What's Next?

I took a break the past two weeks and sewed myself some much needed new shirts, and like everything these days, it took twice as long as I'd wanted. These were the five fabrics...

Well, the scraps of that red batik fabric made me think of making some new banners for the castle. After all, there are some potential birthday parties coming up, and it would be nice to decorate with something new. So I chose a dark paisley to compliment the red batik, and now am in the process of embroidering a line around the inside edge....

I had thought to make a new kilt and cloak for Jude, since I wasn't really that fond of the colour of the one I initially made for him.  I decided to use the tartan that I'd been saving for Jamie's wedding tartan from Outlander, but decided I really didn't want to make that outfit, so why save it?But when I tried it on Jude, I didn't like how it looked on him. I didn't even bother taking a photo, just took it off and put his 'ugly' brown tartan back on. I just suited him so much better.

So, what to do with the new kilt and cloak?  Well, I don't like waste, so decided to make an outfit for his lady friend, whomever that turns out to be.  I picked off the waistband, since it was way too wide, plus I prefer the ladies to have a yoke type waistband, so the gathers or pleats are not at their waists but lower on their hips, in order to reduce bulk at their waists.....

I can't go too far on that costume since it needs chainmail, and I first have to order some.

In the meantime I need to finish Jude's outfit. He needs a sword of his own because he can't keep the one he's been borrowing from MacBeth. Jan made a blade out of hardwood, but couldn't get the exact shape I wanted, so I'm trying a new technique, of adding a strip of Apoxie down the length of the blade, which will get sanded to shape after it cures.  Hopefully then the blade will be the right shape. I can only do one side at a time, and then comes the handle....

I also needed to address the stirrups on the horse's saddles.  They were designed for an Our Generation play doll, and hang in the totally wrong place for an FID.  I had taken some photos of Lawrence with Nami out in the snow, on his horse, and was so focussed on posing them together nicely that I never noticed his feet sticking way out. The guy's boots never actually go into the stirrups, and I always have to fake it, but it totally slipped my mind.
​So of course I couldn't use the photo.

And it was such a nice photo too.  So I figured it was high time to address all the stirrups on all the saddles. Cut off all the plastic ones, and make new ones out of leather that hang in the right place so I won't have that same problem again.

And I did shoot another little story back in January, when I was finishing off the five pairs of shoes, so that will be starting soon. This is where much of it takes place....