This summer I was given a wonderful 120 cm long fabric, by an even more lovely lady, who had no use for it. It is actually a furniture fabric, but I knew directly that this would be a pretty dress. I draped the dress on the mannequin.
Then I fitted it MAAANY times, as this was my first time designing a tight skirt.
And I think it turned out pretty good. What do you think?
I’m so happy that the weather stayed summery long enough to make the photoshoot.
When I had finished my 11th century bliaut, there were pretty big scraps left of the fine woollen fabric.
This was years ago, and I have had so many different plans for the scraps. I have seen such pretty vests, sewn by other history bounding gurus, and now I wanted one for myself. I starred by draping a toille.
I used a checked fabric from the thrift store for flatlining.
Much was sew on machine, but most was actually hand stitched – as every fell stitched seam, hemline and button hole.
Luckily I had some wonderful tiny buttons saved from a beloved but demolished blouse, perfect for this project.
There was still some fabric left after finishing the vest, so I decided to use it for a skirt. The leftovers had such strange shapes that I wisely chose to cut out the same shapes from old bed sheets in order to find out what could be done from what I had at hand. After some days of pondering, a sleepless night gave me the courage to just cut the fabric on feeling, as I usually do with easy models. Without using the toille fabric … 😖 Suddenly the skirt was to short. At last I came up with a way of saving the skirt, using another scrap for the upper part. The tucking of the inserts took some time and it is not quite symmetrical, but it looks quite pretty. On this picture, though, it looks like a catastrophe, as I have obviously pulled the fabric unevenly on the mannequin. 😅
This is what it looks like together with the vest.
I have longed for a fancy blouse, to combine with pants or skirts, using for modern wear or history bounding. At last I decided on a model. The silk fabric was bought several years ago, from a website, when I planned to use it for regency fallfront breaches, but was stoved away when I realised it was quite see-through 🙈.
Jag har länge suktat efter en fin blus, som jag kan använda med byxor eller kjol, som modern eller history bounding. Till sist bestämde jag mig för en design. Jag skulle använda mig av sidentyget som jag köpt för många år sedan, för att sy empirbyxor, men fick lägga undan det när jag insåg att det var genomskinligt. 🙈
It was a pleasure making the mockup (unfortunately the pictures were lost with the passing of my phone). Then came the chock; the fabric was shorter and more narrow than I had remembered. I had to make some adjustments concerning the construction and design. Then I had to measure everything very carefully, before cutting the precious fabric. Sewing this slippery fabric was also a challenge, especially the button holes, but after fifteen test holes, I found a good technique. There was not enough fabric left for the cravat, so I used some cheap polyester lining fabric, which I dyed in tea.
Att göra toillen var ett rent nöje (tyvärrförsvannbilderna när min mobil dog). Sedan kom kallduschen; tyget var kortare och smalare än jag mindes. Jag behövde justera både konstruktion och design för att få det att räcka. Sedan mätte jag noga innan jag vågade klippa tyget. Det var även en utmaning för mig att sy det hala tyget, särskilt knapphålen. Efter femton testhål hade jag äntligen hittat en bra teknik. Tyget räckte inte till kravatten, så jag fick använda fodertyg i polyester och färga i te.
I’m so happy with how it turned out. It is versatile, even though it wrinkles just by looking at it. I’m very relieved that I did not make pants out of this fabric. 😅
Since we renovated this room in the basement two years ago, I’ve been meaning to paint some Japanese cherry blossoms on it. At last I had time for it during my vacation. It was frustrating to see the first layer fade as it dried, but painting the blossoms for the second time was quite awarding. The room is used for training, Lego, computer andbooks. The kids have added the final touch, as you see.
9th of July, I was lucky enough to have the annual concert at Köngården together with my friends and fantastic musicians, Msrtin Carlsson and Hanna Karlsson. Frida helped us outh with a couple of songs that needed piano accompaniment. ❤
Unfortunately, I was a bit unfocused, but I have one beautiful song to share with you, which Martin played so excellent (as he always does, no matter what genre it is).
This year all sewing has been about mending worn clothes. Not at all inspiring, though important from an economic and environmental perspective.
I år har jag i princip bara lagat trasiga klädet. Inte ett dugg inspirerande, men åtminstone bra för miljön och plånboken.
When I was asked to sew a pair of trousers and matching top for my mother to wear when visiting the Royal Castle (along with all other parliament members), I was excited. As you know, I usually prefer to drape my own pattern, but my mother already had a pattern that she wanted to use for the top and making trousers is really my weak spot. So we ordered a pattern for wide trouser and waited. And waited. For ever, it seemed. It finally arrived two weeks before the event. In that time I would have to produce a mockup and have at least two fittings, in spite of my client’s tight schedule and constant travels.
