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Venetian Challenge

Inspired by an Italian Masquerade event that I will be attending at the end of September, my projects are taking a brief vacation to the shining city on the lagoon, Venice. Starting in at the beginning of August I had 8 weeks to build a Venetian Ensemble from the skin out, and a Hungarian Ensemble for my husband.  So far here is my progress:

  • Week 1: Research and order supplies I could not find locally. Start 40 thread covered buttons for husband's coat.
  • Week 2: While waiting for supplies research how gowns were made. Draft corset pattern, discuss construction details with those who have made them before. Prep supplies as they arrive. Build and embroider husband's 16th century shirt. Look to my post on a Man's Tudor Shirt.
  • Week 3: Construct Corset. Look to my post on Effigy Corsets with Reeds. Begin drafting camicia pattern based on the instructions at The Realm of Venus Camicia Page
  • Week 4-5: Mock up/patterning Hungarian coat. Embroidery the camicia in red using a Holbein stitch and patterns based on a sampler in the V&A museum. Drafting was done by  Katla Jarnkona from http://dragonlore.net/free_patterns.php Also making yards of lucet cording for button loops, lacing, and ties. 
More updates will be posted as the project progresses. 

Italian embroidery pattern worked in red, single ply embroidery cotton for camicia. 

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