VRWKNWC: A New Thread!

Me! | 1/20/07 | Knitting a Conundrum

[Knitting A Conundrum]

There is more to life than crafting, but it's a much poorer life without it!

[redhead]

Are you a member of a re-enactment troupe? Sounds like a LOT of work. Remember, in the "olden days," sometimes two or three women worked on the same dress. If it starts to feel overwhelming, you probably need to hire subcontractors! LOL! (as if)

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Yep. I reenact a woman from Pennsylvania, about 1790 (a date not connected with war but with the movement west.)

The clothes aren't that hard, really. It's the corset, which is called stays, which is the pain to make, and absolutely essential...without that, your clothes don't fit right, and nobody didn't wear them. That takes fitting, and time. I made a set once, but I dropped a lot of weight, and none of my reenactor clothes fit any more.

[Mrs. P]

I think I mentioned it to you before, it's an English romance type thing that involves a young woman with a harelip and her brother who wants to be rich, and what happens to them all. It was written in the late 1800's or early 1900's but takes place much earlier, maybe the 1700's I forget now. Anyway, you can read a sample chapter of it here:

http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/extracts/E000112a.htm

It involves spinning and weaving, the heroine falls in love with the Weaver. It is just one of my favorite books for the past 15 years or so. Masterpiece Theater did a two part movie based on it back in the early 90s that was quite good. The poem you posted just reminded me of it.

Based on what I have read and the pictures I see you post, I think you would like it! I think you could get a copy at the library or a used paperback pretty cheaply online.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Thanks! I'll put it on my to read list!

[kimmie7]

Ooh! Add me! Add me! I have an office/studio/scrapbook/sewing room!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

You're added! and welcome!

[redhead]

It seems to me, IIRC, that dresses from that era often laced up the back, making them almost infinitely adjustable. I think that's why they wore that long "train" thing that hung down the back. Lots of buttonholes, though! Oh. Here's a pic of my afghan:

I was going to send it earlier, but it was HUMUNGOUS! This is a much nicer size...

[Knitting A Conundrum]

actually the dresses in my time tend to close in the front with straight pins!

Lots of the styles though, really are easy to wear and adjust. Lots of drawstrings instead of set in waists on the skirts. And very few buttons at all in women's things. Makes for easier sewing!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I forgot to say what a neat afghan. How lovely!

[redhead]

Thank you kindly. It WILL be, when I get finished fixing all my (&>??@&*+$%@ MISTAKES. I turned it around to the other end to inspect it, and it was so crooked I cried. (smacking forehead) So, part of it is being reworked. It's going to be pretty when it's finished, if I don't kill it first...

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I know what you mean! Been there, done that!

[redhead]

It's bad enough that it's a project that's been waiting five years to get finished. I used to have that entire pattern in my head, too, right down to how many stitches to cast on. !!!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Well, I went on a spinning binge, and have enjoyed it...and have been getting ready rediscovering where I packed various fabrics and such, and am planning on some neat regency period costume pieces to make, but today, for some totally different reason, my hands ache!

Boo! Hiss!

So what do you do when your body won't let you do the crafting you want to do?

[pinz-n-needlez]

That is beautiful! Did you work it all the way across, or in narrower sections that were then sewn together?

I'd love to borrow it today... winter came to NC. :-/

[pinz-n-needlez]

When I can't do things, I love to read about things, even my old knitting or weaving books that I've looked through or read many times.

I've been reading stacks of papers and articles that I've been printing off the internet as I put them into notebooks... working and playing at the same time. :-)

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I've been remodelling a website that has absolutely nothing to do with crafting...

[pinz-n-needlez]

I'm tempted to be flippant and reply, Why bother???

But I have a feeling I probably want a link so I can check it out. ;-)
***
My husband just gifted me with a big role of 36" wide kraft paper. Yay! I have 6 cartoons sketched, 4 in their final pattern form, and need a total of 14. I am in pig heaven, surrounded by blue tape, Sharpie fumes and little colored fabric swatches. :-D

I am an office supply junkie, so this is the best of all worlds....

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Are you sure you aren't my separated from birth twin?

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"So what do you do when your body won't let you do the crafting you want to do?"

I read about crafting and plan for a better, pain-free day. I have some arthritis, too and I work on-line from home, so I'll be due for some carpel tunnel repair in the future, I'm sure. :(

I started a cream-colored crocheted afghan the other day, but I'm not 100% crazy about the pattern so tomorrow I'm taking it apart and starting over again. :)

Ala 'Madame DuFarge,' LOL!

[pinz-n-needlez]

We'd make a good tag team in the World Federation of Fiber Junkies! LOL