När jag blev tillfrågad om jag var sugen på att sy upp kläder åt mamma, som hon kunde ha när hon skulle på “divertissement” på Kungliga Slottet (ihop med resten av riksdagsledamöterna), tackade jag naturligtvis ivrigt ja. Ni som följt mig vet att jag vanligtvis draperar fram ett eget mönster, men mamma hade redan ett mönster till ett önskat linne och ville ha matchande vida byxor. Eftersom byxor är min achilleshäl så beställde vi även mönster till dessa. Vi väntade och väntade i en evighet (eller kanske snarare två veckor). När mönstret kom två veckor innan evenemanget skulle vi hinna med en toille och åtminstone två provningar, trots min klients pressed scheme och stänfiga resande.
Mockup hanging over the chair. Fashion fabric laying on the table
The mockups were perfect, but the fashion fabric, a polyester duchesses did not behave as I wanted it to. In spite of every possible precaution, the pieces took different shapes between every fitting. Therefore I basted and hand stitched the linings and hems. I was quite desperate when the seams of the trousers made bubbles. I pressed and steamed so many times, and even top stitched the seams in order to force them into a flatter state.
Toillerna satt perfekt, men modetyget (polyester duchesse) betedde sig inte som jag ville. Vanligtvis nålar jag och syr direkt efter provning. Den här gången tog jag mig tid att testa olika sömmar, tråckla och stryka mellan varje moment. Trots det ändrade plaggen passform mellan varje provning. När byxsömmarna dessutom blev bubbliga kände jag mig mer och mer uppgiven. Jag strök och ångade sömmarna flera gånger om och sydde slutligen en söm över sömsmånen för att tvinga tyget till att ligga mer slätt.
My dear mother is so supportive. She never showed any doubt and then she wore the clothes with pride. She recieved many compliments during the evening. I am so glad. It feels so good to for have given something to this dear mecenat of mine, that she has really appreciated.
Min fina mamma är så stöttande. Hon visade aldrig tendens till att tvivla på att projektet skulle lyckas och sedan bar hon kläderna med stolthet. Hon fick många komplimanger under kvällen. Jag är så glad. Det känns så bra att ha fått ge min kära mecenat något som hon verkligen uppskattat.
The beautiful woman, wearing the trousers, top and a Chinese jacket.
After three years of restrictions due to pandemic, pregnancy and toddler tiredness, I am so pleased to finally have a concert with my awesome friends again, 17th of July! This year we go totally acoustic – Martin Carlsson splendidly playing his guitar, Hanna Karlsson with her angelic voice and myself singing and playing the violin. There is no entrance, but please give a small donation to keep the beautiful summer church at Kröngården going.
Efter tre år av restriktioner pga pandemi, graviditet och spädbarnströtthet, är jag så glad över att äntligen ha konsert ihop med mina fantastiska vänner igen, 17 juli. I år blir det avskalat och akustiskt – Martin Carlssons fantastiska gitarrspel, Hanna Karlssons änglalika röst och jag själv sjunger och spelar fiol. Det är faktiskt gratis entré, men lämna gärna kollekt för att bidra till Kröngårdens fortsatta arbete.
Two years have passed since we last visited the Medieval Week of Visby and we have missed it much. Last week, our neighbour town hosted an event called “The Happy Middle Ages”. As our son suddenly has grown a strong interest for both fairytales and magic, this event felt as if it had been created for him. His older cousins were interested as well. The two teenage girls could borrow my dresses (that don’t fit my 9 month pregnant body very well at the moment), but both of the boys needed new kirtles and my husband’s 12th century kirtle needed some adjustments. I had leftovers from that same woolen fabric and as my boy only would agree to wear an identical garment as his idol cousin, I spent the week sewing two identical kirtles. My boy also made it clear that he would only accept the kirtle if they would suit his new fairytale heroes, Ronja and Birk, so he chose folklore clasps from his pirate treasure (originally rescued from an old cardigan). Thanks to the well known pattern with rectangles and triangles, the last garment was finnished the night before the event. Unfortunately, I must have counted wrong when creating the pattern for the older boy, so that his kirtle was a tad too tight under the arms.
The basic rectangle, with opening for a triangular gore mid front and back (and in the sides).The finished bigger kirtle, with cardigan clasps.Very content with his “Ronja outfit”, worn together with monster slippers
I was sorry to have to stay at home, but my dear husband sent many wonderful pictures from the event, which seemed to have met every expectation. There was magic, juggling with fire, combat, wonderful company and hotdogs. Our boy has talked much about it afterwards and I do believe that even his older cousins appreciated it.
