The tub of unfinished-ness

I mentioned previously that I'm not very good at sticking with one thing, and so I always have multiple projects going. What I mean by that is I actually have a giant tub in my sewing room (aka my son's bedroom, but what does a 10 month old need with a bedroom anyway?) full of half finished bits and pieces. Stuff that I started and got bored with, or didn't have the materials to finish, or didn't know how to finish, or just forgot about after starting ten new things. Some of it was begun YEARS ago (like the blue tablet woven belt I mentioned here among others), and some of it much more recently (like my french kirtle). So this week I've been trying to work on some of the things in my unfinished tub. Even though I really really want to start on Dan's viking kaftan!!!

So, first things first. At rowany festival 2011/2? I went to a knitted sock A&S class. Everything went along nicely. I've done heaps of knitting before. Just before the class ended the lady running it said "If you get stuck when you get to turning the heel come and see me in my campsite on Monday". Well we only went up for the day that year. And I got stuck turning the heel didn't I. Well not even the actual turning of the heel, but the section called "Divide for Heel".

Miniature sock pattern, based on Carmoyle stocking.
The picture has been blanked out at the request of the author.

I don't know about you but it just really confused me how it was written, and never having knitted a sock before I had no idea what I was doing. So it got abandoned for a few years. But this year before Panther Hunt I contacted one of the ladies that lives up in Dismal Fogs (Lithgow, NSW - Hi again Kylie!) who I know has knitted socks before if she could help me. It confused her a bit too (which made me feel better) but since she knew the anatomy of a sock she helped me out. We worked out that the stitches needed to be 8 on needle 1, 15 on needle 2 (or a stitch holder) for the instep, and the other 7 on needle three. Then you knit the 8 on needle 1, turn the work around and knit those 8 again, plue the 7 on needle three. So you have 15 stitches on the holder, and 15 on a single needle that you are working on back and forward.

From that point on I was pretty right. I had to use a few you tube videos for the bind off, and then again to pick up the stitches, but this was the result.

Mini sock of cuteness!!!

It's pretty small, but I was really hoping it would fit on Jonathon's foot.

It didn't

So now it's basically a toy sock for grace's dolls. The cream wool I bought on Tuesday is for a real sized pair for myself. If anyone wants the larger pattern contact me and I will email it to you. I need to knit a swatch first to gauge the tension so it ends up the right size. But that would come under "starting a new project" which is forbidden this week until lace-making on Sunday.

Another thing I've been working on is a pair of sleeves that I started with the intention of having something warm for festival (hah, yeah I know). A few years back I made a dress from a commercial pattern that had an under and an oversleeve and I accidently cut them from the same fabric. So I had these extra sleeve pieces in this blue material. I had about a metre of this brown wool blend that I had picked up from the salvos for cheap that probably wouldn't make more than sleeves anyway. So I cut them out of the wool in the same shape to make reversible sleeves. I am handsewing them so I used backstitch around the outside, leave a gap so I could turn them the right way out, then whipstitched the opening closed.

Whipstitched opening on the left, invisible backstitching on the right

Now I am using ladder stitch to sew up the seam like I would for a stuffed toy.

Close up of ladder stitch

You can see below its quite invisible from both sides as the stitches are hidden in the folds, and it also lies quite flat

They are still in progress, but what's that I spy underneath? Weaving? Yes it is. 

Why oh why is my weave so open?

I've only done a bit. I'm not sure why, but the weaving is a lot more open than I was hoping for. I think I might need a different reed or thicker yarn. Hopefully it will shrink up in the wash? We'll see. And yes the pictures on top of it were painted by my daughter at preschool. I'm going to put them up in my sewing room because they are awesome :)

And that brings me to my kirtle. I picked it up yesterday and forced myself to continue with attaching the silk facing on the side seams. It's really depressing when I finish a row of stitching and realise I need to do it three more times, and then on the lining, and then on the other side seam. My finger is also quite sore from pushing the needle through the canvas. I need to dig out my little thimble because I really really want to finish this dress! It better turn out as amazing as I'm hoping it will.

Viking Kaftan Planning

Damn spotlight and it's 40% off sale. I am now broke. And I have a whole list of new projects, none of which are for me.

Navy blue cotton/linen - Daniel cloak lining
Khaki cotton/linen - Dan viking tunic
Blue cotton velveteen - Daniel doublet
Green/white herringbone wool - Daniel kaftan
Grey wool - Daniel cloak
Same grey wool - Dad kaftan

The viking kaftan is probably first on the list for Daniel, and it will be made something like this. A lot of the kaftan recreations I found online referenced this picture and pattern, but it took a bit of searching to find the actual article because the link that kept coming up (http://users.bigpond.net.au/quarfwa/miklagard/Costume/Rus/Trader/Rus_description.htm) was broken. Luckily the viking answer lady had the name of the author (Peter Beatson), so I searched and found it here. I love how detailed and well documented it all is. Makes things easy for me :)

Peter Beatson's Rus Trader Outfit

Kaftan Pattern

I'm not sure I will get to the silk embroidery around the collar and cuffs. I would prefer to tablet weave something fancy, but I will have to search a bit more and see if I can find evidence of that.

My dad is going to make the other cross-over style of kaftan.

Rune showing cross-over kaftan from here

Cross-over kaftan pattern from here

I must have stumbled across the best viking resource page here. It has patterns and reconstructions and stuff from everywhere on the net all in one place as clothing guides, sorted by region. I love it! So much reading to do now.

Oh and by the way, earlier when I said I didn't buy anything for myself... technically not true. I bought three balls of cotton and some pins for a lacemaking A&S class next Sunday which I am pretty excited about, and also a few balls of wool to make myself some socks. Stay tuned :)

Perle 8 cotton and berry pins for lace making
8 ply cream wool for knitting socks