What the heck is it with me and stripes?!

I've been hoarding all this striped fabric, and have only one half-made garment that uses stripes! And now the urge has struck again.....I really want this fabric! (and it's even pink....the world has gone topsy-turvy!)

Want.....WANT!!!!

Internet window-shopping is so dangerous! I shouldn't be allowed!


(Silk blend brocade)

And it comes in a multitude of colors, too!

The Haul

Sparkly buckles...


AND a ZIBIE HEAD!!!!!!


Changeable silk taffeta (peach w/sage weft, and purple w/black)


Embroidered silk taffeta


Sheer cotton print and green silk taffeta


Stripey silk (taffeta?? It's heavier, and the pattern is woven, I'm not quite sure what to call it!)


Cream lace for engageants (maybe?)


Twill tape of all colors and sizes!!!


Black lace


Silk Organdy!!! Will probably become ruffs


Random Trim! (100 yds for $10, I couldn't resist)


Stripey silk taffeta


About a zillion yards of black lace for my possible eventual civil war mourning gown.


The antique lace that b0dice_g0ddess and I split....


Stripey cotton for.....???? It's really not as drab as it looks in this picture.


TONS of this embroidered net. I'll think of something to do with it! At least a part of it is going to go to an Edwardian.


This is a terrible picture of this fabric! It's actually a very pretty cream and pink stripe.


Yards and yards and yards of dusty blue sheer cotton. Destined to be come a CW day dress. (Will be starting this next!)

Fabric/stash!

I finally snapped some photos of the new stash fabric....

These two are probably my favorite, and most appropriate....


This one is quite pretty. It has an odd streak of blue through the ground, though.


I love the pattern and the color. Again, the ground is kind of funky. It's stripey!


Again with the strange stripes in the ground. It's by far the most noticable, but at $3/yd, I couldn't pass it up!


I finally figured out how to store all my boning zip ties!

Oh, I've been a bad, bad girl....

I went to our local embroidery shop on a search for some titles that some people online are looking for, and I ended up getting a bunch of titles for me! I am SO excited for these books, they are SO AWESOME!!!!

"Tudor Treasures to Emboider" Pamela Warner
This book is actually kind of cheesy, but there are pictures of some extant garments I've not seen before. There is also some good basic stitch information.

"Smocking and Fine Sewing 19th c. Sources" Jules & Kaethe Kliot
Waaaaay OOP, but it has some good basic handsewing techniques, and I need to get better at handsewing! There is also some info that I am going to put to use in a camacia. I am SO EXCITED for this, I am no longer afeared of hand sewing a smock. YAY!

"Variety" Book No. 4 - a sewing manual from 1924. (Cool, eh?!)
Lots of information on whitework, Italian linen embroidery (oop, but cool!), pulled work, and Assisi stitches.

AND THE BEST FOR LAST......

"The Art of Elizabethan Emboidery: Stitches and Variations Used in Colored Silk and Metal Thread Embroidery - England, 1558-1625" Jane D. Zimmerman
THIS IS THE BOOK I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR!!!!! ZOMG!!!1!
*whew* Ok, but seriously, this book is really awesome. I wish I had this book about six months ago! It goes into detail about all the stitches, where they are used, in what types of threads, etc. There is also an interesting theory on plaited braid stitch and it's counterpart which I am going to have to see if I can work out. The long and short of it is, if anyone is wanting to know more about Elizabethan embroidery, BUY THIS BOOK!!!

*happy happy dance*

On a slightly sadder note, my gold passing thread showed up today. I'm not exactly thrilled......it's more bronze than gold, and the diameter is about 1/4 or less than the size of what I was hoping it would be. Anyone want to buy broze-y gold passing thread? (About 38 yds) I am not quite sure what I'll ever use it for. Bah.

Upcoming projects, Sis edition

I ordered a ridonkulously large order of black wool to make husband's handsewn Hospitaller garb. (20 yds....I probably will only end up using 6 or less, since it's 60" wide. It was ON SALE, ok? Really, a SUPER GOOD SALE. It practically ordered itself!)

Sis wants to do some sort of Flemish-y project.....and the two worlds collide!! (And look at the cute apron and standing collar......wooooo!)

What do you think, Sis?

Stash

Various trims...the gold is slated for the red velvet venetian.


Reddish quilted fabric for an 18th c. something. The green brocade has reddish bits that match the quilted, so I'll probably try to make an outfit that has both. Maybe.


Small remnant of undetermined project potential


On the left is a fine linen-cotton blend, and on the right is a rougher 100% cream linen. One can never have enough white linen kicking around!


Pale lavender/pink quilted fabric. Hmmm....I am thinking this might have to become the 18th c. hoodie I've been wanting to make forever!