Hemming Woes

So when trying a new pattern I pick up some inexpensive muslin so if I mess up it's not a huge issue. I tried to make my husband a tunic with gores and gussets in them. Now the gores I was starting to get the hang of but the gores was something that I'm still learning. The thing that I'm having a lot of trouble with is the hemming.

Whether it's a dress or tunic I can't seem to get a straight hem! I'm not sure if I'm cutting it wrong but the gores always end up pointed and it just bizarre. I think I need to contact someone after we move to Houston and contact the new barony we're going to be in for some help. It makes the most sense because we're not active here in Seattle and we're moving at the end of June.

Full Tunic

Hem Trouble

Another Hem Problem

Sewing Machine Woes

I managed to finish my Jorvik hood and make another set of beads for my Hangerok. I ran into some problems with my new Janome sewing machine while finishing my Jorvik hood though. I took a look at it trying to figure out why it wasn't sewing and I think there's something wrong with the bobbing casing. The place where the bobbin sits is super loose and I don't think it's supposed to do that. Thankfully there's a sewing machine repair store near my house and I'm going to go check it out.

For the time being I'm going to wait on sewing anything up and work on jewelry and knitting belts for my kids. I know knitting isn't period for Vikings they used Nailbinding but I simply don't know how to do that. I don't know tablet card weaving and buying one for a belt can be expensive so for now knitted belts. We're newbies and can get away with that for the time being!

Triskele I made

Working with amber colored beads and red

Desperately needs to be ironed

I think it's a bit long on the neck

Jorvik Hood

Currently I'm working on a Jorvik hood for myself. I had good luck with hoods for the girls but the stitches I was doing by hand for myself turned out badly so I'm just going to run it through the sewing machine. I have no problems doing that! I don't want it to fall apart while I'm wearing it that would be really embarrassing.

I've also been trying to work on my embroidery skills. I finished one cuff of my daughters pink tunic the thread is a pretty rose color so it looks great with the pink tunic. I'm also working on a triquerta that won't go on any garb but is good practice for me. I also have a hood for my eldest girl that is a pretty vine pattern but I haven't finished that either.


I'm terrible with starting projects but taking forever to finish them!

Triquerta in progress

At this point my skill set isn't really that great so I'm going to practice basic stitches and once I master those then I can put them together for more intricate patterns. For now even a small bit of decoration on garb makes it look better than just plain and boring garb!

New Sewing Machine

So today I'm really excited! I've been working on a Singer Simple sewing machine and have constantly been having problems with tension regardless of how many YouTube videos and how many times I've watched to CD or read the pamphlet came with the sewing machine. I've been so frustrated! It's been especially damaging to my linen and linen blend fabrics. So with our tax return I was able to order a Janome 8077 Computerized Sewing Machine with 30 Built-In Stitches. I've read many reviews, done research and looked blog after blog post about how to chose a sewing machine and what sewing machines were the best. 

I was told to expect to spend around $200 to $500 if I wanted a sewing machine that would last a long time and do the things I wanted it to do. I'm going to do a lot of sewing with the SCA and I'm also going to be sewing through thicker fabric with my husbands military uniforms. His uniforms are thicker than jeans material and then I have to sew patches on and mend it as well. I've broken needles on the Singer Simple even using a jean needle. Having a flying needle tip with my little toddler around who eats everything and then not being able to find it definitely causes problems!

So when I get my sewing machine and learn how to use all the features I'll give it a review here. I'm also going to ask my local sewing machine store if they have classes I can take. If they don't I'll check out the Joann's fabric and the Michael's store. 

As for now I'll provide the link to Amazon where I purchased my machine! I also bought the extended warranty which I personally think is always a good idea especially with kids.

Janome 8077 Computerized Sewing Machine with 30 Built-In Stitches

The Trouble With Patterns

Even though I took a Home Economics class in Middle School and have sporadically sewn through out my life I'm still a novice when it comes to sewing. Patterns make me feel rather confused. Store bought ones seem bizarre to me with their darts and seemingly hard to decipher instructions. So when we joined the SCA in 2010 in New Orleans I wasn't sure how I was going to make clothes. We were new and we were going to be moving soon so I didn't even really bother trying to make clothes. Mostly we borrowed them for Gulf Wars which was really the only event we went to and our lovely friends made some clothes for our daughter Emma who was 3 at the time. We did buy some pieces while we were there. 

