The Ippo Proti and His Baroness: 2016

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

14th Century Cotehardie - Black

It seems appropriate that I start with projects I've done, clothes I've sewn, and resources I've found.

This is a black linen cotehardie (no lacing or buttons) that I started in January 2016 and finished in February. Made of IL019 (Medium Weight) Black Linen from Fabrics-Store. Mistress Elianor de Morland hosted a sewing weekend and this dress is patterned off of her infamous Traveling Dress of Calontir (seems to fit ALL shapes & sizes. It is really strange how it does that, but I won't complain!)

It is machine-constructed, but hand finished (including the hem!) Turns out, I don't mind hand-finishing, but I can't imagine wanting to hand-construct something like this that has a dozen different seams... In the future, I'll make some tippets (Blue, Purple, and Gold/Yellow are my goals) and some additional under-dresses in other colors.

The left photo is at the SCA 50th Year event held in Danville, Indiana during June of 2016. I was judging the Wood Jousting Tournament while sitting on the Ippo Proti. This dress was surprisingly comfortable on horseback! I'm wearing a borrowed bycocket and a linen under-dress.

The right photo is at Midrealm's Candlemas held in Elizabethtown, KY on February 6th, 2016. This dress proved extremely comfortable! I finished the hem on the drive down to Kentucky. I'm wearing an open face hood made for me by a friend (blue silk/linen with red silk lining) and a white linen under-dress.

Examples from Medieval Manuscripts

Bodleian Library MS Bodl. 264 - Mid-Fourteenth Century edition of the Romance of Alexander. The woman wears a red kirtle and blue cotehardie with tippets.

Bodleian Library MS Bodl. 264 - Mid-Fourteenth Century edition of the Romance of Alexander. The woman (giving away her heart) wears a purple kirtle and green cotehardie with tippets.

Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, Juin the Musée Condé, Chantilly.

Easy Links
The Fashion Historian-Head to Toe 14th Century Woman

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Kacey's Changes in 1 Year (July 2016-July 2017)

Kacey has been through a lot in this last year, but I want to track how his conformation has changed over time. This post will be where I track those photos. I may or may not split out into different posts, but for now I'll just keep updating this one. :)

August 2016 - We left the barn we were boarding at. Too many horses, Kacey was losing weight too fast, and the farrier had made him lame with the last two visits... -_- We'll be staying outside of town until I can find a barn I can afford, that is also safe & welcoming (for both me and Kacey). Luckily, I have just the place. Thank goodness for SCA Family...

NEW BARN - July 2017: After recovering in the country for about a year, we moved to a new barn (potential lessee) and he's been there for a couple weeks now. He's put on a lot of weight, which I think is a combination of the alfalfa hay he's getting now, as well as the once (sometimes twice) weekly lessons he's in (they're only walk/trot for the moment).

Summer 2003 - Taking photos for his APHA Papers

Summer 2003 - Taking photos for his APHA Paper

July 16, 2016

September 25, 2016 - I should have taken the bareback pad off, but was in a hurry. We moved from the barn we were at, so that he's not fighting so much. He's a bit drawn in here, but he's gained about 20 pounds since moving here! He is also much happier with Moose & Solomon (and the goats) as his only pasture mates.

December 2016

March 2017

May 2017 - He is clearly enjoying the pasture with green grass. :)

July 2017 - Leaving for the new boarding barn. He has transformed quite a bit
since moving from Bad Barn (TM) last August. I'm looking forward to
what weekly work-outs will add to this, as well!

July 2017 - Leaving for the new boarding barn.

July 23, 2017: NEW BARN! His rump has really started to round out and with the weekly lessons (just walk/trot for now with a potential new lessee), his back is started to get some muscle back. I've also been doing some of the grooming "exercises" that Jen J taught me last summer at the SCA's 50th Year Celebratory event in Indiana.

July 23, 2017: His rump has really started to round out and with the weekly lessons (just walk/trot for now with a potential new lessee), his back is started to get some muscle back. I've also been doing some of the grooming "exercises" that Jen J taught me last summer at the SCA's 50th Year Celebratory event in Indiana.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Roman Peplos - Blue

Midwestern heat can be debilitating. So, instead of melting, Calontiri have decided to wear a lot of Roman clothing. Especially when made out of light linen, it breathes well and is very comfortable!

It was about time I got to making my own, so this is the result. I had help from several friends in fitting my fabric pattern out of some scrap mix I had. I then took that and made the blue Peplos (also known as a tunica or chiton) that you see below. The one main seam from armpit to hem is machine sewn. The rest is hand finished. I purchased the fibulae (pins at the shoulders) at Gulf Wars from Raymond's Quiet Press. I have the red enameled ones, because I knew that my first Peplos would be blue and I liked the contrast. There are two additional buttons on each side that I have permanently sewn to the sleeves. I did this so I didn't have to worry about putting 6 pins in each time I wanted to wear Roman, but it still gives that open look. The fabric is of course from Fabrics-Store.com. There was a sale on their IS003, Linen/Cotton blend, color: Ultramarine, so I jumped on that. I love this fabric.The drape is exactly what I was hoping for.

I used Countess Gwendolen-Isabella Stewart's pattern - many thanks to her for making such great instructions! The belt I'm using is wool tablet-woven trim that is actually slated for a different project, but worked well at the moment.

February 2014 - Making the fabric pattern, following Countess Gwen's instructions

July 2016 - Finished product! I actually finished it in 2015. It got put on hold for a while. And then this is the first time I remembered to get a good picture of it!
Roman Peplos with IS003 Ultramarine