Music, Corsets, and Star Wars

Cabled Scarfelette Pattern

This is a pattern I came up with while making my mom and her friends Christmas presents. A Scarfellette is a small scarf that is buttoned. It requires less yarn than a long scarf and is relatively quick to make up. Estimate about 4-5 hours.

KEY:
Chain= ch
Half-Double Crochet= hdc
Treble Crochet= tc
Front-Post Treble Crochet= ftc

Hook used: G (4.25)

NOTES BEFORE STARTING
~ftc's will always be connected to previous ftc (2 rows down, previously made) except in row 5
~the term over-cable is the set of 2 ftc's that are most visible/forward; while under-cable means the set of 2 ftc's that you cannot see (they are under the over-cables)
~Row 3 is basically an area for button holes, test your buttons to ensure fit.
~Row 5 and 7 will not equal 18 stitches, this is okay. Simply skip 2 stitches (in the middle of Row 6 and 4 stitches in Row 8 to equal 18. {{Some have commented that they did not run into this problem}}
~This pattern can be repeated to create a full length scarf; repeat Rows 5-8 then end with Rows 4, 3, 2, 1.

Cabled Scarfelette:
Row 1: ch 19
Row 2: hdc 18, ch 2
Row 3: tc (in back) 18, ch 1
Row 4: hdc (in front) 18, ch 1
Row 5: hdc 2, ftc 1, hdc 2,( SKIP 2 STITCHES and ftc 2, then ftc 2 in SKIPPED STITCHES underneath previous ftc)*2, hdc 2, ftc 1, hdc 2, ch 1
Row 6: hdc 18, ch 1
Row 7: hdc 2, ftc 1, hdc 3, ftc 2 in over-cable, hdc 1, ftc in next over-cable, ftc 2 in previous under-cable, hdc 1, ftc 2 in last under-cable, hdc 3, ftc 2, hdc 2, ch 1
Row 8: hdc 18, ch 1
REPEAT ROWS 5-8 until scarfelette is 2 feet long

Sew in buttons on 1 side of the tail end 2 1/2 inches apart

If you have ANY problems with this pattern working out, let me know! I would like to make it as user friendly as possible :)

** Please feel free to make this project for gifts, but

PLEASE DO NOT SELL

the finished item or pattern. If you choose to pass along this pattern, link my blog!**

General Grievous

I recently finished my General Grievous. His body is completely crocheted, with a sewn cape. He is very large, about 3 feet tall. I couldn't get all of him in the pictures, so just know he's much bigger than what the pics show. His arms and legs have wire in them, so he is fully pose-able. Enjoy! :)

The original:

My version^^

De-caped...

There ya have it! My next project shall be Boba Fett. I'm uber excited!!!!!

SNOW!!!!

If you haven't heard, The eastern coast of the US got pummeled with snow. We got a little more than 8 inches. O.O We've not had a now like this in a long-o time.

Isn't this a pretty picture? The sky was nice to me.

An 18th Century Wig perhaps?

Mom's goats not-really-enjoying the snow

The Deer in the snow...

Virgil in the snow...

More snow....

And we're getting more snow as I type. UGH. I'm about sick of it now! At least it's pretty right?

Living History

I've decided to post an old, but relevant video. This is of some fellow reenactors and I at our local junior high school, teaching about the Civil War. The boys and I have been participating in this for over 5 years and enjoy every moment of it. Also in this video is my most favorite teacher, Mrs. Redefer. Without her I would have never found my passion for history. Enjoy!

Leather Working, Props class

I have been avidly working on my newest project, which needs to be fully finished by Monday for a grade. I am working on a leather mask for my Theatre Props class. I'm actually baffled by how easy it is, it's just VERY time consuming. Here's what I hope my mask will end up looking like:

The inspiration for this was from a Venetian Mask website I really, really, really, really love this mask.

I decided to make it a half mask as it uses less materials and is easier to wear.... As for the process, the leather has to be soaked and wrung it out many times. When it finally feels like a slimy tongue it's ready to go. After the soaking you have to drape it over the form and lace it tight so it won't move for further shaping:

After you have pressed and smashed the leather to the desired shape all you can for 1-3 hours (and by this time your hands and forearms are begging to stop) the leather can then dry overnight. After the drying there are even more lovely, time consuming things that need to be done, which shall be in the next post. When it's all dry and shined it looks like this:

I find this to be a very, very creepy mask at the moment. It looks like a lobbed off a mummy face!

In other, less scary pictures, I'm going to show off the 2 hats I made over the winter break. They are both crochet and are basically the same and I want to make more of them!

Well, that's all I have for now! Have A Wonderfully Blessed Day!!!!

