I'm officially a newbie!!!!

[Tapestry MacGillicuddly]

I did it... I counted my pennies and figure I could afford to join up since payday is so close. *races down to check mail* Where's my packet!!! I want my packet! What's it been? a whole 5 minutes? sheesh.

Yes I'm impatient. I am so eager to find my inner Wench. I've put my 1st and last name on the profile. I'm working on my persona, too. I've got songs to learn, rules to memorize, garb to find. Okay we'll chill... I know it will be coming as soon as Lars can get to it. And it was a holiday after all. :lol:

Tap ;~D

[Morgana]

I know how you feel ! I joined about 2 weeks ago and I'm checking the post everyday ! :lol: I know it takes a few weeks ( and probably longer for me because the parcel has to go to Europe ) but I CAN'T WAIT ! ! !

Morgana

[Tapestry MacGillicuddly]

I never check the mail, but I did tonight when I got home from work. LOL

Patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue. Ohhhhhhhhm... Oh... the heck with patience, I want what I want when I want it. *reaches out for Choc Chip Cookie from Barnes & Noble.* (notice the capital C's? - this ain't a little bitty cookie, it deserve capitals)

I can wait. I know Lars will get to it as soon as he can. *wonders if Lars is looking for a part-time Scribe's Assistant*

Now if I could find some other Wenches in the local area to contact I could learn from a fellow sister. I've got to convince my sister to go to Vermont with me. Either that or a friend from Boston is gonna visit around that time, maybe she'll go with. She's definitely a Wench, she just hasn't been enlightened about the Guild.

Tap ;~D

[Myfanawy]

I know this probably isn't comforting....but I think it took about 6 weeks or so from the time I ordered my membership package to the day I got it in the mail.

Patience, grasshopper....
--M

[Katerinka Kotenoka]

Welcome to the Wide World o' Wenches

[Tapestry MacGillicuddly]

I know this probably isn't comforting....but I think it took about 6 weeks or so from the time I ordered my membership package to the day I got it in the mail.

Patience, grasshopper....
--M

SIX WEEKS?!?!?! :sigh: Okay... if there's nothing we can do about it, we can wait six weeks. *looks up at the calendar* That's like the whole summer!!! Yeah, I know that sounds just like a kid just getting out of school for the summer.

Hmm, now that I check the calendar, that's only the middle of July. In plenty of time to start going to faires around here. No problem!!! And besides, I am a WIP.

:?: :?: Does something come in an email to tell me what my Wench number will be before the packet comes? I have read enough to know I'm in Local #69.

Thank you for the patient answering of my questions, the tolerance of my impatient ramblings and all the advice my more experienced sister-Wenches are providing. Boy am I happy I never had to deal with PMS... I'd never make it thru the 6 weeks if I was PMS-ing. :lol:

Tap ;~D

[Morgana]

Me too , me too , I'm also in Local # 69 ! ( she says happy as a kid who just found a new friend :wink: :lol: )

Morgana

[Lady Sarah]

Tap, as Fawn said, "Patience Grasshoppah". Use that six weeks to bulk up your garb closet, meet the other wenches, etc. Once you get busy with other things, it'll pass in no time.

[Tapestry MacGillicuddly]

Tap, as Fawn said, "Patience Grasshoppah". Use that six weeks to bulk up your garb closet, meet the other wenches, etc. Once you get busy with other things, it'll pass in no time.

Good advice Sarah. And I'm thinking that if I start now, I can get 3 pieces of garb -- that 1for every 2 weeks of waiting, during which I'll be working at my part-time job and getting paid every 2 weeks.

That's a chemise, a skirt, and uhm, what else would you recommend? I could do another skirt, or maybe sandals & my belt. I know my corset/bodice is gonna take more than 1 item... that's like 2 or 3 items, budgeting $50 or so for each item. If an item is less, what's left of the $50 will go towards less expensive items or towards my corset/bodice.

I'd love to meet some other wenches locally.

Tap ;~D

[Ciani]

You'll have about $150? Some places sell garb sets, but the apprentice wench is about $175, less for the washer wench.

Can you sew at all? I was surprised at how easily I made my skirts and chemise. I did all that for under $40. Now all I really need is head covering and a bodice. The rest are accessories I'm going to have to buy like a belt.

[KissMeKate]

:?: :?: Does something come in an email to tell me what my Wench number will be before the packet comes?

Unfortunately not. You'll have to wait for the whole surprise without getting parts in the mean time. If Lars had it set up that way, it would probably take even longer to get the packets out because of the delay in getting out another piece of mail.

Try to be patient!

