Gwenhwfyr’s Arty Adventures

Gwenhwfyr’s Arty Adventures I’m a dabbler. I dabble. I never quite know what’s going to be next, but you know I had fun.

This is the arts & crafting blog of Jennifer Kanter, known in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), as Gwenhwfyr Ber Cain, OP, from the Kingdom of Trimaris.

How many tries?
09/19/2024

How many tries?

Started drafting a custom pattern for 16th century pair of bodies, using the bara method. My tip to anybody doing this: Read the instructions. Then read them again. Making the tapes isn’t hard. No math whatsoever. Just wrap a ribbon around the body, mark it, and fold the ribbon to add more marks p...

Two things on deck at the moment… The construction of a embroidery slate Drafting a bodies pattern using the Bara method...
09/17/2024

Two things on deck at the moment… The construction of a embroidery slate Drafting a bodies pattern using the Bara method The Slate Eleonora’s 16th century gowns often included decorative goldwork embroidery. While making enough for the entire dress sounds dauntingly time-consuming and $$$$ expensive $$$$, making a sample to show I understand the process seems reasonable. To this end, the project that begets more projects has birthed a woodworking exercise: the creation of a period-appropriate embroidery frame....

Two things on deck at the moment… The Slate Eleonora’s 16th century gowns often included decorative goldwork embroidery. While making enough for the entire dress sounds dauntingly time-consuming and $$$$ expensive $$$$, making a sample to show I understand the process seems reasonable. To this e...

!! SQUIRREL !! Brian wearing the doublet at Defender of the Queen’s Heart in February Actually, BRIAN. But whatever If y...
08/31/2024

!! SQUIRREL !! Brian wearing the doublet at Defender of the Queen’s Heart in February Actually, BRIAN. But whatever If you recall, back in January, I was telling you all about the process of making a doublet for Brian to wear on the field at Defender of the Queen’s Heart on the day of his elevation to the Order of Defense....

!! SQUIRREL !! Actually, BRIAN. But whatever If you recall, back in January, I was telling you all about the process of making a doublet for Brian to wear on the field at Defender of the Queen’s Heart on the day of his elevation to the Order of Defense. Sure enough, I did get done … Continue rea...

Now begins the part where this starts looking like a garment. After basting the exterior fabric to the padded interlinin...
01/15/2024

Now begins the part where this starts looking like a garment. After basting the exterior fabric to the padded interlining, I did some structural work and started joining the body panels. Basting stitches hold the exterior fabric in place until these panels are sewn at the seams. The invisible work in this process comes at the ironing board, where the exterior fabric has been carefully steamed and stretched to make it fit the interlining (remember where we added gussets to increase the underarm curve and add shape?)....

Now begins the part where this starts looking like a garment. After basting the exterior fabric to the padded interlining, I did some structural work and started joining the body panels. The invisible work in this process comes at the ironing board, where the exterior fabric has been carefully steam...

For anyone not familiar with pad stitching, its a method for shaping and giving structure to a garment by creating a net...
01/09/2024

For anyone not familiar with pad stitching, its a method for shaping and giving structure to a garment by creating a network of tiny stitches to join a lining to a stiffer fabric while building in a slight contour as the fabrics bend across each other. Master Jose’s video on pad stitching It’s a) time consuming and b) takes lots of thread....

For anyone not familiar with pad stitching, its a method for shaping and giving structure to a garment by creating a network of tiny stitches to join a lining to a stiffer fabric while building in a slight contour as the fabrics bend across each other. It’s a) time consuming and b) takes lots of ....

Basting while I watch experts for more construction tips This weekend is all about basting. I’ve begun the construction ...
12/31/2023

Basting while I watch experts for more construction tips This weekend is all about basting. I’ve begun the construction of Brian’s doublet by basting the interlining layer to the exterior wool instead of pinning, per The Modern Maker. Brian wants to be able to wear this doublet during rapier combat without maile underneath. As I have concerns that the weight of these layers will not pass the rapier punch test as is, I’ve begun considering options for adapting if that is the case....

This weekend is all about basting. I’ve begun the construction of Brian’s doublet by basting the interlining layer to the exterior wool instead of pinning, per The Modern Maker. Brian wants to be able to wear this doublet during rapier combat without maile underneath. As I have concerns that the...

The Modern Maker YouTube Channel to the rescue! In the spirit of “back on the horse,” today I’m watching Master Jose’s i...
12/28/2023

The Modern Maker YouTube Channel to the rescue! In the spirit of “back on the horse,” today I’m watching Master Jose’s instructional videos on making the doublet while recutting the bits that need recut. Hopefully that will help head off further side trips on this little adventure into early modern tailoring practices. The Modern Maker: Mathew Gnegy on YouTube

In the spirit of “back on the horse,” today I’m watching Master Jose’s instructional videos on making the doublet while recutting the bits that need recut. Hopefully that will help head off further side trips on this little adventure into early modern tailoring practices. The Modern Maker: M...

Cutting begins. Looks pretty normal, right? Only if you’re a 21st century sewist. Le sigh. I’m clever. I read the book b...
12/28/2023

Cutting begins. Looks pretty normal, right? Only if you’re a 21st century sewist. Le sigh. I’m clever. I read the book before I started, so I should be familiar with the process Master Jose outlined. I have pattern pieces, drafted by a master, clearly labelled with instructions like “Cut 2 self, 2 canvas, 2 lining.” Slow and steady and this should be an easy night, right?...

I’m clever. I read the book before I started, so I should be familiar with the process Master Jose outlined. I have pattern pieces, drafted by a master, clearly labelled with instructions like “Cut 2 self, 2 canvas, 2 lining.” Slow and steady and this should be an easy night, right? Not if you...

Of all the places, what’s my inspiration for a 16th Century dress? Florence! More specifically, the closet of Eleanor of...
12/23/2023

Of all the places, what’s my inspiration for a 16th Century dress? Florence! More specifically, the closet of Eleanor of Toledo. After a whole college semester complaining about how much I hated the Medicis and their convoluted intrigues, I’d never have dreamed I’d willingly go back to studying that period. But it turns out that everything I disliked about the idea of wearing Elizabethan clothing with it’s stiff bodices, fussy farthingales, and starched collars gets set on its ear in Florence....

Of all the places, what’s my inspiration for a 16th Century dress? Florence! More specifically, the closet of Eleanor of Toledo. After a whole college semester complaining about how much I hated the Medicis and their convoluted intrigues, I’d never have dreamed I’d willingly go back to studyin...

Browsing the order of construction for Brian’s new MoD doublet before I ever pick up the scissors. Because spending my s...
12/22/2023

Browsing the order of construction for Brian’s new MoD doublet before I ever pick up the scissors. Because spending my sca early years wearing baggy tunics with “Flashdance” necklines taught me something. Welcome to a new century! I concede. With a MoD elevation in the house in 2 months and 2 days (YAY BRIAN!), I need to actually sew 16th C like I mean it....

Browsing the order of construction for Brian’s new MoD doublet before I ever pick up the scissors. Because spending my sca early years wearing baggy tunics with “Flashdance” necklines taught me som…

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