Fast forward to now and I made a resolution to not wanting to borrow garb when we move. We have done more research and I feel that we've been exposed enough to the SCA that it would be somewhat of an insult to move and have to borrow garb. Perhaps this is my own feeling of inadequacy or anxiety who knows but I have made a resolution to get serious about getting down and dirty. The husband wants to get more into persona but I'm not necessarily into that. I like knowing about the history of garb, the arts like embroidery, sewing, cooking, etc. I like that stuff. I get a little embarrassed play acting. It's why I can't do table top gaming in real life. Mostly I have issues!

So when I sat down and started to research Viking garb and patterns I got really confused. I took measurements, found patterns for under dresses, hangeroks, coats, hats like the Jorvik hood (which I actually had no trouble with) I found myself in trouble. Youtube has absolutely no useful videos on making Viking garb which pretty much shocked me. They have everything and I was sad that they failed me. The way the people described laying out of the fabric and measurements just didn't make sense and since I can't even really understand a pattern that comes from mundane life I wasn't really sure I'd get something like the garb patterns. 

So I just tried the best I could. Eventually I figured out a basic square shaped hangerok for the girls. They're small and really don't need gores for their hangeroks. Their under dresses were a bit harder. I wasn't sure how to attach arms or do hems to make them even. I had some muslin and I can tell you I messed up a couple of attempts but that's what the cheap muslin is for right? You live and you learn! Last night I managed to attach arms onto the youngest girl, Abby's, dress and I was thrilled. I also found a tutorial on how to attach gussets. I'll probably end up destroying a couple more outfits but I learn with each one so that's a good thing right? 

I know from my research that the green color isn't necessarily a color that the Vikings used but it's a fabric I had lying around and I didn't want to waste it. Plus I'm going out on a branch here they traded a lot so it's plausible they may have had access to that color fabric. I would try it on Abby but she's in this stage of not wanting to wear clothes. For now we just measure her head then put the top of the dress over her head quickly for a moment to make sure it fits! We'll see as I try to do more research. Now a picture of my triumphant dress!

Picnic and Plaid

Abby decided that after insisting on making me sit and have a picnic with her all day that she was indeed going to take a nap. That opened up some time to let me finish up some projects that I had previously started. I had already cut a few pieces of fabric out for a hangerok, or apron dress, for her so it was easy to whip one up in the hour or two she was going to nap.

I had a nice brown linen blend and for a trim I used a red plaid pattern. My husband who seems to be a fount of knowledge for all things Viking had informed me that there was some evidence for Vikings having worn plaid. So I accepted his word and then promptly ignored it and did my own research. What I found was in a pre-Viking burial the Evebø which is categorized as the Migration Era. However, the Viking clothing seems to have changed slowly from Bronze age onward so it's plausible that they wore plaid but it's hard to prove that they did. They did have the technology to produce plaid with the tablet weaving and other techniques as well so I honestly don't have a problem with using it in our clothing choices. 

Abby's Hangerok with Plaid Trim

I also managed to finish making a bag for the oldest child Emma. I had done my first embroidery project on it using the chain stitch which so far is my favorite. It was a failed Jorvik hood for Abby which was too small so I turned it into a bag. It's going to be good for her to spend her money she earns as part of her allowance on things at different SCA events. Hopefully when we get transferred by the Coast Guard we'll be close enough we can go the Gulf Wars. So far we're building up the kids wardrobes and when we're done with them we'll move onto ours.

Emma's bag.

Tornado Terror

I have a two year old tornado terror which can make it difficult to say the least to make garb and other projects. It is often impossible to bring out my sewing machine when she's awake and she is now taking fewer naps which can often make me want to cry a little. Even just laying out the fabric and cutting pieces of patterns out can be difficult because she wants to help. If anyone has had a toddler they know that their version of helping consists of very little help and much getting in the way. I try and show her how to help because it helps her stay involved and really it's very sweet but alas it can drive me mad!