[Tapestry MacGillicuddly]

Unfortunately not. You'll have to wait for the whole surprise without getting parts in the mean time. If Lars had it set up that way, it would probably take even longer to get the packets out because of the delay in getting out another piece of mail.

Try to be patient!

I'm sure it would add to the work. I was asking because I thought I had seen somewhere on here that someone said they were a WIP and had given a number.... maybe they were making up their own number, perhaps a hopeful selection of their lucky numbers.

I shall be patient. I shall be patient. I have lots of garb to get, and I'm playing unfair... I've talked to my "princess" niece and she is like the Princess Garb Whore from Hades all of a sudden. She's picked out a $120 bodice and the gored skirt and chemise at Crimson Gypsy... all in a beautiful ivory brocade. She's wants to be a "high class lady slumming with the wenches (me & her mom). I've tried to talk her into being a Princess and the Pauper kind of thing where she's a princess dressed as the pauper wench... "NO WAY!!!" She's 12 going on 30... I'm thinking this isn't a good thing at all. :roll: :rotfl:

Tap ;~D

[Tapestry MacGillicuddly]

You'll have about $150? Some places sell garb sets, but the apprentice wench is about $175, less for the washer wench.

Can you sew at all? I was surprised at how easily I made my skirts and chemise. I did all that for under $40. Now all I really need is head covering and a bodice. The rest are accessories I'm going to have to buy like a belt.

Skirts and chemise for under $40. I'm thinking I need to learn to sew. I use bad language when I try to sew. My mother sews, my sister sews... I have another sister who is an accountant and is NOT crafty at all, the baby of the group is sort of crafty, I don't know what she can sew, but she broke Mom's sewing machine (or her daughters did) so that's out. Then there is me... I can draw the outfit, I can paint it... I can NOT sew it! DANG!

Tap ;~D

[Ciani]

Skirts and chemise for under $40. I'm thinking I need to learn to sew. I use bad language when I try to sew.

haha.. I use bad language too. My roommate was upstairs on his computer when I was sewing the chemise. When he came downstairs I started trying to tell him everything that was going wrong, and he says, yeah, I heard you swearing every couple minutes from upstairs. oopsie.

the skirts at least, were just so much easier than I ever imagined. And really, you could do it even easier if you wanted. You'll want 3 or 4 times your waist measurement in fabric. Get a wide enough fabric that it will be plenty long for you and sew it into a tube. Then you just need to make a drawstring skirt instead of gathered like I did. To do that you could either sew the drawstring pocket or use iron on hem tape. but really the sewing shouldn't be bad. You might even be able to talk one of those family members into doing it. Just leave an inch open in the back so you can thread the ribbon through to make the drawstring. My gathered skirt was a little more involved than this, but it's all just straight sewing (or nearly straight), and if you use one of the selvege edges of the fabric at the bottom you can avoid hemming it. I haven't hemmed mine yet. I might though. I'm getting better at the sewing everyday. In case you are interested, I use the skirt instructions at http://reddawn.net/costume/costume.htm.

I used her chemise pattern as well, but I changed it slightly so I could have ruffles.

[Tapestry MacGillicuddly]

haha.. I use bad language too. My roommate was upstairs on his computer when I was sewing the chemise. When he came downstairs I started trying to tell him everything that was going wrong, and he says, yeah, I heard you swearing every couple minutes from upstairs. oopsie.

In case you are interested, I use the skirt instructions at http://reddawn.net/costume/costume.htm.

I used her chemise pattern as well, but I changed it slightly so I could have ruffles.

My cat really gets upset with the bad language. So does my Mom. She can't understand how everyone except me can sew. She doesn't even question about my #2 sister not sewing, she's the math genious and so totally NOT crafty that it's a given that she can't sew or do anything else craft wise. But my Mom and I do all sorts of craft projects. I read the crotcheting instructions, make the item and Mom copies it because she can't understand the directions but she can copy the stitiches. Go figure.

She's home for a week before she's gone for a month. Maybe she'll help me. I keep saying "a skirt is 3 straight stitched places, 1 back seam, 1 hem and 1 waist band tube, you've done those before, you can do those, but that's a lot of fabric and I get scared. Maybe if I had someone to stand by and supervise. The last thing I sewed was a "naked person costume" and that was a huge flesh colored sack that I wore over a flesh colored pair of pants and t-shirt. I then painted on the anatomical items, and pinned fig leaves over them to make me a VERY overweight Eve.

Maybe I can make a skirt.

Tap ;~D

[Lady Sarah]

Tap, look into trading services with other local wenches. You said you paint and crochet. I'm sure there's got to be a 'sewing' wench nearby who would be happy to help in return for something you can craft.

