Argh!

I've cut out a piece of the sheeting material I used to make my corset to fit the inside of my blackworked collar. I also have the second piece which will be the inside of the collar already cut out from before.

What I don't have is the ruff, nor any idea how to put it all together in a logical, workeable, pretty and period manner. OK, I will settle for just workeable and pretty, but if it were logical I could figure it out, and if it were period I would be even more pleased. I just have no clue.

Helwig suggested somehow (I have no idea how) attaching the interlining inside the lines that my drawn thread hemstitch gives. Then attach the ruff on the interlining fabric somehow (I've no idea how) and then apply the inside lining cozy like all the way to the edge of the interlining. I know how to do this last bit, I mean, at that point I would have something to attach it to and all I would have to do would be fold in the edges and take small, hidden stitches and Bob's your uncle (wierd expression that). Of course, not forgetting the ties, have to attach those too - probably between interlining and lining, no problem there.

Hmm, maybe I should go down to the Cathedral and have another look at the shirts.

Also, looking closely at the collar with the interlining behind it, compared to another piece of the same linen I think I will need to put the linen first, then the interlinig and then line with more linen or risk having my embroidery looking all washed out and yellow. Yick.

Randomocity

In my father's garage there are five different welders.... Welding machines? Welds?

Bad Ideas...

So, I pulled out one of the bags that has been sitting on my spare bed since forever and looked inside it to find the culottes that I bought second-hand and butchered for the wool. Now this wool is lovely, it is charcoal grey, one would say almost black, it is thin, it is lovely it is fabulous. It might be enough for a bodice, with shoulder treatments, but not sleeves. It is definately not enough for a skirt.

Ponderng my wool I got to thinking about Bess' fabulous new Kentwell outfit, and the portraits she used for inspiration. Now I can so see this turning into a dress of that kind. Only I still don't have enough for a skirt. So my mind starts to tell me, well, skirt-schmirt, make a doublet! Bad ideas attack me like this, I don't know what to do.... I  could do pinks, put a poly behind it, looks like satin nobody would know. I could make it faboo! But seriously, I do not need another project. Besides, if I make a doublet,  I've still got nothing to wear underneath it! I do have the grey wool which was bought, meant for a kirtle, and still meant for a kirtle..

---

... a bit later...
I am probably insane. Statistically it wouldn't be a bad statement. Considering I could not, simply could not, let it be, instead I went ahead and pulled out my bodice pattern, the same as the tudor court gown, and with a couple of adjustments, moving the side seam so that more is in the back, and changing the shoulder strap angle I drew the pattern onto my wool with my chalk. Check it out, front and back. I mean, it just beckons to be cut out now. But it's low-cut, I can't make a low-cut jacket. I have two more of the same size pieces as the ones in the pictures too, so I could make sleeves, as well as use the surrounding bits for wings, rolls and doo-dads.

It's a sickness I tell you, starting dead-end projects. I can't concievably make a dress out of this! I just really, really wanted to try out the curved shoulder-strap bit that myladyswardrobe always does...

But I mean, I can't use it for anything even if I cut it out. I'd be wasting good wool!

Aah! Somebody stop me!

Portraiture to look at for the ropa

Sweet... OK, taken from aclisto's post of today.

Looking through portraits I come to a few made by Coello, page found here.

La dama del armiño. There's also the portrait of Catalina Micaela de Austria, duquesa de Saboya.

And a few others by Bartolomé González

Doña Margarita de Austria and La reina Ana de Austria, cuarta mujer de Felipe II

For wierdness, a portrait of La Reina Doña Margarita de Austria, pregnant it looks like, also by González

In these pictures are a couple of visuals for my ropa sleeves. First one is slit down the centre like my plan was, with a row of the pickadils or whatever down either side of the opening. The second portrait seems to be a lot more common, with the mutton chop sleeve cut in half, buttons holding the halves together, or in this case, points. That would mean the back end would also have buttons along it, as in the third portrait.

I don't know what to do just yet - but I know I loved the vibrancy of the gold silk inside the first one's open sleeve.

Also Pantoja has some cool female portraits.

From the brush of one El Veronés (Paolo Caliari) comes one of the most gorgeous gowns I saw there, I just LOVE the colours:
Retrato de una mujer con un perrito

I just have to say WOW do I love this site!

(ps I Love Deepest Sender!)