So last night I was in the kitchen getting food for the older child and the younger child. I come back into the living room and find my embroidery thread everywhere. My hoops everywhere and everything that was in my little box spread all over the floor. Apparently the request of please watch your sister was not enough to distract the older one from Lego Batman. Yes the pull of video games was strong which I completely understand as my husband and I enjoy video games as well!

However, the older was asked to watch her sister and since she had not done so she got to help me detangle all the threads and wrap them around the plastic cards I had bought for that very purpose. Eventually we got them all cleaned up and the older child learned her lesson thankfully. Hopefully next time she'll keep an eye on her sister better.

Sewing Machine Woes

While I have been using a sewing machine since I was in middle school when I took a Home Economics course I am not by any means a genius at sewing. I have used my inexpensive Singer Simple sewing machine on and off over the years but continue to run into the same problems repeatedly. Fabric not wanting to run through, bunching and then the bottom side of the fabric having what seems to be a rats nest on it. Right around when that happens the needle starts to sound like it's about to snap off or a weird tapping sound. It makes me think my sewing machine is going to die and don't get me started on how it reacts to trying to do pleating or sewing my husbands patches onto his military uniforms. I had to go out and get denim needles for those.

Well it started doing that gathering and piling of thread at the bottom and then wouldn't move or sew at all. After some attempts to fix it by turning knobs that I had no idea what they really did (I have no idea where my manual is! I'm terrible I know lol) I went and accessed my knowledge base. My Facebook friend's list which is full of SCA people some who are Laureates, some like my grandmother have just been sewing for ages, and friends who learned from their moms and they know their stuff. The consensus came to that I was probably having some problems with my tension.

I went and checked out a couple of youtube videos and also a couple on how to clean my machine. I decided that the first thing I need to do was to clean my machine since I had never done that and I've had this machine for years. So now I have a sparkly clean machine and then I re-threaded my machine and set to testing which settings gave me what I wanted. It seemed to work for a while but I still had hiccups like the needle made a weird little jump and there was extra thread at the back which looked like it was pulled from the bobbin chamber. It kept doing other things too but only once in a while and it still did the job it was supposed just not so well.

I have every intention of going to buy a new sewing machine when we get our tax return and my budget is pretty good. I've had recommendations of getting a Janome or a Brother. I want a digital because honestly I'm not good at putting the settings on what they need to be for the particular cloth I'm using. I mean sure I'll learn the longer I'll sew but why not give myself a step up? Hopefully soon I'll be using a brand new beautiful machine where I've actually read the booklet. Then I can sew anything I want!

Re-purposing Old Garb

When we were stationed in New Orleans during our last two year we moved to a suburb called Slidell and that's when we got involved in the SCA. The people there were varied with all sorts of political beliefs, religious beliefs,  and many other deeply held beliefs but what connected these people was their love of the SCA. It brought together people who may not necessarily have become friends on their own but have now formed deep and lasting friendships.

I've seen them at fighter practices, gatherings for Christmas celebrations with white elephant gifts, birthday celebrations and the yearly New Year's Eve blow 'em ups. They welcome everyone who comes with a smile and a good heart.

The particular topic of this post regards Tegan. As we were getting ready for our first big event, Gulf Wars, we didn't have a lot of clothes but we could borrow those from people. The main problem we ran into were garb for our toddler. As quick and nicely as could be she measured our little girl and whipped up some clothes. We had a great time at the war and although camping with a toddle in a small camp was not something I'd try again I loved it. We would definitely get a larger tent!

This brings me to my next subject. That little 3 year old is now 8 and that garb now no longer fits her. It also doesn't fit her baby sister either but with some alterations it does fit her better. My problems lie in that the toddler, Abigail, does not want to hold still to be fitted or even want to wear clothes. She is in that toddler stage of hating clothes. I laid the dress out on the table last night, picked her up pretending to play and laid her out quickly. I gathered up my chalk made my lines I needed and off she went.

