I've written up a paragraph and added a few photos of the sleeves that now go with my brown test doublet in the dress diary on my website.

Also, I'm looking at my ropa and I'm thinking: when am I going to use that? And I'm thinking I might sell it, if anyone wants to buy it off me. I thought 800 SKR might be a fair price.

So I was looking back over old entries, checking to see what brilliant thoughts I have had and found a reference to the English fitted gown. It was just an idea then, and it is nearly finished now. I'll probably skip slashing and cutting the guards, as all evidence points to single-colour strip down front and around hem only. Which means I only have to hem it and stitch down the guarding all around for it to be finished.

Anyway, along with the idea of the Efg was sleeves for the ropa. Now I did the layout on the dark green brocade for the front of a petticoat and a pair of sleeves, if you recall. Basically, forepart and sleeves. Well, what if I went with that idea, only turn it into a loose kirtle, with fancified bits down the front, around the hem and fancy sleeves, with grungy linen for the rest, as it will always be covered by another gown. The loose kirtle in PoF (p. 110) has the sleeves laced in as well, so they could do double duty for the ropa as well. How about that for an idea? I think I rather like it myself, and it would take practically no time at all. I could wear it with the English fitted gown, and it would show up, all spiffy and brocade-y in the front.

Of course, I could also concentrate on fixing all the little things that need fixing or finishing on my old clothes rather than start something new, but I'm a costumer, damnit! I want to make new and shiny clothes not fix stuff I've already finished once.

Well, I've come to a dead stop in my sewing. Once I hung up the kirtle I lost any sort of momentum I had - and I had plenty. I tried to pick up the silk veil that I have cut out and hem it. I came a third of the way. It's tiny, fiddly, fluid, and booooring.

I glanced over the list of my other projects and made faces at them.

I even became so unfocused as to (again!) forget how to use the delete-key properly. Augh! (mini-rcof)

Old stuff to mend is boring, whereas starting up a whole new! shiny! exciting! project seems more and more appealing to me. But I know, if I start another new one I will never get around to doing anything on the niggle-list.

Helwig said to me that the kirtle would be perfect to bring to the Civil War event, so I now have a deadline for that project (also a ride - hurray). I see no problem whatsoever accomplishing that, seeing as how I only have to mount skirt to bodice and hem it now. No eyelets and nothing else left. With this in mind I thought I'd start implementing my plan of single-period per event and bring only selected items from my late period wardrobe:

• surcote lining kirtle
• a chemise or two
• ropa to put on if I go outside to watch fighting and it turns chilly
• petticoat skirt
• shirt?
• doublet?
• partlets, sleeves, coif, cap, apron and shoes (my lovely period shoes!)
• knitted wool socks
  

For the ropa I think I have pretty much decided to make a pair of sleeves of the green brocade (the smaller darker cut in the same pattern as my tudor court gown that is, not the other one). A pair of snug sleeves seems to be the way to go, looking at my ropa inspiration images. With luck I'll be able to get a forepart out of the same cut as well - but we'll see.

Was also a good webminister and updated the shire webpage and sent the changes in to my new upload liaison. Who knows how long that'll take to go live.

And my flist is a little slow at the moment - nobody is posting pretty pictures to look at!

I went back in and added a little bit of info and some pictures of the copper cord and trim I used to add more bling to the otherwise black wool ropa. Now, the diary there is finally finished.

Hurrah, here comes the screw-up. I managed to forget loops at the top of the first course of cord, so the second sleeve of my ropa is now not an exact copy of the first. I didn't notice it at first, last night, it wasn't until I was on the way up at the second lap that I checked against the first sleeve. Whoops. Still, they're on the opposite sides of my shoulders, so people shouldn't be able to scrutinize the two side by side like in the photo above.