Why the Weasel is My Personal Symbol

I've adopted the white weasel as my symbol, shown here on my banner:

Banner Stats:

30" wide, 58" long.
Red duck canvas.
Gold fabric paint trim, hand painted.
Weasel design hand-drawn, enlarged onto posterboard by hand, cut out and traced, then hand painted in white acrylic paint with black Sharpie details.
Black faceted glass bead eye.
Will have gold-painted canvas tabs at the top to hang from pavilion or pole.

Why the weasel?

Because I am always trying to weasel my way out of things, weasel other people into doing things for me, weaseling information out of people, etc.

Case in point, just last night, which reminded me of my symbol...

My guy was over, we were lounging around talking, and I started giving him a much-needed hand massage. He does medieval foam fighting and his hands and arms get sore. Within minutes he was very relaxed.

Him: "I think I've gone stupid."
Me: (joking) "So about that silk you said you'd buy me for my ballgown..."
Him: "How much do you need and how much is it?"
Me: (laughing) "I don't really need silk."

A few minutes later, still massaging his hands...

Him: "I adore you."
Me: "How much? Because I'm still thinking about that silk..."
Him: "How much do you need and how much is it?"
Me: "I do not need more fabric!"

A few more minutes pass, still massaging his hands and arms...

Him: "I think I died."
Me: "You died? How long until they lock out your credit card? Because... silk..."
Him: "How much do you need and how much is it?"
Me: (laughing) "Nooooo..."
Him: "I will buy you silk."

Weasel with massage superpowers: 1
My guy's willpower and possibly budget too: 0

My Guy's Medieval Tunic & Fancypants Gear

I recently made my guy a medieval tunic. Here's a quick rundown of the stats, followed by photos and additional notes:

Fabric: Linen/rayon blend. I dislike the rayon content, but it was the perfect color and I have yet to find any confidence in dyeing fabric.

Pattern: Custom drafted to his measurements from Drea Leed's Elizabethan Smock Pattern Generator

Year: Nonspecific, early medieval.

Notions: Thread.

How historically accurate is it? 50% perhaps. The pattern is accurate, but the fabric and thread have synthetic content, and it was machine-sewn.

Hours to complete: Too many. Underarm gussets are the bane of my existence.

First worn: Wolfpack Season Opener, February 2014.

Total cost: Don't remember. He paid for the fabric, and I rarely count thread in the cost unless it is purchased specifically for a piece.

Worn here with armor he made and painted himself (most of it). He's quite the talented gentleman.

The fabric lays nicely, irons nicely, and doesn't shift around much, so it was easy to cut. However, it frayed a lot, so in the future I will flat-fell the seams. I used Fray Check on the neckline until I put the trim on. There was a bit of a time-crunch before Season Opener since I was having issues with the underarm gussets. I'm not sure where I was going wrong, but they weren't fitting properly. The only thing I can think is that I wasn't using the correct seam allowance. I cut them according to pattern and followed the directions, but I still had to pull them out like four times. I hate underarm gussets, even though the pattern has them as two triangles to each gusset, which are much easier to put in rather than one diamond shape.

When we got the fabric, there was less than a yard left after what I guesstimated we needed, which would be sold as a remnant for 50% discount.

Clerk: "Would you like the rest as—"

Me: "Yes. Whoops, I should probably ask the guy who's paying for it."

My guy: "Go ahead. Whatever you want."

Me: "I'm keeping you."

All photos in this post were taken by myself.  Here's a few more of him in his full getup:

He made the pants himself. If I recall correctly, he made the tabard as well. He made his leather armor, mask, weapons, and shield and painted it all with his personal symbols.

I am quite jealous of his painting talent. For anyone who's wondering, he uses liquid pigment.

Better view of all his fancypants painted armor.

I've started a Wish List for his garb, in addition to a Wish List for my garb. His Wish List includes fancypants garb for feasts, which may or may not be the Eastern European garb he wants, inspired by Vlad the Impaler. Our garb arrangement is pretty much, "Here's a few ideas of what I want; go nuts." We'll see what I come up with... :)

Throwback Thursday: the first piece I made!

