lady constance

LADDDDDDDDDDDYYYYYYYYYYY BROWER!!!!!!!!!! amazing work!!!! THAT IS FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! where do yah live? we need to sew together -- dueling sewing machines!!! loving the brown mantua... draft your own pattern?????????? excellently done--- NOW--- i dont want to hurt you, but EVERY MANTUA i have ever seen, is split down the front.......!! the skirt is not closed together -- one should be able to see your skirts!!!!!!!!!! QUICK-- split it down the middle front... you should be able to put off and on the mantua like a womans jacket/robe/ sweater of today!!!---- there should be no problems finishing after it is cut since the mantua gently folds and drapes..... and the sleeves are fine--and from all the patterns and extant garment pictures that i have seen { at LEAST 2000}, THEY ARE CURVED-- a curve cut naturally in the sleeve part, shaping the elbow- there are sooooooooooo many variations of sleeves... but i have rarely seen them without the bell cuffs........... now lady diamond and lady barbossa and cheeky and capt sterling need to pipe up their knowldege....... way coooooooooooool!! i am soooooooooo proud of you!! lady constance

hmmmm.... the darling silas is working overtime tomorrow....$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$........ one half of my brain says... repeatedly....... please , some one, simply tell me what you would charge to make me a set of stays...! make an offer! i cannot be the only person who has discovered that if i have the money, i dont have the time... and if i have the time, i don't have the money......... well as of the last years have been... i got the money! it is the time i DONT have!! tell me what you charge, let me think ,i will write a check, give you time to find out it is GOOD and give you my measurements and let me simply work on my skirts and mantua.... heck i can even send you the fabric and boning!!! there-- i said it! lady constance... PM me with offers.......

Miss Diamond, been busy thinking and pouring over the topic of the essential garments..... butterick has a pattern with 4 different sets of stays ... the one closet to Gaop needs the tabs rounded.... it also gives the angles of the boning on the sides of the garment....... at an angle........ YAH.....so------- no more tube shaped stays..... now honestly, i should just use scrap fabric.... but i jsut cant bear to use unlovely fabrics.... !{ fabric princess that i am}.......... but ic an say that i am so happy that everyone here is so encouraging..... even when my results are less than..... thank ye! very much.... lady constance

i do believe my dear you are referring to the holy handgrenade...... bless this O Lord, thy holy handgrenade , and let it blow thine enemies into tiny bits.........

butterick 4254.........for pattern pieces, but bone them GaoP........ but hey-------- medieval ages here i come!! LOL!! ROTLOL!! ACTUALLY I HAVE A SPARE money--- anyone need any money? lady brower... want some more money? { go ahead use machine for mine!!} YOUR LOOK WAYYYYYYYYYY BETTER THAN MINE... and send me some cleavage/de'cotellage too......... LOL..... now if i can find where silas put the jacket pic's.......... lady constance

i wish to appear historically correct!!!!!!--the shape, curve, style, fabric........ i wish to use period correct fabric as far as possible...{and economically feasible for my hobby} and i also have no problem drafting a new pattern off of an old and close in line and shape-- shape and line of the dress beign similar.........i COULD start with draping on a mannequin if i so choose to--- but WHY would i reinvent the wheel? i can look at waughs and arnolds drafts and make slits and slices to draft a new pattern from a garment that is close........ if i can reshape an older used wool double breasted sailors coat by removing the double breast on one side and get the line and look of a nautical jacket, why shouldnt i? what great harm to re enacting does this cause? logic please........... what HARM is there in using your mind and talents and skills and abilities to do this? i think it is fabulous that people DID make patterns for those who cannot draft their own... i think all the how to's are fabulous....... and i am grateful for both........ so it seems that lady browers questions about HOW and WHAT needs to be changed to MAKE the jack sparrow pattern PERIOD CORRECT can be answered........ without ANY mention about hand sewing,personal choices/opinipons, period correct methods of sewing..........LETS ANSWER THE WOMANS QUESTIONS..... can you note the differences? not jsut WHAT is wrong,BUT HOW TO CORRECT it to make it period correct........ and anyone who dares check my seams and lifts my skirt or stays or mantua, well..... better be prepared to take it on the chops--- unless they have ASKED permission to do so first.......... LOL...... Q. which is it????????? a person is accepted because of the WAY they do things,VERSUS their garment LOOKS period correct-fabric and shape...... lady constance

