The Calvados Project, or "How Æduin Wound Up in Screaming Pink"

The Calvados Project, or "How Æduin Wound Up in Screaming Pink."

April 15, 2004

The Story thus far:

On a Day of Days, Our Hero was accompanied by his Wonderful Wife on a mission to save the local JoAnn's from being overrun with fabric. While there, a bolt of linen in the purest Screaming Fuschia was spotted. Our Hero, in a fit of Righteous Rumor Busting showed the fabric to his Wonderful Wife, who declared it Good, so they bought it. Then came a small disagreement on who was to get the fabric. The distressing disagreement was resolved when Our Hero, braving the wilds of JoAnn's on his own found another piece of the same color, only this time it was a Linen / Rayon blend. Since both were in the $3/yard close out and the 40% off coupons worked, the fabric was bought and lovingly tucked away waiting for inspiration.

Then comes the Turning of the Year and no inspiration comes. Soon thereafter Our Hero Accompianied by his Wonderful Wife went to 12th Night in the West Kingdom. And in his mind Our Hero thought that inspiration might be found there since, after all the West Kingdom is the beginning of the SCA. Sadly the West was all a-flutter about German Slashy-Puffs this year, so the trip while fun, did not provide the necessary inspiration. The next week was 12th Night in Caid and so all undaunted Our Hero along with his Wonderful Wife and her Apprentice attend the event, not really expecting any inspiration since it was a Shakespeare theme and the event would surely be populatied by fairies and other mythical beings from "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and so it was. But, among the attendees was Maestra Flavia, friend to Our Hero and his Wonderful Wife, and most importantly to the story proprietress of Griffin Dyeworks. The fabric was described to her in hopes of ideas. While she was unable to give a specific idea for what to make she was able to help narrow the time and area. And so the fabric languished while the Wonderful Wife made a dress from hers.

And then on Live Journal a Challenge was thrown to the male costumers by Eva to make this outfit. And so Our Hero had his inspriration. The Challenge was accepted and Wonderful Wife's Apprentice said that she would pay good money to see me in that and so after some few negotiations a bet was on. Each had a project to get finished before Caid Spring Coronation on June 5, 2004. The winner to receive a bottle of Calvados from the other. When asked about the picture Eva gave us this information: The illumination is from a manuscript of Terence's comedies, painted by Maitre de Flavius Josèphe in 1407. I found it in the absolutely fabulous book "La peinture médiévale à Paris. 1300-1500." volume 1. paris 1987.

So, Our Hero, inspiration in hand worked on finishing the other projects that were to be finished before work on the Challenge Outfit was allowed to begin. The work was done and pictures taken and posted to the site. Our Hero also completed a doublet so that he could legally compete in Rapier Combat.

At the time of this writing the Paltock/Jupon is made. The fabric used on this is a white mokado with a double row of gold cluny lace trim at the cuffs of the sleeves. The sides need to be taken in some since the garment is not as form fitting as it should be.

April 16, 2004

The adjustments to the body of the Paltok have been completed. And I offer the following pictures.

This is the fabric for the Cotehardie/Vestimento/silly French term and the sleeve lining.

This is me in the unadjusted Paltok.

April 21, 2004 11:10am

The fabric is washed and ironed for the Vestemente/Cotehardie/funny unknown French term. This evening the plan is to cut out the fabric and start the assembly.

May 11, 2004 8:49am

The pink is cut and the two layers are assembled and pinned together. I tried something different with th inset neck. I marked the inset with the seam allowance then pre-snipped the fabric to ease the curves better.

	The fabric is marked and cut.
	I rumpled the fabric so that you could see the snips.
	I pinned each tab to the back before sewing it along the chalk line. Notice that some of the tabs overlap and some gap, this is so that the final product doesn't wrinkle.
	Except for the not quite smooth ironing job there are no wrinkles in the seam line.

Today's task is to sew the layers together and work on the hanging sleeves.

May 12, 2004 11:23am

The body is assembled and the 36x54 before seam allowance sleeves are assembled. What remains to do on the body is attach the sleeves and do the lacing holes.

The stuffed roll for the hat is assembled. I made a jester pointed cockscomb out of the linen and silk but it didn't quite fit. I'm not sure if I'm going to attach the cockscomb and the liripipe for Coronation since there isnt a visible one in the painting, though they may be folded over to the back.

Then it's on to the footed hose which will finish the outfit.

May 14, 2004 9:00pm

The hat is finished except for a fancy button or brooch over the base of the feathers.

The paltok has been done and the cotehardie is now complete.

I need to do the footed hose and the belt.

Here are the pictures so far.....

	The blue lacing cord is Mary's, it will be replaced with a white one.
	Here it is sans hat, check out the sleeve linings.
	Complete with hat. I think the mulling in the sleeve and the knife pleat worked well.

May 17, 2004 8:55pm

No sewing today. I figured out the reason for the gap and the funny bunching at the throat. I was wearing the wrong shirt and it bunched funny under the garments and wouldn't let them pull on tight. Tomorrow I'm going to cut the hose to the biggest size on the pattern and baste it. Then when Mary gets home she will pin it to fit.

May 18, 2004 9:16am

The fabric we got for the hose wasn't wide enough if we wanted to cut on the bias, so we will see how they turn out. They are cut and basted together to be adjusted when Mary gets home for lunch.

May 31, 2004 9:33am

The hose are now fitted. I have to make and attach the feet and put the "hosen suspension system" in so they don't fall off.

The last couple things I have to do besides the hose is assemble the belt and put the jewel on the hat.

June 3, 2004 10:32am

Well, the hat is jewelled, the foot tops of the hose are cut and pinned, the soles of the feet are patterned and the belt is assembled and the attachment is started.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. I've also been helping Mary with some of the handwork on her Anne of Austria gown which is also for Coronation. She claims that is the only thing that won't be blown away by large amounts of pinky wonderfulness.

June 3, 2004 4:52pm

It is finished. Pictures to be taken on Saturday at Caid Coronation.

June 7, 2004 12:27pm

Entry the last. Here is a picture of me at Caid's Spring Coronation on June 5, 2004 with a couple of my friends from my shire who also wore pink. The collar is open because it was taken at the end of the day during a break in the feast.

Feb. 25, 2006 10:30am

I've opened the top of the collar and gotten the fabric out to make the padded roll collar. While I'm at it I'm going to make an inner placket to make the outfit fencing legal.

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