Det har gått två år sedan vi besökte Medeltidsveckan senast och vi har saknat det mycket. Förra veckan hölls en medeltidsdag i Västervik, “Den glada medeltiden”. Eftersom vår son nyligen utvecklat ett starkt intresse för både sagor och trollerier, kändes det som om detta evenemang hade skapats för honom. Hans äldre kusiner var också intresserade. Tonårstjejerna kunde låna mina klänningar (som inte passar min nuvarande 9-månaders-graviditetskropp särskilt bra), men båda pojkarna behövde nya kjortlar och min mans 1100-talskjortel krävde några justeringar. Jag hade kvar lite av samma blå ylletyg och eftersom min son bara gick med på att ha på sig en identisk dräkt som sin kusin och idol, spenderade jag veckan med att sy och justera tre dräkter i samma tyg. Sonen hade även klargjort att han bara skulle använda dräkten om den liknade något som Ronja eller Birk kunde ha haft, så han fick välja folklore-spännen från sitt piratskrin, som vi fyllt med knappar från en gammal koftor. Tack vare det välbekanta mönstret med rektanglar och trianglar så lyckades jag göra klart den sista dräkten kvällen innan evenemanget. Tyvärr måste jag ha räknat fel när jag gjorde kusinens mönster, så det var rätt trångt under armarna.
A fairytale creature climbing the cliffs.
Det tog emot att stanna hemma, men min käre man skickade flera underbara bilder från evenemanget, som verkade uppfylla alla förväntningar. Det bjöds på trolleri, eldshow, medeltida krigskonst, ypperligt sällskap och varmkorv. Vår son har pratat så mycket om det efteråt och jag tror att även kusinerna uppskattade det.
Together with the magician ArkadiaThe last freezing picture from the event. I think they look pretty amazing. 😍
Earlier this summer, I also made this kirtle for another cousine, who felt like a princess in hee new dress. Perhaps even that family might be converted eventually.
Tidigare i somras sydde jag även denna kjortel åt en annan av kusinerna, som kände sig som en prinsessa i sin nya klänning. Kanske kommer även den familjen omvändas så småningom.
My son is a big fan of My Little Ponies, and especially of Rainbow Dash. He was also very taken by visiting the cowboy theme park High Chaparall. Thus, we tried to host a birthday party in the theme “Cowboys and My Little Ponies”. I made this picture for the invitation cards and he wanted it framed and now it hangs on his wall.
Min son älskar My Little Ponies och särskilt Rainbow Dash. Eftersom han dessutom har pratat mycket om High Chaparall efter besöket där, bestämde vi oss för att göra hans födelsedagskalas på temat Cowboys och My Little Ponies. Jag målade denna bild till inbjudningskortet. Han tyckte så mycket om den att han ville att den skulle ramas in och sättas upp på väggen.
Following advice from a wise friend, I made Monster Spray Bottle today. Hopefully this will help against the great fear of monsters in the dark!
Efter tips från en bekant har jag idag gjort en Monsterspray-flaska, med hopp om att bättra nattsömnen och minska rädslan för monster.
I order to hide the wires to our dining room lamp, I painted a cardboard piece. I am not quite content, but it at least looks better than before.
Jag spraymålade med bronsfärg och målade mathcande mönster med akryl på en kartongbit för att göma sladdhärvan till vår matsalslampa. Jag är inte helt nöjd, men det ser åtminstone bättre ut än tidigare.
The summer is now slowly turning into fall. I am so thankful for my short walks in our beautiful surroundings.
We went to a fabric shop, Jofotex tyger, on one of our few trips this summer. I was hoping to secure some fabric for myself, but my boy fell in love with some fabrics and suddenly there was neither time, nor budget for me to buy anything for myself. As for the shirts, I simply drew a new pattern from the outer lines of one of his existing T-shirts. This time I actually read the manual for my sewing machine and used the right seams for the jersey fabrics. I had also ordered special fabric for neck and wrists from tygdrömmar.se. My boy got these T-shirts for birthday present and was really pleased, especially with the one with Paw Patrol motif.
På en av våra få dagsutflykter denna Covid-sommar, besökte vi Jofotex tyger. Jag hoppades på att hitta lite tyger till mig själv, men sonen blev själv förälskad i några tyger och plötsligt räckte varken tiden eller budgeten till för inköp till mig själv.
Som med skjortorna, använde jag mig av en existerande T-shirt för att göra ett nytt mönster. Denna gång läste jag faktiskt symaskinens instruktionsbok och använde rätt slags sömmar för trikåtygerna. Jag hade också beställt muddtyg från tygdrömmar.se. Sonen fick T-shirtarna i födelsedagspresent och blev väldigt glad, särskilt för den med motiv från Paw Patrol.
– where you can see what I do – designing, sewing, singing, creating etc.