Lady Bower, my entire husbands coat and vest were MADE from that pattern---!!!and we went to PiP this past december!!!!! no one knew { or perhaps cared}---everyone raved about the coat......... i can keep a secret about where and how and why i did what i did............. and honestly , i made the slops pattern myself off pair of my husbands levis and adjusted to be period correct { we shall not discuss other patterns available-i would then be accused of calumny! simply said::::-i could not make them fit the dear husband right-- and i made at least 20 sample pairs.......they turned into kids slops...{ who dont care about how they fit.....} with the jack sparrow pattern---- i adjusted, tweaked , added here and there made extra panels to the sides to make double the flounces, made different pockets, changed the shape of the bell of the sleeve a bit... on the vest/ waist coat.. made a back panel same length as front, witha slit up the side as they did years back then the pants from the jack sparrow costume are not from the right period.... golden age of piracy pant closed in a centered fly front,not a dropped breach front........ SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..... LOOK LOOK LOOK---at extant garment samples---study art fromthat period and pay close attention to details of clothing and recreate the LOOK........ if YOU drove your gramma nuts changing your gown pattern years ago, YOU CAN DO THIS.... SO DO IT! i reccomend that you use same materials as back then== linen , wool, linsey woolsey......... feel free to PM me....... and if you want, i can send pics of what i did .. i will make the dh model his coat and waist coat and send them to you... i would imagine that you have years of sewing experience { as evidence of your work shown}........ TRUST YOUR SEWERS GUT.... find a way to recreate the look as a modern seamstress/fashion designer........ i made my stays on my machine enterily except sewing the lacing holes and back of the bias tape { which i made myself}......... want a pic of that too??? YOU DONOT HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT/HOW YOU DO about your choices in creating your period costumes........... take alltheir advice and use as a springboard of information that you can garner teh best ideas and apply them as you see fit and help you..... remember WE ARE PIRATES!!!........... WE DO THINGS THEY WAY WE WANT.....WE TOSS OUT RULES THAT OPPRESS US... WE CAN PLUNDER A GOOD IDEA ! AND RECREATE WHAT WE SEE THAT WE LIKE AND WANT TO IMITATE... but we dont necessarily have to do it this way or that way--- i think the idea of understanding is, that we know why they did what they did, and how they did... but, what reason have we not to take advantage of 21 century technology?{ and i have discussed this with a few people.... we can agree to disagree........ hey-- we have 9 kids--- we are NONCONFORMISTS.....haha ha aha-- i have mind and i know how to USE it..... and i can see that youare the same......... trying to apply what you already know to get what you want!!! feel free to PM me......... lady constance

aiyyy... --- and we would have fought ye, and plundered warmer clothing away from ye... and ye would have seen that silas be too good looking a man to ever look bad in anything he wears......... i would even dare to say he is better lookin than capn sterling.... no offence, capn.......

bo... would be great to see you... if we do indeed go... i know that a lot of your plans got cancelled at the last minute due to school.... maybe this one will work out !! silas again... closing the window doesn't log her out :)

always and forever trying to find a fast way--- here is what i discovered--- AFTER all the channels for the boning are stitched in... PLACE THE BIAS TAPE ON THE TOP-- RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER--- MACHINE STITCH THE BIAS TAPE ON TO THE FRONT-- THERE YOU CAN GET THE CURVES PERFECT--- then insert boning/ reed THEN attach/sew the bias tape by hand to the back of the stays.......... there you can cut in / fold the curves fabulously!!! ***** i know my sewing machine will easily stitch thru boning without breaking the needle.... use a ball point titanium needle........****** this also keep the boning in place and never comes thru the casing or moves on you { i have a few a hair too short as i used plastic boning