I am really grateful to be able to alter these clothes. Most of them are for warm weather which is awesome because most of the places we asked for are for warm weather. There was a wool piece but I made that into a wool hangerok which will be nice during wintertime.

I am slowly building up our garb chest starting with the girls. We can easily buy pieces for Carey and I here and there especially armor. For the girls it's not so easy but when we get that tax return I'm going to get a new sewing machine! I'll definitely let you know how that goes. I'm having some real problems with it right now.

Woolen hangerok for Abby. 

Beginning Embroidery and my 8 Year Old

Since I have decided to start learning and refining things I already knew my 8 year old daughter Emma has decided she wants to learn as well. That has prompted my 2 year old daughter Abby to insist that she must learn to because whatever mommy and big sister is doing she must be doing. In order to cause as few tantrums as possible I gave her a plastic dull yarn needle and some yarn and off she went happy as a clam.

I wanted to practice and learn more about hand sewing so that when I make garb it would make it seem more period. Also I really do need more practice as it's been a long time since I've done much hand sewing other than just putting a button back on a piece of clothing. I think it was in middle school when I took Home Economics. I'm 33 so that's really showing my age! I always looked at embroidery as one of those impossibly beautiful things that I could never do but as I looked around some more and saw a few online tutorials I decided to try it. To my surprise it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought and it was really fun! Also it was surprisingly calming which I could use when my toddler decided that she wanted to take all her food dump it on the floor and then do a Celtic sword dance on it. 

When Emma saw me doing the hand sewing and the embroidery she insisted that I teach her. I did my best and showed her a few videos and here are the results!

This is a little heart pillow she sewed for a neighbor friend of ours who recently had surgery.

A set of spirals that I did in imitation of Viking style. It was intended to be a Jorvik hood but it didn't fit my toddler.

Emma's first attempt at embroidery using the split stitch. It's a little girl playing under the sky.

Helm of Awe is a Seiðr which is a magic sigil. This one is used to strike fear into your enemies. I have ring it with the Younger Futhark Runes.

Embroidery found at the 10th century Mammen grave.

A pretty Triquerta that I'm going to finish eventually.

It is a Valsgärde motif. I've only partially finished it.

Jumping In Again

So my husband and I have decided that when the Coast Guard moves us this summer we're going to get active in the SCA again where ever we move to. We don't actually know where we're moving to yet so it makes planning difficult but I figured that since we already know what time period we want to play as I could try making some clothes for the family while waiting. Carey really loves all things Viking so we had settled on 9th century Viking but haven't really gotten any further into a persona than that. Which is fine for now.

We previously were introduced to the SCA in New Orleans through some great people in Gleann Abhann and the Barony of Axemoor. They were awesome to us for the year or so that we knew them and taught us a great deal. We weren't able to really get a lot of our own clothes or make our own because we were broke and I didn't really know how to sew. When we were re-stationed up to Seattle we decided not to get involved for personal reasons but we have a chance now to hopefully get back down to Houston, Texas or possibly New Orleans, Louisiana.

Now we come to the fun part. I know the very basics of sewing and have a pretty basic and not so great sewing machine. I tried doing pleats the other day and I think it almost died! I have a 2 year old who won't hold still for measurements or fittings and I have an 8 year old who is afraid of needles for fittings. This makes things lots of fun but I still do enjoy it. I'm learning to embroider and my older daughter wants me to teach her how to knit and hand sew as well. She just made a little heart pillow all by herself it's really cute. I'm very proud.

I am having trouble with the apron dresses and under dresses. I cannot for the life of me figure out how the hem the bottom of the dresses especially those with gores because the shape seems to be a curve. Also I seem to be having trouble with hemming the neck line. I did manage to find an apron dress that was found online that was in one of the burial grounds as pleated and made it for my 2 year old. So that was actually pretty easy.

I guess I just keep trying. Also I'm trying on the little ones so I don't waste too much fabric while figuring stuff out.