The postillion was struck by lightning

This post is to inform you all that I intend to share the most inane finished objects I make. Up next: the three-foot long piece of i-cord I knit for my cat to play with. (OK, not really, as I've never done that. But washcloths figure up there with that level of inanity. Lucky flist, you are the recipients.)

As always, click on my Pulitzer Award-winning level photography to see a bigger picture.



Pattern: eLoomanator's Diagonal Knit Dishcloth, Ravelry link (It's in the pattern notes.)
Yarn: Peaches & Créme worsted weight cotton (blue/white/green), Sugar'n Cream worsted weight cotton in Vert Chaud (Hot Green) -- 1 skein each
Needles: Size 7 US / 4.5 mm
Techniques: knitting flat, garter stitch, yo, skp (sl 1, k1, psso), k2tog

( Pictures +3 )

No, I didn't throw it out a window. Or decapitate it. (That would be hard, considering doilies don't have heads.) But I did conquer the pattern, but I couldn't say that because it doesn't start with a D.

I said I wasn't going to post pictures until the sun rose, but I couldn't resist. I am too happy that this is done.

( Three pictures of a doily so delicate, it can be put on a rack and stretched )

I've followed my mom around since I finished it, asking her if the join is too ugly and if Grandma will like it, and every time she's said no, so I'm guessing my rabid dislike of the join is due to my perfectionism, rather than any true hideousness.

Speaking of my grandma, I was asking her questions about the best way to starch a doily, since she's my go-to source for crochet knowledge, and she got really excited about lending me her doily stretcher. REALLY excited. Like so excited I'm wondering how I'm going to stop her from asking to see my finished doily. I'm thinking about grabbing one from Mom's stash of things that her grandma made, which are stored unstarched. You know, a doily decoy.

I reallyreallyreally hope Grandma likes this, and that it will be enough for a present. I know I've put at least 10 hours of work into this, so it's at least $60 worth of work, but handcrafted gifts are weird that way. I have enough time to make her another one, though, for a set. Hmm.

My grandparents are hard to shop for, too. They have everything they need, they buy everything they want for themselves, and they have tons of stuff. I got them heated foot massagers last year, which the dog is afraid of. (I love her, but she's such a wuss.) As of yet, I have no idea what I'm getting Grandpa.

1. I finished another beret, this time for my friend Tabatha. It's once again in Elann Peruvian Highland Wool, and I still love it. I washed it in shampoo and rinsed it with conditioner, so it turned out very soft indeed. I also did one more set of decreases to the brim on this one, so it's a little bit perkier than the other one.

( Pitcha here )

I also got my hair cut again, and it's quite a bit (3-4 inches) shorter. There are days when I wonder what the hell I was thinking, and then there are days when it's really cute. Unfortunately, there aren't many of the latter.

2. I found a site with samples of period brocade that are incredibly similar to this stuff from my fabric acquisition post. That makes me so happy! Even if the stuff I have is flocked acetate.

3. I started a Tudor kirtle, using some of the fabric I acquired in my last post. I went with the pretty, pretty purple stuff, which I've discovered is wholly synthetic and melts in delightful crusty bits when ironed no matter how much steam. It looks surprisingly period, though. It's definitely period-oid, and it good enough for ren faire. I also think I can stretch this puppy to cover most of the sixteenth century, from about the late 1530s to 1570 with the appropriate accessories.

I'm using the Tudor Ladies' Gown and Kirtle pattern from Reconstructing History. I was delighted to realize that by adjusting the back neckline and depth of the front point, I can use this to make kirtles for the entirety of the sixteenth century.

My justification behind making this before my sister's kirtle is a) I don't have the fabric for hers yet, and b) I can mess up on mine and not feel as horrible as I would if I botched hers.

So, onto the pictures.

( Mock up and notes )

The mock-up was completely painless. So I moved right along to the actual thing.

( Purple brocade/jacquard/something kirtle bodice and construction notes )

I did, however, run into some trouble with the piped bias on the neckline and a mystery wrinkle at the bust.

( Razzafraggit )

Now comes the debate over trimming this puppy. I'm not sure if I should or not. On the one hand, if I do, then I can stretch its use: All I'd need to do is make a partlet and some sleeves, and I could wear it as a 1550/60s style dress. So, friends, this is where you come in.

( Four trimming choices )

Which would you go with? I'm leaning right now towards the Eleanora di Toledo version or Version 3. They seem the most flexible, and the Eleanora has the advantage of being from the 1550s, while there are examples from the 1540s, as well. The look is a generic mid-century thing. The only problem is that the back neckline on my bodice is, well, wrong. Oh, and that this trimming look is Italian. I think I can live with that, though.

I am currently very startled by how easily this is going together. I'm predicting that this means I will sew the skirt together inside out more than once or spill red Kool-Aid all over the entire ensemble at some time in the future. Costuming is not supposed to be this easy!

What I have left to do:

--Baste down piped bias along armholes/lacing
--Skirts
--Figure out trimming situation
--Maybe insert an lining
--Sleeves? Sleeve cap?
--Finish covering lacing holes