The first piece I made was a full-circle skirt. A quick run-down using the HSF stat list:

Fabric: A gray synthetic knit purchased from Wal-Mart. I purchased probably four yards. This was obviously before I was concerned with historical accuracy, but it's so soft and drapes so nicely that I still love it and still wear it. Later I replaced the bias tape drawstring waistband with a fitted broadcloth waistband, wide enough so the skirt doesn't fall out the bottom of the bodice.

Pattern: Self-drafted from my own measurements. I would like to apologize to my high school geometry teacher for not paying attention in class, because I have certainly used a lot of geometry in sewing!

Year: Not meant to be any specific year or time period; I just wanted a full-circle skirt!

Notions: Black bias tape at first. Later, grommets and black shoelace for the fitted waistband. Thread.

How historically accurate is it? Not at all!

Hours to complete: I don't remember. Even now I'm terrible at keeping track.

First worn: To the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha, WI, USA in 2007, I think.

Total cost: Couldn't even begin to guess, but not expensive by any means.

Despite being a completely novice attempt at Ren Faire garb, I still like it. I've worn it many times. It took me a while to draft the pattern using my measurements and geometry, but looking back I'm proud of myself for managing to do it all successfully on my first piece. I still love full-circle skirts, historically accurate or not, and have a few pieces planned based on the full-circle idea. Understanding the geometry has also helped me draft other pieces yet to be seen!

More photos: These photos were taken in January 2011 at my friend Susie's house. We and another friend like to have medieval-themed dinners.

The fabric drapes so beautifully. I'm wearing it here with a purchased blouse and bodice. The cap is actually a sunbonnet with the brim turned back halfway and the strings tied at the nape of my neck.

The apron is a quarter-circle panel of unbleached muslin. It was a test piece for the full-circle pattern, turned into an apron by hemming and adding two muslin strips. The curved waistline prevents it from fitting awkwardly.

The shawl is two yards of unhemmed plaid cotton flannel from Jo-Ann Fabrics.

After the addition of a fitted waistband so it doesn't slip from beneath the bodice. It is shown here over hoops on my dressform.

Crafty Wench Costumes: Where it's okay to be 500 years behind in fashion!

I follow a ton (in the triple-digits) of sewing and costuming blogs, so I figured, yeah, sure, why not have my own?

I'm Amelia, a.k.a. Millie. I started sewing when I was little, and I've never grown out of playing dress-up! Now I sew for myself, friends, and family.

My experience is mainly in medieval and Renaissance. I am branching out into more time periods, styles, and fields of costuming such as hats and jewelry. I'm also putting more effort into making things historically accurate.

As the blog progresses, I'll chronicle my progress in those areas, share tips and tricks, stories of past experiences, humor, photos, and probably a fair amount of grumbling.

In addition, I have joined the Historical Sew Fortnightly 2014, run by the lovely Dreamstress, Leimomi Oakes.

However, I am terrible with time-management and I am in the middle of a move, sooo... yeah, I've finished nothing so far. But I am determined to do something!

Current projects in progress:

• Civil War era chemise for vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

I also have a cat. As I was saying...

• Civil War era chemise for a local Civil War event in July. I am making a day ensemble and a ballgown ensemble.

• Floofy petticoat for CW ballgown.

• Green linen medieval dress.

• White poly/cotton medieval dress, to be dyed red (mainly testing a pattern).

I am also getting back into the medieval foam fighting/LARP scene. I was active a few years ago but fell out of it. Thanks to my wonderful guy, I'm getting back to it. I've outfitted him with a tunic so far, with more pieces planned, and I "need" to make myself new garb. So, while it seems like a fairly short list of projects, it doesn't include my Wish List or projects planned but not actually started.

Fair warning, I am kinda tech-stupid so this blogging thing may take a minute to learn!

Alrighty, back to sewing my chemise! I'm starting to feel the Zen of hand-sewing...

xo

Amelia