Friday, October 26, 2012

Grid O' Doom


The preparation work for embroidering this thing is notable enough to warrant its own post. Step number one was lengthy as I did it at my leisure between other projects, where I cut out a basic wavy coif pattern, basted it, tried it on and fussed with it until i was satisfied with the look. It ended up as a trapezoid.

Here is the mock up placed on the linen (a smock I'll never wear again) about to me marked and cut out.


 
Then came the joy of marking out the grid. Each square is supposed to be one centimeter, but some part are definitely rectangles. I eased my mind with the knowledge that not all period things were perfectly crafted. Maybe some wonkiness will add charm to the project.

 Marking this out took days. I took a break after gridding the edges to baste-hem the edges so nothing will unravel mid project.


Sunday, October 21, 2012

Preamble to a coif

I've been looking at The Realm of Venus, its showcase, and its contests for a while. The web mistress has been kind enough to set of some guidelines for her next major costuming challenge that is to begin on April of next year. One of the new rules is that if a piece contains painfully time consuming handwork, such as lace making, weaving large items and so forth, you may begin earlier than the official start, provided that you document it and present the evidence when you register officially.

There is a pretty embroidered coif featured in one of Ghirlandaio's portraits, which I know as "Portrait of a Lady," circa 1480.
I can't make you the details of the pattern, which I am using as an excuse to use any design I please. The edging will be a bit more of a challenge, as I would rather that the final product not be so ostentatious, so no pearl border like some have done. I'll probably do a bit of needle lace or picot trim instead.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

An introduction

Hello, I am a person who dearly loves to work with her hands. I embroider, knit, crochet, dye, spin. and sew. Especially sew.

The name of this blog comes from the name I use in the Society for Creative Anachronisms. I used to belong in college and adored it. Then graduate school demanded great quantities of my time and I had to quit. I am now at a place where I can participate again and to mark this new beginning, I chose a new persona. My previous one was Irish of dubious occupation, named Mira.

Now I am Zanobia Firavanti, living in Florence circa 1490. I'm a widow who is running her late husband's wool business.

Here in this blog you will see my musings, research and creations as they come forth. They will not always be Italian Renaissance, as I adore making things of many periods. I also cosplay. My primary lament is that I have very few occasions to wear my creations, so I don't make as much as I would like.