2010

Ahhh, 2010. I honestly didn't think the world would last this long! But it has. This New Year has also brought some really great changes for me.

For one, I changed my major. Originally I was in the Piano Pedagogy program at OU. I started fine, but after a while I realized that there had to be another path for me because I was simply MISERABLE. I love piano, but not enough to make it my profession. I turned to the "Bachelors in Specialized Studies" Program at OU. This is a great way to tailor a degree to your needs/wants. In short, I chose to make my own major :) The major I created is Historical Costume Construction and American History with a Minor in Piano.

So far I AM LOVING this quarter/major. All of my classes are great. I'm taking Patterning Techniques, Theatre Props and Accessories (in this class I'm learning to make leather masks and millinery!), Costume History A (ancient times to 1900), American History 1600-1865 (my favorite times!), and Piano Lessons. I enjoy the classes and the homework. Which is a good thing, because I have a lot of homework this quarter.

I feel more grown up all the sudden. It's weird. I will be turning 20 in February. 20!?!?!?? I don't know if I can handle that....

My next post will most likely be Leather Mask-related. STAY TUNED! WOO

Bonnet Trouble

I have decided, on a whim, to make a bonnet. Crazy? yes. I have no pattern whatsoever.

To start with, I've had this a straw bonnet for some time, bought from a sutler. It originally had a ribbon and flower on it, but both were not very good quality so I took them off. So Yesterday, I decided to tear my bonnet apart, because it is NOT the right shape. I need one with some sort of spoon shape.

I managed to get the brim and crown apart. I also cut a section of the crown off to enable my hair to get through.

Now I don't know where to go. :{

So, I don't have any appropriate fabric. haha. That's what I get for tearing something up on a whim. I think I'm going to buy some crushed taffeta (there's some on sale at Joanns). I believe I want some in Ivory or Bone, as it would go with more outfits. I'm not sure if I want to go with blue, black, or another color?

I have no clue what I'll do next, but we'll see where I get. :) If you have any suggestions or fabric you want to get rid of, let me know!!!!!!!

Christmas 2009

I just HAVE to blog about my Christmas presents. I've not been able to stop looking at them since I opened the packages.

1) Corsets: Historical Patterns and Techniques by Jill Salen
                    This has some really wonderful pictures and patterns. I can't wait to use them. I'm really eyeing the late 19th century patterns. It's completely worth the full price if you're any kind of costumer.

2)   60 Civil War-Era Fashion Patterns by Kristina Seleshanko
   This book covers all of the 1860's, not just the American Civil War years. It has a nice collection of women's and children's patterns throughout the era. It's around $12 on Amazon.com, another good buy.

3)   Civil War Ladies: Fashion and Needle-Arts of the Early 1860's
                       It's REALLY HEAVY. A collection of patterns and pictures from Peterson's Magazine 1861-1864. There are many, many great pictures but not a whole lot of instructions/patterns for clothing. It also has piano music from the era and other accessories that would be nice to have with the wardrobe. :)

4)   The Art of Manipulating Fabric by Collette Wolff
                      This one's a wonderful buy. I've not been sewing for a long time, so there are lots of techniques I would never have figured out without this book. Ideas out the wazzoo and lots of pictures make it easy to understand. It's going to pair really well with the next book.....

5)   Reconstruction Era Fashions by Francis Grimble
   BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are so many good things about the book, I can't begin to name them all. This is one of my favorite time periods for clothing and it is a nice reference for all sorts of things. It has LOTS AND LOTS of ideas for the surrounding periods. I CAN"T WAIT TO START SEWING!!!!

Other than the books, I got socks and dishes for my hopechest. It was a really nice Christmas overall. I hope you all did too :)

Yoda

I haven't posted in a long time because I've been working diligently on Yoda and Grievous. Yoda was finished this morning, and good thing too! Because, he was being given as a present to my cousin today!

While I was working on the Storm Trooper earlier in the summer, He started getting all excited over the prospect of having his very own Yoda, who is his favorite character. He went into such detail and got so excited just talking about it, I simply had to make it for him. Well, HERE HE IS FOLKS!

*he has magnets in his hands so that the "Force is with Him, Always"*

All in all, it took no less than 72 hours of work... most likely more. But it was all worth it to see how happy my cousin was to have his own Yoda. Definitely worth all the effort! :)

Here's the sneak peek of what's to come!

Have a Wonderful Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love ya!

(If you would like to see more photos... here's the link)

Star Wars in Concert

I just got back from attending one of the most AWESOME events I will probably ever attend... Star Wars in Concert. I had a really great time. Not only was the music completely enrapturing, but the lights, the accompanying video, and the fact that Anthony Daniels was actually there was great. Below are some of the pictures and a video of what it was like to be there. And HERE are the rest of them if you wish to look.