AEDM

[helwen]

Monday I started laying out the kimono pattern on some silver/grey shantung silk. There isn't actually enough for a proper kimono, but as this layer will be under the top layer, nobody's going to see that, esp. as they'll all be tucked into the hakama. This has the advantage that I could always wear it mundanely with a sash, over pants or a skirt. Figuring out the size was interesting, as I seem to have misplaced that part of the pattern. Fortunately, I made an underlayer based on this pattern ages ago, so I measured on part of that (I did horrible, non-traditional things to that garment, taking out seams because I had wide fabric and putting in seams at the shoulders -- probably I was either struggling with keeping the silk from shifting over that long a distance, or I simply didn't have enough space to lay out that many yards at once).

I'm using the Folkwear pattern, which has quite a bit more information on traditional methods, design, and wearing instructions than I remembered it having. When I last used it, I made my sleeves longer, but I was trying for Kamakura period, not Edo. I cut the sleeves one inch less than in the pattern, as the silk is somewhat heavy and I don't want it to rest on the seam of the outer layer. The outer layer is also somewhat heavy material - 5.3 oz. linen, in black.

I was trying to decide if I want to line them or not. Noble/formal wear was usually lined, at least according to the Folkwear pattern, and Bat Girl would be the daughter of a prominent person. But I wasn't sure how many layers I want to wear, despite the hotel being climate-controlled. Plus I'm not sure how well a med-wt. linen would drape if fully lined (probably with more linen). What I've settled on at this point is fully lining the silk layer both to protect the silk and to create a uniform drape when worn by itself, and to only line the sleeves of the top layer. The sleeve openings will be wide enough to glimpse the inside of the sleeves, so having a different color showing would add a little depth/detail.

***

I also started work on embroidering the mon. Not too bad, but wondering if I can actually make two of the three of them look identical or not...

Comments

[danabren.livejournal.com]

I sketched out the bat mon for Batman (ha ha) and then copied it on an office copy machine. At least that way, all of the mon started out the same. If that helps.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

I have a master pattern, but transferring it to the fabric is the issue. Well, that and apparently my ability to couch sucks.

Going to try out the copy thing, I guess. L suggested making copies and then sewing through them to transfer the pattern.

[danabren.livejournal.com]

That is exactly what I did :D - pinned the mon over the fabric and then sewed a tiny running stitch along the outlines through the paper. It works better with tracing paper than with regular paper(wince), as a heads-up.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Tracing paper -- sounds like a plan!