The Utrechtse Cloth-market

Oh, the horrors and wonders we had to endure! I first went to the 'lapjesmarkt' two or three years ago, and I must say it has changed quite a bit. Less stalls with fifty-cents-a-meter and a-buck-a-meter, and much, much more curtainstalls. But we found what we were looking for, after all.

JW and Meis picked us up early, resulting in NoKey still gagging on half a sandwich when we came downstairs. We then drove to the Archeon, an outdoor medieval museum, where people can meet old tools, old houses, and old work. I still haven't visited it proper, though I now know what the gates look like, and I would love to do a course on weaving there. Meis went to larp there, and JW, NoKey and I continued to Utrecht. First tram-rails I saw, we parked in a street where parking was free, and thereby avoiding the overprized parking garages which would be full anyway at a quarter past ten. Into the tram we went, and we walked from Central Station to the market.

We ditched NoKey at the first fournitures stand, where he found lingerie-equipment, and JW and I walked the stalls a bit, looking for nice dark blue cloth. We finally found it at 1,50 a meter at a nice stand, good dark blue cotton. I drooled at wonderful satin for Eur. 3,- a meter, 3 meters for Eur. 7,50. We picked up NoKey again and showed him the satin. He agreed it would be good, and we bought 10 meters of black, and 10 meters of gold. It's a perfect colour-match. I've decided to keep a dress-diary (it's all Jen's fault!), so as to keep you posted on the progress. It will be in my memories, as soon as I make a real entry for it.

We then continued, and bought 2x six meters of cotton, for I needed a sturdy bit of it for tunics, and they had that, and a cotton-blend that looks like linen. Very good. I also picked up cotton in dark red en dark green, though not quite my colour, for Dolle Griet. We stumbled upon a merchant who had rest-pieces of very colourful, very cheap, and VERY soft fur, and JW looked up some nice white fur with black undertone to go with his robe. It will look extra pretty.
We had hot cocoa at the cafe at the end of the street and I went back to pick up some fur like that too. I've been shopping for Dolle Griet mostly, but those 20 meters of satin made my day.

We continued to the Lijnmarkt, to the passimenterie where I found a few nice buttons and cloak-clasps. They're very expensive, daring to ask 4.20 for a frog-closing that costs 3.65 at the most expensive merchant on the Rotterdam market. The closings I found for Voltar's Gold Elf costume cost 2.25 there, a mere 90 cents more expensive. They do have an amazing assortment of stuff though, and I was pleased with my buttons.
We also ran into the Janome store and bought some nice ribbon. I had no idea they also had a big assortment, and NoKey found some good stuff too.
Then we continued to an alley near the Vredenburg, where I found more beautiful buttons and NoKey found lingerie-fournitures. Then we got back to the car.

After having tea with JW, he went off home, and NoKey and I got ready to visit the Matson's store where I standard have a 10% discount. As much as some people in that store say I wouldn't get a discount on Esmeralda, I did get a discount on Esmeralda. And who is Esmeralda?
( introducing Esmeralda )

I was quite tired, and even fell asleep on the couch. Headaches ensued, and after macaroni I went to bed, only to wake when I had to cuddle up to NoKey when he went to bed as well.

Dress Diary I - Part 1: The inspirations, the plans, and buying the cloth.

Dress Diary - Making a lined princess dress.

It all began with my friend and sewing-buddy Steelweaver bringing over a pattern. It was Simplicity 9162, out of print. A weddingdress which was flared, with a very narrow waist and pointed sleeves extending over the hand. I immediately fell in love with the pattern, but what was more of a defining factor - so did NoKey. When I saw the pattern and worked out what I wanted, I knew it would be dress-diary-worthy. The plan slowly unfolded in my head: a lined dress, black on the outside, gold on the inside. The hem being so low, that I'd have to lift it to walk, when you would see the lining. And on the shawl, I'd have beads and ribbon embroidered.

With a nearby crafts-shop going out of business I got my hands on 60 meters of gold ribbon at a 30% discount. In total I paid Eur 12.60 for this ribbon, with the discount. I also bought some beads there, now for 1.82.

But first the pattern had to be adjusted. We calculated the pattern, and widened the waist with 7 cm. We also had to make the waist lower by 4 cm. And the hem had to be lowered also, by about 20 cm. I am, after all, quite tall. I cut out the pattern pieces that NoKey drew with mathematic precision, and made a mock-up which fitted, and was maybe even a bit too large.

That saturday we went to the cloth market in Utrecht, where bargains are made as a rule. I found the most wonderful rough/heavy satin. Ten meters of black and ten meters of gold satin we bought, and I got it for 50 euro's, while normally it would be 3 euro's a meter.

That same afternoon we bought another requisite: a dressmaking model, adjustable in size. I can't possibly line a dress that elaborate without a model, and I don't ask of NoKey that he would pin it on me, for he'd be busy for hours on end.

This dress diary will also be posted - with pictures - on my website