grrrr

[aryanhwy]

So, remember The Shirt? That I hoped to make for Joel to wear at Raglan? That I had a very simply pattern to follow, one where I took lots of measurements of Joel, added on lots of extra to these measurements to ensure that I had something long and baggy and floofy?

It didn't get done by Raglan, and though I brought the shirt along there in the thought I might work on it then, of course I didn't. And then when we got home, and got unpacked, it sort of disappeared; I looked for it about a week ago, having worked up some motivation to work on it again, and couldn't find it. Knowing that I now have about four weeks until Crown, the next chance he'd have to wear it, tonight I sat down and looked for it thoroughly until I found it. All that's left is the neckline (which needed to be cut) and the cuffs on the sleeves.

My biggest problem with necklines is cutting them too big, so I've learned to be very cautious in cutting them, largening them 3-4 times until they're right. So I started small, and worked on it until I had something big enough to fit over his head. The moment of truth...

The truth is, I hate sewing. I can take a detailed, geometric pattern, lots and lots of measurements, and what do I end up with? Something that he struggles to get the second arm into, which is not especially long nor anywhere near baggy enough to have a gathered/pleated neckline, and I realized that I cut the neckline on the wrong side of the shirt, meaning that the sleeves have a big seam running down the inside of the elbow, instead of along the back.

It's just so frustrating. I'm never able to do anything that turns out well. I will finish the shirt, because it will be wearable, but this was basically my one shot for making him a shirt, because I doubt I'll ever have the patience to make him another one, not going in to it knowing it won't turn out, and thus also basically his one shot of getting decent garb which isn't just a long, shapeless t-tunic. 'Cause there's no way that I'm ever going to be able to make him anything 16th C German, even early 16th C.

Comments

[katerinfg.livejournal.com]

You do many, many things that turn out well. They just don't happen to be sewing projects. You are so brilliant and talented in so many other areas; try not to let it bother you that this one is being so uncoopertive.

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

What bothers me is that my wardrobe has increased in style, fit, and quality quite significantly after becoming queen, and Joel's is left to make do with three t-tunics, and a hat that I purchased in an auction. I really want him to have just one outfit where he can stand up beside me and there isn't a huge disparity. It's really frustrating wanting to do something well, doing everthing I can to reach that end, and yet having none of that work actually count for anything.

[katerinfg.livejournal.com]

Oh, believe me, I understand. The scrolls you do are incredible; perhaps after you step down you could arrange some sort of barter for someone who wants really gorgeous wedding invitations or a frameable copy of a poem or something?

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

The problem is that the time/effort simply isn't commensurate. When I've spoken with people about commissioning garb, working on an hourly rate, the cost is upwards of 250EUR; and for a piece of calligraphy/illumination done by me to be worth the same amount, I'd have to be charging around 50EUR/hour, which is not warranted.

[ursula]

Ick, sewing.

Can you buy or trade for some garb for Joel? That's my usual strategy.

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

See my reply to Katerin above -- I don't have any tradable skill that can produce something equivalent to a piece of garb in time and effort. And I can't afford to pay someone a decent hourly rate, it's just too expensive.

[tedeisenstein.livejournal.com]

Yes, you do. I'm sure you know quite a few seamsters, errr, seamers, errr, sewing types that would do quite a few tunics for Joel in exchange for a nice set of illuminated note cards, or (after you step down) a nice AoA-or-other-award scroll, or some such. The ones you made for me a while ago were quite nice, and certainly worth a nice tunic, if I sewed, which I don't.

I'd almost suggest a trade - "a Court Barony per five tunics" - if both of us were much more tacky than we are.

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

I will admit, there is a part of me deep down that was thrilled when that Midrealm couple gave their infant/toddler/kids all court baronies when they ruled. Because giving your children unearned honors is completely period. As is giving them to your friends 'cause you can. :)

[ursula]

Latin composition? Photocopies of rare name books? Free tech support from Joel? ; )

Personally, I find that SCA folks don't stress too much about exact time equivalence if you're willing to help out with the boring bits (ironing fabric, pressing and finishing seams, etc.)

There's also the ready-made route. It's still expensive to buy a late-period doublet, but underwear and hose are less crazy, and once you've got hose you can wear sexy short tunics.

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm hoping to go the ready-made route for hose, etc., I just need to find a purveyor where either I can view them in person first or their website has sufficient pictures to make an informed decision.

[adelais.livejournal.com]

Y'know, you are royalty. There are folks around who feel the way about sewing that you do about illumination or heraldry who would consider it service to the kingdom and an opportunity to show off and not necessarily expect a quid pro quo -- K told me re this discussion that his knight got several offers to make the squires garb when said knight was king, and that these were only turned down because their Majesties weren't especially fond of the individuals doing the offering.

All of which is a roundabout way of saying that you're used to giving by doing, but right now one way that you can give is by accepting, and it's more than OK -- gracious, in fact -- in the context of this game to do so. Keep an ear to the ground and an open mind about it and if somebody trustworthy offers, buy 'em some fabric and let 'em have at.

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

I've already been very lucky that people have wanted to make clothes for the petite-reine! Making garb that will only be worn a few times is something I also cannot summon that much enthusiasm for, whereas there's plenty of people out there who love making cute little outfits, to Gwen's benefit!

[wolverine-nun.livejournal.com]

I'm a *lousy* needlewoman. It frustrates me so much, because I'll read people's blogs and they're like 'this weekend I made full landsknecht for me and the husband". Drives me nuts. I think that's one reason I had a nun persona for 13 years: easy garb! Now I'm Tudor and the garb is far from easy. I've successfully made myself a chemise and a kirtle/underdress. The petticoat (kind of like a kirtle but with minimal bodice) was a flop and I never made it to the overdress. Fortunately I have a friend who looked through the Tudor garb book and said "this looks challenging. I'd like to do this just for fun. But I'd never wear it! Do me a favour and wear it?" and that was that, free Tudor garb. Bless her.

But the point of this post is that that Tudor garb book has a very easy shirt pattern, made very baggy. It's almost impossible for it not to fit. I've made two and they were easy and easy-fitting. And I hear you about necklines, they're my nemesis.

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

Which Tudor garb book? I thought the pattern I was using was big, baggy, blousy, and impossible to screw up. Shows how much I know. If I am shown an alternative pattern which I can agree is a couple of magnitudes easier than the pattern I was using, then I might consider trying again. (I have plenty of fabric). But it has to be signicantly easier than the apparently easy one I tried.

[draconisregena.livejournal.com]

There in lies the reason why I wear Indian. No sewing involved at all.

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, while I believe Joel would look lovely in a sari, I doubt he shares the sentiment. :)

[mariedeblois.livejournal.com]

I'd bet a dollar it's The Tudor Tailor, since that's pretty much the only Tudor garb patterning book I can think of. I have a copy and would be willing to scan just those pages for you.

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

Thank you! There's always a chance that someday Joel will decide to learn how to sew.

As for books with Tudor patterns, I recently acquired (and haven't yet looked through but will before I attempt the doublet) Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion 3: The cut and construction of clothes for men and women c1560-1620.

[first-fallen.livejournal.com]

It's the Tudor Tailor :). http://www.tudortailor.com/bookshoptt.shtml