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.