Sewing your own is definitely the way to go IMHO. it's less expensive (most of the time) and you can get a truly "Fit To You" fit. Sleeves for me are usually too short or the elastic is too tight, skirts are too short, bodices too short. It's hell being 6'1y'know ~L~ I forced myself to learn to sew because I didn't have the spare cash to fund my garb habit and the extra benefits are out of this world: it's relaxing (yeah yeah, quit snickering ladies, it IS relaxing. I can even cut loose and sing along with the radio when I get really into it) my creativity gets excercised and I feel productive... and, my parents have benefitted as well. No more trips to the alterationist to have their pant legs shortened or hems repaired!

[Ciani]

just get some cheap fabric and try the skirt. and You're right.. keep it down to those three things and you'll be fine. :)

[Tapestry MacGillicuddly]

Tap, look into trading services with other local wenches. You said you paint and crochet. I'm sure there's got to be a 'sewing' wench nearby who would be happy to help in return for something you can craft.

Sewing your own is definitely the way to go IMHO. it's less expensive (most of the time) and you can get a truly "Fit To You" fit. Sleeves for me are usually too short or the elastic is too tight, skirts are too short, bodices too short. It's hell being 6'1y'know ~L~ I forced myself to learn to sew because I didn't have the spare cash to fund my garb habit and the extra benefits are out of this world: it's relaxing (yeah yeah, quit snickering ladies, it IS relaxing. I can even cut loose and sing along with the radio when I get really into it) my creativity gets excercised and I feel productive... and, my parents have benefitted as well. No more trips to the alterationist to have their pant legs shortened or hems repaired!

It's a good idea Sarah, I've got to find some local sewing wenches. That's all I have to do. I ought to add more of my skills to my profile. I haven't done it in years, but I can make lace, REAL lace, the kind they made throughout time, that men wore the most of in the middle ages, etc etc. I have to refresh my tatting skills too. I have a lovely crotcheted christening gown almost finished. I made one for my niece that everyone thought was an antique.

Here's how I go about sewing, normally.
(1) Check pattern, calls for 4 yards of plain cotton fabric. (I purchase EIGHT yards).
(2) Lay out pattern, pin and cut fabric.
(3) Start sewing, start messing it up, start swearing, get frustrated.
(4) Attempt to tear fabric to shreds.
(5) Scream in agoncy, pull pins from hands.
(6) Wad up fabric.
(7) Scream in agony, pull 3 pins missed in original temper tantrum from hands.
(8) Find someone who can sew a :censored: seam and a :censored: a :censored: and pay them to finish the project while I console myself with a pound of chocolate.
(9) Wear item with pride and point to friend who sewed.

Tap ;~D

[Ciani]

I forced myself to learn to sew because I didn't have the spare cash to fund my garb habit and the extra benefits are out of this world: it's relaxing (yeah yeah, quit snickering ladies, it IS relaxing. I can even cut loose and sing along with the radio when I get really into it) my creativity gets excercised and I feel productive... and, my parents have benefitted as well. No more trips to the alterationist to have their pant legs shortened or hems repaired!

I find it very relaxing too. To the point where I'm really put out that I didn't have time to sew last night nor will I tonight :/ I just bought fabric for a hat and bodice last night. I really want to work on them! Plus I want to get some crochet cotton to make a snood.

[Tapestry MacGillicuddly]

I find it very relaxing too. To the point where I'm really put out that I didn't have time to sew last night nor will I tonight :/ I just bought fabric for a hat and bodice last night. I really want to work on them! Plus I want to get some crochet cotton to make a snood.

Ciani, have you found a pattern for a snood? I can't seem to find one online with a picture that is clear enough to see if it's something I want to bother with, or if it would be proper for the period.

I'd love to make some snoods. Now those I could whip up in no time and trade/sell.

Tap ;~D

[Ciani]

There is a "perky snood" pattern online. And if you search for perky snood, you may find other patterns as well. I saw someone posted how they do it on some board that came up in the search. I figured I would just get some crochet cotton and see what I can whip up. From what I've read, the snoods were mostly knotted anyway not crocheted, so will anything really be true period? I was going to try an open double crochet kind of pattern and then maybe line the snood with leftover velveteen from my hat.

[Tapestry MacGillicuddly]

I'm printing out the pattern and looking for more on Google. I'll see what I can come up with. I think there are probably lots of ways snoods were made. You could probably also buy some lace by the yard and sew 1 up in a matter of minutes. I used to have a very small one for my female Springer Spaniel to keep her ears out of her food. It was a bit of lace, maybe a 1/4 yard folded, sewed and gathered with elastic. That was years ago tho and I don't know where it is now after 4 moves.

