[Undergarment]

I got an order in from a friend a little while ago that was a bit out of the ordinary. I often make medieval dresses for both women and men, but not very often do I get to make a fighting dress.

The purpose of the dress is to secure mobility while fighting with swords, as for training and shows.

The basic pattern is that of Herjolfnes dating from around 14th and 15th century (depending on item) - but to make sure no excess fabric will get in her way we fitted it to her. Dating it to around 1450-1500 which is the period of her medieval association. Hidden stitches is made on machine but everything besides that is hand sown (which is actually a lot of handsowing! ).

Here a link to a simple linedrawing of the pattern:
http://www.aarhus-middelalder.dk/uploads/images/artikler/herjolfnes/39bagside.jpg
http://www.aarhus-middelalder.dk/uploads/images/artikler/herjolfnes/39forside.jpg

We used a painting as source for the slits. When I find the link I'll post it here. But right now I seem to have lost it!

Undergarment
I made this undergarment back in the fall for her. FYI there is 64 lacingholes on this garment all sown by hand (and I still love making them - how insane it that )
Here from the side:


And the front - showing a bit of the width (approx. 360 cm = 142in):


Closeup of sleeve and the lacing on the sleeve:


Fighting dress
Here is the actual fighting dress. What makes it a fighting dress is the slit on each side, making it possible to take a very large step or make a high kick. The width of this dress is smaller than the undergarment because it would otherwise be likely for it to get in the way of fighting.

From the side:


From the back:


Fit on the front:


Lacing detail on back (42 lacing holes in total):


And some action shots of her with her blade and helmet:
Notice how perfectly angled this is - you can't see the blade! This is the most awesome picture ever!






.....Thank you so much Oliver (the lovely bf) for all the really neat photos!

Now I have a question about the whole double needle thing since we are talking about it.  My machine (a cheap brother xl-5340) came with a twin (i call them double) needle but no instuctions on how to use.  it just says i can.  Can someone explain how this would work and when you would use it (besides on this shirt).  Sorry, I am still teaching myself to sew and would appreciate any help on this.  Normally i would ask my mom but i don't recall ever  seeing her sew with more than one needle except on  her embroidery machine.  and where (if you use one) does the extra spool of thread go?

A little tutorial (and I apologize for my lack of English sewing terminology!!). I've used three different kind of colour to make it easier to distinguish the different seams. I couldn't find my stretch twin needle, so you have to do with a regular one. But the principle is the same!

Here is my old old old seventies coloured sewingmachine and the twin needle:


As you can see on the last picture, the needle head is shaped like a circle but with a flat side to it. The flat side, as on every other kind of sewing machine needle, is placed away from you.

The twin needle has only one part that goes into the "needleholder" just as any other needle:


On your machine there should be an extra spool holder, but if not, you can alway use a little understitching case. Here is a picture of my machine with two spool holders:


Then you quite simply thread as you would do with only one spool. Me holding the two threads:


When you get to the needle you simply thread each pinhole:


Here is pictures of the seam:
Front of seam: Back of seam:

When you have sewn all you want to sew, you cut off the excess fabric. If you are working with stretch fabric you will find the little snip of fabric will curl up and look even better than my hem.


I hope this is enough for you to try it out, supermedic!

~pseudo_pix

OMG what a wonderful package to receive!
Item list:
Large: Bag
Medium: record bowl
Medium: box
Medium (non-crafted): Juno Soundtrack
Small: 2 sets of earrings
Small: a bracelet

It was so nice getting this package, because as you can expect in swap, you get things you didn't new you needed/or just needed and never got around to do anything about it.

The bag is really cute and the lining with little robots is totally boss (it turned out really nice, April, eventhough you don't sound too sure of it )
The bowl is really nice too - now I finally have something to all the little things that terrorize my crafting desk!
The box is reaaally adorable. I really like the choice of paper and picture on it. And what makes it even better is that I needed such a little box with a mirror ^^
As for the content of the box - yay I had my ears pierced a couple of month ago, so I can finally change the boring ones into Juno jewelry!

The last part of the package, the soundtrack really shows what a great swap-partner Inspector Luv is! We talked a bit before starting crafting and I talked about the disadvantages of living in Denmark (compared to the movie/music part of American culture). The movie has just come out or is about to and the soundtrack wont come out at all.

The bag:

Lining of bag:


The goodies that was inside the bag:


The bowl:


The box:

Indside of the box:


Here is the jewelry that was in the little green package in the box:

Detail:



And the last, and at least as good part of the package:

So In all my school stress I said I'd make my kid sisters lancier dress - or what is equivalent to a prom dress. Here in Denmark it's custom to dance lancier when finishing high school and it's on this occasion everybody dresses up in beautiful dresses and suites.

It's made in a light spring green woven with gold, giving the shining effect (which made all the difference). The tulle is salmon coloured bridal tulle in two layers, making it only light red. The zipper is hidden in the seam on the back. I sew a small jewelery chain on the front to support the dress a bit (mostly for her to feel safe dancing around): lancier involves a lot a twirling!
She found a shawl and made the bows on the shoes herself. The original pattern was a McCall pattern which I don't have anymore and unfortunately I can't find a link to the pattern either - sorry! But anyway, we changed many small things. Most important we fitted it so the dress didn't need boning.

The dress:





Detail:


Pics from dancing lancier:




And last a group picture:


I'm pretty happy with the result and she turned into a little space hopper. But what do you guys think? Comments appreciated!

~pseudopix

A present I just finished and wrapped - ready to put under the tree for my boyfriends grandmother. Never really felted before, but quite fun actually^^ ...and first holidayoccationsthi ngy posted on craftster.

The whole thing:




And ze applees:




And wrapped:




Thanks for looking
~pseudo_pix

Yes. My first clothing picture on craftster, so why not post a jacket I've loved (and worn) almost to pieces. It's made out of red baby velvet and striped cotton as lining.
It was made from scratch, and quite difficult to figure out what to do with the lining when the closing what that different than what I normally do.
Normally I do jackets from my own design but this one was designed by a friend - who I unfortunately don't have contact with anymore.





Details:




The lining:




~pseudo_pix