Look, if by now you haven’t figured that Long Covid gets a mention almost every time, I’m going to think you don’t actually know me 😁.
Since I last posted, I’ve taken arrival of a couple of patterns (one of which I Had when finishing the short stays) and I’m also planning on changing that lacing up to fan lacing, per Kleidung am 1800. I will also change the pattern a little too: I think I can do it with fewer pieces and if I do decide that I want to make them even shorter (so more like a bra), that will take some thought.
I have been reading one of my other favourite costume online resources: www.marquise.de which is a brilliant resource for historical costume and particularly the 18th century. One of the things it has a description of patterning is a mantelet, or short cape. There are also detailed grid patterns and chapters on this and the more familiar long hooded cloak in Costume Close-Up - yet another part of my historical costuming p0rn collection.
I have a long red cloak, sized up from Costume Close Up, but it never really worked as I picked the wrong kind of wool for it (you need a broadcloth that’s fulled, so it doesn’t fray really) and it sheds, but I am still pretty proud of it, even if I never got around to whipping the seams down lightly. I despaired over patterning it, until I realised that I just needed to pattern the cut-outs and hood; the rest was about precise measurements and use of a chalk pencil attached to a string (really). I also learned I need to position the arm slits a bit lower for my height, but it’s remarkably warm really and great for Red Riding Hood costumes. I also have a short cape that I got from Jas Townsend, which is black, lined and has no hood. I need me a hood. They used to be a lot cheaper (and I always regretted not buying the long, red cloak when it was cheaper). So something I have coveted for a long time is a short cloak with a hood. I decided to go with something that’s not strictly historically accurate and make a modified mantelet. The mantelet is a short cloak commonly made out of lighter materials, but it does have a hood. I have a piece of brown wool I bought specifically for the purpose and I think it doesn’t fray too badly. I looked at Costume Close-Up and my two other sources and then spent an AGE figuring out what an ell was in measurement online. This may have been a mistake: The number of regional variations nearly ended me. I also realised I could use my existing neck piece cutout and the larger hood from the longer Costume Close-Up cloak, so these were my starting points. I was also pretty specific about the style - both Marquise and the book have the detailed period drawing showing the rough outline of the mantelet body pattern piece. I decided that the best plan was to take some measurements: back neck to waist, front neck to waist and side neck to elbow and then plot these onto my usual paper. I placed the side measurement roughly half way between the front and back measurements. I also took an approximate circumference measurement too. Once I’d plotted those measurements (adding to include a seam allowance at the neck: I am hoping I can either bind or leave raw the lower edge. The hood will have a lining), I then roughly sketched out the shape I wanted, similar to the cutting diagrams. This is half the pattern, as it will be cut with fabric on the fold for the body and, hopefully, the hood as well, but piecing is period correct. I’m hoping to get this cut out in the coming weeks, but not this week and I promise I’ll start taking some photos of everything once I do and posting them, so you can get an idea of what I have done. Not this week however. This week has one online AGM, two phone appointments, one singing long Covid thing and a hospital appointment and then my surrogate nerfling will be here for cake pop and Halloween nonsense on Friday. I am so, so excited about this. (It’s always time to watch Hocus Pocus and this year there’s TWO films to watch!). I taught the nerfling to bake (seriously, she came over two christmases for baking-related shenanigans, decorated things and for her 6th birthday, all she wanted was to see one specific pal and bake with me *melts*).
Anyway, chances of feeling like the unalived for the first week in November are high.
In other news, politically speaking, I am convinced that tofu (credit Chris Bryant) or the wet lettuce (thank you Daily Star for that online feed 🤣) would make a better PM and I am not surprised that BoJo is Back (or trying to be). Please no to all of this. In other political news, I accidentally got returned unopposed to a seat on a British political party federal council and am a candidate for another seat on it (don’t ask) AND the board as well. I only stood because I was so angry that bigots are trying to hijack the party. Anyway, this is a new body and I have the distinction of being the first non-binary, disabled, pansexual elected to this body, amongst other demographics, but I am whiter than white compared to other candidates in terms of skin colour.
I have also been working hard with my tremendous friends and surrogate sisters, R & S, to start a campaign for compensation and pension scheme for U.K. key workers with long covid, who likely caught it as a result of their work. It’s a huge issue, to be honest and given nearly three years since the pandemic began, it’s not good enough that our governments have done absolutely nothing to support those of us too disabled to work. If you want to read more about it, it’s on the Change website.
In terms of the Long Covid, I’m much the same as ever, needing the two hour rest periods or naps a day. My cats are fascinated by my new heated throw and I’m becoming ever-parsimonious over power usage. I should update this soon, but likely not for a couple of weeks. I do, however, update my Tiktok quite regularly (my current biggest achievement is learning how to Green Screen. I am so proud of my 47 y.o. Self). I’m perfectlyimperfect7505 over there.
Peace, out.