Tap ;~D

[Ciani]

:)

Work is the crappiest ever today. I'm probably cancelling on my social like plans to stay home and sew or crochet. It will be much better for decompression than rushing around to go hang with people. I am really looking forward to seeing what I can do with the snood. I want to make more skirts too already but I have to get the hat and bodice done first.. priorities! Esp since it looks like I have a free weekend coming up. I'm hoping there is something going on, but probably too early still.

[Lady Sarah]

Here's how I go about sewing, normally.
(1) Check pattern, calls for 4 yards of plain cotton fabric. (I purchase EIGHT yards).
(2) Lay out pattern, pin and cut fabric.
(3) Start sewing, start messing it up, start swearing, get frustrated.
(4) Attempt to tear fabric to shreds.
(5) Scream in agoncy, pull pins from hands.
(6) Wad up fabric.
(7) Scream in agony, pull 3 pins missed in original temper tantrum from hands.
(8) Find someone who can sew a :censored: seam and a :censored: a :censored: and pay them to finish the project while I console myself with a pound of chocolate.
(9) Wear item with pride and point to friend who sewed.

Tap ;~D

:shock: wow... :stunned: I mean, wow...

I'm not sure if you're exaggerating for the sake of a few giggles or if that's really how you see yourself sewing. Mayhaps it's best you leave the sewing to someone else and trade services... I mean, I swear once in a while while sewing but... wow... :stunned:

You can tat lace? hmmm... how quick are you?

[Tapestry MacGillicuddly]

Here's how I go about sewing, normally.
(1) Check pattern, calls for 4 yards of plain cotton fabric. (I purchase EIGHT yards).
(2) Lay out pattern, pin and cut fabric.
(3) Start sewing, start messing it up, start swearing, get frustrated.
(4) Attempt to tear fabric to shreds.
(5) Scream in agoncy, pull pins from hands.
(6) Wad up fabric.
(7) Scream in agony, pull 3 pins missed in original temper tantrum from hands.
(8) Find someone who can sew a :censored: seam and a :censored: a :censored: and pay them to finish the project while I console myself with a pound of chocolate.
(9) Wear item with pride and point to friend who sewed.

Tap ;~D

:shock: wow... :stunned: I mean, wow...

I'm not sure if you're exaggerating for the sake of a few giggles or if that's really how you see yourself sewing. Mayhaps it's best you leave the sewing to someone else and trade services... I mean, I swear once in a while while sewing but... wow... :stunned:

You can tat lace? hmmm... how quick are you?

This is NO exaggeration. That is exactly what happens, well except the pins part on the last project. I used the fuseable bond tape stuff. All my seams were crooked but I had a flesh-colored wearable item without a bunch of blood stains on it.

There are 2 things in life that I can NOT do... that is sew and get fancy with my hair. I can blow it dry, or if I get a perm I can let it air dry. That is the extent of my fussing. Now if I can find a good hair stylist who can do a decent perm I might have one done this summer. I had one last summer that was beautiful. This gorgeous dark brown cap of big curls. Last January, I let a guy at the Fantastic Sam's do a perm and cried til it was gone.

I need to brush up on the tatting. It's been almost 4 years, since I made any lace, tatted or bobbin. In fact, I'm trying to decide if I want to sell all my lace making stuff on ebay or not. I'm thinking that maybe just the Torchon bobbins and keep the stuff I got in Belgium.

Tap ;~D

[Alianne]

.. I've talked to my "princess" niece and she is like the Princess Garb Whore from Hades all of a sudden. She's picked out a $120 bodice and the gored skirt and chemise at Crimson Gypsy... all in a beautiful ivory brocade. She's wants to be a "high class lady slumming with the wenches (me & her mom). I've tried to talk her into being a Princess and the Pauper kind of thing where she's a princess dressed as the pauper wench... "NO WAY!!!" She's 12 going on 30... I'm thinking this isn't a good thing at all. :roll: :rotfl:

Tap ;~D

Tell her when she has a job, she can buy what she wants.

Or she can learn to sew.

Her choice.

[Alianne]

. *wonders if Lars is looking for a part-time Scribe's Assistant*

Tap ;~D

Lars does have some people who assist him already.

As has been said several times already, this time of year he's very busy (and the Guilds are just *one* aspect of his business)....he hurt himself fairly badly a couple weeks ago (more than he likes to let on), and that's slowed him down.

So, breathe. Be patient. On a good day, it can take 6-8 weeks to get your packet and pin...heading into Season, it might take longer.

Since you're going to be at Tux, what you might want to do is email him and let him know that you can pick your packet up opening weekend at the Armory. It'll be about the same amount of time, but with advance notice, he'll have it there instead of mailing it to you, so at least you'll *know* for sure when you can get your packet.