lid. There are hats like this which are just the donut shape, but I prefer the covered sort to protect from scalp sunburn.
Using a large piece of wrapping paper or old sheet etc, cut out the rough shape of the donut leaving about 5cm extra all the way around. We are aiming to cut out a lid shape.
Put the lid shape toile over the donut to make sure it will fit, and that there is enough fabric to turn a hem under. Make any adjustments necessary and then cut out your fashion fabric.
Hand sew the 'lid' onto the donut, turning a hem under as you go. You don't want it drum tight; there should be a little bit of ease as the lid will sit against the back of your head/hair.
Add trims as desired.
This particular balzo was inspired by this portrait below:
'Portrait of a Lady with a G*psy' by the Italian School, 15th CBut there are many similar ones to be seen in portraiture from the sixteenth century, including this one:
Vincenzo Pagani (1490-1568) - Annunciation (1532) - Palazzo Ducale Urbino - Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, image found via: //au.pinterest.com/pin/1337074878802655/
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
'Anguissola' Beaded Necklace
I recently had the opportunity to celebrate a dear friend (who is now my Apprentice Sister!)
I decided to make a necklace inspired by the girl on the left of this lovely portrait by Sofonisba Anguissola.
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
'Bunnies' Heraldic Device
I finished another heraldic device for the Baronial device banner a while ago. It has a felt base with applied felt on top.
I had a couple of tries at working the bunnies, with slips being my first idea. It was unsuccessful, and in the end I appliqued a bunny shaped felt base to add a bit of dimension, and then split stitched on top of it.The central chevron was stitched in place and then gilt thread appliqued over the edges. The pink dots are guidelines for where ermines need to be embroidered.I did the back legs of the bunny in a very pale grey to look a bit like shadow and add depth. I did a black outline for definition and added shiny black beads for eyes. I used smaller black beads for the centre parts of the ermines. They really catch the light.
Pinning and sewing another piece of felt on the back for extra stability (the banner gets rolled up).
The completed piece. I like how this one turned out.
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Adjusting an old chemise
I had major surgery a few months back and my recovery has been hampered by lingering chest infections so I haven't been able to do any major projects. I've been focused on maintaining a minimum of ten minutes of A&S activity a day.
One thing I did manage to do this week was to shorten an old chemise. I think I made it back in the early 2000s, and I rarely wear it because it is quite heavy fabric. I originally made it almost ankle length, which is a bit unmanageable. Any time I wear it I think 'I must alter this' and then I put it off or forget.
It was only a very quick job because I hemmed it with the sewing machine, but I am really glad I managed to get this one small thing ticked off the to-do list after so long. Small wins!
The embroidery motif on this chemise is taken from Shorleyker's 'A Scholehouse for the Needle':
Saturday, August 10, 2024
Crayola Washable Marker Experiment
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Wolf Head Heraldic Device for Baronial Device Banners
Then I started embroidering on details in black and white cotton.
I added a few extra lines to add definition and visual interest.
Finally, I sewed the chief in place and used some gilt embroidery thread to define the purple and white backgrounds. I had a luscious deep blue bead that looked good inside the centre of the flower.
Decorating complete, the very last task was to sew another shield shape in felt to the back to add strength to the piece. (The banners get rolled up when not in use, so a backing layer is a good idea to stop fabric distortion.)
The completed piece is now sewn in it's proper place on the banner and looks good!
Monday, July 15, 2024
Lots of Scribal Work
Scribal work and the creation of some heraldic pieces for other people has been keeping me busy lately.
Sunday, June 30, 2024
Seahorse Embroidered Napkin
I'm still plodding along with unfinished projects, and thankfully I have had less mistakes and muck-ups this week (although the chilly weather is making for slow handwork).
This simple embroidered napkin had been partially embroidered in purple floss, but I never recorded the colour number (a suprising mistake for me; since I know what I am like, and how prone I am to put a project down and come back to it months later).
I wasn't happy with the stitching anyway, so I unpicked it and started again in this deep red floss.
The sea-horse design is part of my personal heraldry.
Sunday, June 23, 2024
Scribal Work
Thursday, June 13, 2024
Thursday, June 6, 2024
Two New Banners for Baronial Device Banner Project
A relatively recent project that I completed (and forgot to post about) was the creation of two new banners for my Barony's device banner project.
My Barony has a series of banners in Baronial colours that record the registered heraldry of the populace. It is a great chronological record of our members, and the banners are a really striking decoration at events.
I got involved in this project when I was quite new to the SCA and have made many of the devices over the years for people who did not have the skills or time.
In the last several years I have been responsible for managing the banner project, and we recently ran out of room on banner six. I created two new blank banners using almost ten metres of navy cotton fabric and cotton lining. They were edged in red bias binding. I copied the previous style and previous construction technique of hand sewing the bias on with a combination of running stitch and back stitch. That was quite a lot of hand sewing! I didn't mind it though, because I find hand sewing quite soothing when there isn't a deadline looming.
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Red Underskirt
I recently made a red underskirt as part of my outfit for the Riverhaven Costuming Challenge.
I chose to use cotton broadcloth due to budget constraints; linen or wool (even silk) would have been more appropriate, but much more costly.
I sewed rectangular panels together, leaving a gap at the centre sides open, which I hand hemmed. I also hand felled the side seams.
I added a tiny buttonhole bar at each side seam for extra strength.
I pleated the front and back panels into separate waistbands by hand using cartridge pleats. Once the pleats were sewn in, I released the gathering stitches to allow a more relaxed pleat. I hand hemmed the bottom of the panels, and added decorative twill tape.
I used the same twill tape as ties for the skirt. The front and back ties are tied independently (as seen on petticoats in the Tudor Tailor book) to allow for greater adjustment.