this weekend

there were at least 2 doz paniced newbies at kentwell for the costumeing weekend. It was great to have Bess there, that meant we could split up the participants instead of having to to all the bodice toilles myself as per usual while Rosemary did the gentry. Mike (Rosemary's brother) was also there and we had at least a half doz men to do so it was great to push them in his direction.

On Sat I did:

6 bodice tiolles up to getting them fitted and boned

helped with a doublet

reworked an old kirtle

On Sun I did:

got 4 of the bodices up to where all that was left was the hand

stitching and eyelets

gave a how to make a skirt lecture

how to do eyelet lecture

how to turn your bodice inside out lecture

how to draw mens trousers lecture (emphasising the need to add more ease than you think and where)

drew one basic trouser pattern showing where and how to add the ease, measured and drew a second without and left the lads to add the ease as a learning oppertunity, then came back later and fixed it when it all went horribly wrong...

fixed/repaired three sewinging machines armed only with a steel awl

gave a how to use a sewing machine lecture to a half doz never used one before but this is my mother's from the attic (after having fixed them)

dealt with the woman and her husband from hell who made me and Bella miss lunch

got to late comers up to tacking canvas to drill stage on more bodices

All in all it was very hectic a lot of fun, sometimes very irratating, great to see Bella and Bess and Edmund and Mike (who I only ever see at these things) and meet new fun participants and make them feel relaxed and silly and happy to be doing this...