Miss Kate--- the link you give asks for as email and password-- thus i cannot look at your stays and mantua!! { sobbing outloud waaaaa!!}..... do you mind trying again? i would dearly love to see it!! and a few questions for you... how was working with silk? i have found that working with natural materials is always far easier than man made ones..... and Cheeky-- your ermine skirt thus far looks fabulous!!!! how was workiing with that fur?? LOL!! { my son costumes and the build up he leaves in the machine is awful { air compressor to the rescue!!}--- and here is tip for anyone working with fake fur-- DONT USE SCISSORS--- USE RAZOR!! to cut it!!!! much less fluff floating around in the air and sticking to everything around you for days.... using a razor leaves a clean edge, and doe snot cut away and leave pits in your fur.... and air brushing fabric leaves a fabulous result for stripes/ ermine spots/ dots { as in like cheetah}......... we have done that too, and have had fabulous results with it!! -- PLEAS EPLEASE PELASE SHOW YOUR WORK!! ESP MANTUA...... lady constance

damn dude.... at least that's all you got... none of the kids or blondie hurt ?? yeah, i have had my mug saved by a seatbelt before... buckle up !! hope your feeling better soon... btw--- this is silas on l.c.'s login.... she forgot to log out :)

Jack, thank youfor the evidence that men wore silk/nice things.... ahhh Silas will protest- but given the evidence of such existance, he shall have no choice but to comply!! now if can find the silk damask in a green/ blue/gray........ they would go nicely with gray woolen breaches! thanks Jack!!

thank you Silas for posting the pics!!!! :) and i CUT OFF EVERY SINGLE TAB!!! the corset maker/generator directions simply were unclear to me--- and at this time, i shall not be adding over the top! i did pick up a few patterns at fabric whorehouse, a butterick- with several time eras of corset patterns.... i shall use linenfabric and maybe it wil go faster-- this one took me about 6-7 hours { thanks to the happy lady bernina who does all the hard parts.... if get to getting in the brass eyelets tonight i shall put it on and see what it looks like on.... lady constance

Jack--i saw your earlier mantua- beautiful work -- the fabric looks like loose woven burlap { for i have no other word in my mind to describe-- or perhaps a very loose woven linen.....i KNOW that had to be a beaaaaaaaaaaaach to work with... hwo you got the seams to STAY together is beyond me-- perhaps zig zagging then straight stitching..... awesome work on your part.. i KNOW your efforts--- good job say i !! when you say outer fabric, which picture and which fabric?? you said red-- so that leads me to beleive the jacqaurd--- the red floral with greens and taupes..... that is 90% cotton with i beleive abit of poly in it--- and you are correct, the pattern is what drew me to it { and color}..... on the picture it appears as it has gold in it-- it doesNOT.... camera thingy.... { HATE the new digital dh bought-- because i have not mastered its programming yet !!!} i googled 18th century clothing /fabric patterns and hit a gold mine......... so a million images stuffed in my head......particularly patterns of flowers and such...... the golden color stuff is 100% SILK-- not a dupioni , just a silk..... i DID find aa website that sells linen/ wool / silk blends....... prices-- ehhhh -- kind of costly but after i perfect my and fine tune my patterns, i will splurge over and over i have read that many historical re enactors are simply stuck with and choose fabrics.net upholstery type fabrics.... there ARE 100 silk and linen and wools out there.... $$$$$ try fabrics . net and renassaince fabrics . com..... also denver fabris or fabric-store. net have awesome luck there..... and i havebeen playing with a few patterns and adding to them from waughs cut of women clothing.....{ adding volumes of fabric to the side panels for mantua..... so far so good.... } Jack-- will photo bucket a better shot--- that would be a hoot if it was the same.... LOL.... and what were you going to use that for? i thought about a mantua with it.. but being that i only have 4 yards of it, it would be a close cut for a mantua....so iwas going to do skirt... a really big full one.... if i wait for capn sterling to respond to questions such as these, i would drown in fabric!! He is just ttooooooooooo busy for such endeavors no matter how gracious he is about helping out the newcomers.... so, time to take a chance like we did for PiP....... just do it! if you want when i run into bargains, in silk and linen and wool, if you let me know what you are looking for i can just pick them up for you.. and ship them... in repayment for your kindness and the pirate brethren kind of deal..... lady constance

