This project is not progressing quick enough!
Part of the problem is just a general lack of time, but another part is medical. I started having some issues with my hands in January. Numbness, lack of blood flow, too much blood and bursting veins, pain... After visiting several specialists we learned it was actually an issue with the muscles in my neck reacting to certain tasks and/or stress. The result of this is that I can not sit for any length of time doing one thing (which happens to coincide nicely with my typical ADHD mental state).
What does this mean for my projects? Well, I can only work on any given item for a short span of time - typically less than half an hour - before I need to stretch and work on something else.
The apron dress, thus far, is pictured above. The color is off, its a pale green color called Willow by the shop from which it came. I wish I had time to hand sewing this garment, but with real-world-work being exceptionally busy, there was just not time for it. Seams are done with the sewing machine but the surface stitching (which is finally finished) is done by hand with the crewel wool I love so much from Renaissance Dyeing.
Part of the problem is just a general lack of time, but another part is medical. I started having some issues with my hands in January. Numbness, lack of blood flow, too much blood and bursting veins, pain... After visiting several specialists we learned it was actually an issue with the muscles in my neck reacting to certain tasks and/or stress. The result of this is that I can not sit for any length of time doing one thing (which happens to coincide nicely with my typical ADHD mental state).
What does this mean for my projects? Well, I can only work on any given item for a short span of time - typically less than half an hour - before I need to stretch and work on something else.
The apron dress, thus far, is pictured above. The color is off, its a pale green color called Willow by the shop from which it came. I wish I had time to hand sewing this garment, but with real-world-work being exceptionally busy, there was just not time for it. Seams are done with the sewing machine but the surface stitching (which is finally finished) is done by hand with the crewel wool I love so much from Renaissance Dyeing.
Silk samite with confronted ducks standing on split palmette enclosed in double pearl roundel. Central Asia, 9th Century. Source: http://www.asianart.com/exhibitions/aany2006/carlo3.html
The next step is to cut the silk into strips and applique it to the top edge of the garment. The particular silk I will be using falls into the UWYH (Use What You Have) category.
In period the the vikings would take imported silks (samite specifically), cut it into strips and apply them to their garments as trim. I do not have any access to samite, so opted to search out other silks that might have patterns that look at lease somewhat similar to those found on period samite (which often came from Byzantium,Central Asia or Asia). Many of the extant pieces, such as the one above, featured rondel motifs that repeat.
If you want to see applied silks on an extant Viking textile, an image of the Lund find is here: http://www.netvike.com/VIKINGS/VIKINGHISTORY/VIKINGCLOTHING/CLOTHING1011AD/CLOTHPICS/LUNDSILK1.png
In period the the vikings would take imported silks (samite specifically), cut it into strips and apply them to their garments as trim. I do not have any access to samite, so opted to search out other silks that might have patterns that look at lease somewhat similar to those found on period samite (which often came from Byzantium,Central Asia or Asia). Many of the extant pieces, such as the one above, featured rondel motifs that repeat.
If you want to see applied silks on an extant Viking textile, an image of the Lund find is here: http://www.netvike.com/VIKINGS/VIKINGHISTORY/VIKINGCLOTHING/CLOTHING1011AD/CLOTHPICS/LUNDSILK1.png
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While I could not find many (inexpensive) silks that featured rondels, I did find a few that have large repeating patterns that will work nicely when sliced into strips. Both of the above were purchased on Etsy as fat quarters.
Unfortunately, as I was choosing my silks, the "Oooo Shiny" mentality struck and I ended up with several items that I just chose because of I liked them and they were silk and pretty and whatever, rather than because they were the best choice for my projects. This is where UWYH comes into play. I've already bought and paid for them so I will just use the items as best I can and just be more careful in my choosing next time.
To the left is the silk I will be hacking up for this dress. Paisley? Not a good choice at all, but when I cut the fabric into strips I will do it in such a way that the actual pattern can not be determined.
To the left is the silk I will be hacking up for this dress. Paisley? Not a good choice at all, but when I cut the fabric into strips I will do it in such a way that the actual pattern can not be determined.
| What I would LOVE to find in the future are silks that have a distinct geometric pattern to them. There were many textiles like this found on the Oseberg ship and I have yet to find anything I can afford that are at all like these. To the left are the watercolor paintings of two such silks (art by Sophie Kraft from Osebergfunnet, Volume 4). |
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