Willie Wobble is being VERY HUMBLE........ i was at Pip this past year--- and HIS KNOTTING & GEAR IS FREAKING AWESOME.........!! if i was a theif, i would have considered stealing....... i will go thru my silas' pics and post a link-- his handiwork is evident and amazing!! i personally watched him work his magic hook thing and make a nettting type of covering for glass bottles.... i asked him earlier to give us his secrets........ he has been quiet about them-- his shy and humble nature..... and can i reccomend ANOTHER SOURCE for books at VERY LOW PRICES... as long as you dont mind the books being used....... and the prices beat amazon hands down { once shoppign there, doubt you will choose amazon for much after the moeny saving experience} WWW.ALIBRIS.COM { alibris means book in latin -- bet yah all knew that though!} i got nora waughs and alice whats her name and marlins spike sailor and ashley book of knots CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP--- as long as you dont mind a used copy.... i have gotten books there for as low as 2 bucks.... shipping was 2.50.... BARGAIN HUNTERS PARADISE!! as far as Willie Wobbles abilities---- AWESOME--- HE IS YOUR MAN FOR PICKING HIS BRAIN AND EXPERTISE ON TEH SUBJECT!!! and if i could find some object that he needs or wants made as far as piratical clothing, i would trade himfor his knot work ....... there is your offer Willie...! think about that---NEED any more shirts? sailors jackets? breeches? you are about the same size as my dh--- already got patterns .... Lady constance

just working on my first set of stays........ and honestly, i want those of you who know period fabrics quite a bit better than i to comment and give reccomendation......... uummmm,,, that would be YOU Kate Souris/Bagley, Micheal Bagley, Patrick Hand, Capn Sterling, Mary Diamond .. or anyone else more in the KNOW of things....... here are a few links to my growing fabric collection....... i want to know if these are close enough-- the ten foot rule... PC { pretty close}, PFC { pretty flinking close enough!}.... fabric would be for skirts and stays....... and-- can some one reccomend a fabric for a mantua.....i really just dont know if jacquard is quite goingto give me the draping it should have-- or rather that it would be TOO stiff for proper draping.... i would appreciate any reccomendations and comments....and ADVICE!! lady constance

the tremendous difficulty with these wonderful glorious clothing plates is the INABILITY to know for sure if the top and bottom are JOINED together or are they separate peices of clothing......... i am sure the artist did his best to make things look prettied---- but were they? artists who were commisioned, i am sure made sure to take great pains to make everything look beautifully appointed.... like todays home fashion designers have well appointed rooms--a "staging" so to speak..... and i suppose my weakness and predilection towards being part of a group, and accepted as such, i find to keep PC, it makes it quite difficult--fabric/ weave/ pattern/ material to ensure that stay in PC........ i find that my weakness brings to light others weaknesses.... one playing upon the other! and these days of late , i have decided that i simply will make a choice--- and if like cinderella my garment is picked to shreds, i shall just go back to the sewing table!!! why do i have the need to 100% assimilation .......?? who the heck knew that such a thing could generate within my heart and mind such metaphysical realities to be discoverd within myself....... lady constance

actually, Silas wears pirate "head" gear every day=== something about" hard hat hair".......... but i KNOW he just wants to keep a piece of pirate with him...........ROTFLOL..........let me tell you! quite sexy!!! that man coming in the front door from work... makes my heart melt! all piratey and all........ last weekend i cleaned out Silas' car ...i tied a pirate bandana thing to his head rest.. then i had the 22 year old make me a noose..... put that around the head rest to keep the bandana from coming off...... HA HA HA...... Silas then has choices... hang em-- or beat em bloody dead with the noose....

oh my eyes!!!!!!! i have been pouring over historical pictures and woodcuts and such-- dutch and flemish painters.. et al.... i have been pouring over all my husband photos of out fits and such at PiP...... all i need to do is SEE it.... then pour over current patterns { like simplicity, butterick....} and piece together this top with this sleeve, add this skirt in this fabric .... KWIM?--just making sure the edges correspond correctly to join together.... puzzle peice making , if you will.... i did purchase one gown at PiP.... liked the lines-- the bodice of the gown is PC... add a flounce/ skirt addition, it can easily be the same thing as haunting lily had instead of a set of stays..... it is already cut andready to go-- justneed to kick the 22 year old off the machine { sorry--lining will hide any machine stitching} for a mantua, i have bought a childs sized pirate of carribean pattern{ thereaint no adjusting the men sizes for a woman!!} and already know how to adjust the sleeves for mantua.... and adding what i can see in nora waughs book on how the back of the mantua is cut large then pleated/ folded then sewn in/for gathers, i ought to be able to accomplish this..........but out of wool? and then what kind? summer weighted suiting just seems all wrong... the garment would lay well, but ... i think the summer weighted wool would be too many decades ahead as far as being PC......ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! i found a supplier for linen/ wool blended fabric-- and silk/ wool blend... but WHICH one? and i found 4 yards of a marigold colored 100% silk for 3.50 @ yard-- for a skirt WOO HOO best bargain thus far!!.... and the coordinating overskirt/ mantua in a softly melodic jacquard floral taupe/burgandy/moss green--- but the floral part----- at ten foot ---it would be as Mary Diamond says PFC..... pretty finking close and i posted on another thread-- where ALL skirts knife pleated?? always knife pleasted? no matter what? never gathered? and Capn Sterling-- thanks for the photo-- yes the dress i wore at PiP was close... no sleeves...and when i cooked the FIRST thing i did WAS hike that skirt up!!! i am considering taking that dress apart--- to pattern the stays off of that....... and skirt could easily be made shorter--- but it is cotton jacquard--- as it took dye beautifully....{ it was originally cream-- sadly iput allmy effort into my family's clothing...... ahhh.. there will be more PiP's..... i think you ladies keep your sewing secrets, secret!!!!!!!!... { ok the Cap'n being a man and all, well-- i think he just appreciates his women nicely clothed!!} let me see if i can get Silas to cooperate and post a few things i have going.........{ i married a pirate saint-- not caring one iota what i purchase at the fabric store} Lady C

were the petticoats/ skirts ever made with wool? and if so, would a melton type of wool be best choice of wool?-- or would that strictly be for a mantua? i have some gorgeous summer wool suiting { a gentle red/ brown stripe running thru a gray/black wool....} { can yah tell i still remember the chill of PiP 08 ?}.........{ i will forever carry warm and cold weather PC fabric clothing with me here ever after!} and FYI-- for those who live with a hancock fabric around them-- HUGE CLEARANCE SALES OF silk{ all kinds}..and i found a few linen wool blends also-- we are talking 3.50 - 7.00 @ yard-- 60-65" wide fabrics--- lady constance

was just at the fabric store, gazing at piles of remnants....... and imagining what i could do with them....{ found a piece i can work with-- muted tan with pale blue flowers jacquarded in......} got a question--- can some one look at simplicity pattern 3809 and tell me is the top, if a skirt flounce was added and the top of the jacket/ vest could be left off, and would be more period correct......... if those who sew can reccomend patterns that they use top piece , modify this and that to get a finished garment, i could LOVE the suggestions---- sugggest and reccomend away! any and all suggestions taken and appreciated! lady constance

i saw some one working twine/ rope around bottles with a weird hook kind of instrument at PiP.... WILLIE WOBBLE!! think about running that kind of rope around regular christmas tree balls...... COOL! { if it works well for jugs, why cant i do a bikini out of it?} wonderin' if i could get a book at library and learn the craft--- thinkin' to work a bikini the same way--- now THAT would be a 'kini my husband would love........ HELP WILLIE WOBBLE---- and you left too coon for me to get some of heidi's jellies and jams and spreads--- now i have to pay shipping !

personally, the silas and i are going to start wearing them to restauraunts when we dine out together--and see movies--- even to church on sundays!! AND WHY NOT???!!! i know no better to way to introduce NEW fashions , and perhaps start a NEW trend.... get more people involved in re-enacting........ would it not be fabulous to seeeeeeeeee this kinds of garments done on a national scale? reintorudce the culture of REAL LADY and REAL MEN back into the culture.... we have that kind of power ladies and gents~ !! we just dont think about it--- hey some one send mission this post..... and did i mention , it is just PURE FUN!! { and reason to sew more and more and more!!!} LOVE, Lady Constance