Linen kirtles and movie night!

[janestarz]

Yesterday was fun. Ragar and I hopped on by the Chamber of Commerce (I still like "Merchant's Guild" better), and found out that the term "voorbelasting" means the VAT you already paid. Sjeesh. And here we were, scared of having to find all the receipt for all our purchases from the hobby-period. I still have the receipt of my machines, for warranty purposes, but no way I have receipt for all my fabrics. That year before we went legal was wonderfully blissfully receipt-less.
So after a really short visit to the nice Taxman of the Merchant's Guild, we hopped on over to the Subway's to have an early lunch. I usually have a light breakfast, followed by a second breakfast around eleven, and lunch at two, to fight the munchies. Otherwise I get the munchies around three.

I then continued to the market and bought some nice neon-red linen for a kirtle in 17th century style. There was also some nice subdued blue I might have bought if it didn't look so much like jeans-fabric. There was also a subdued orange that looked like it might have been naturally-dyed, but I couldn't determine if it was my colour. Orange is a very fickle colour and usually only works with people with dark hair. Seeing that my hair is usually reddish blonde, I didn't dare take the chance. I'm now very much pondering giving the linen a nice wash, and possibly a toning down. It's very neonish. I'd rather have a darker brownish red, although bright red is a colour you could achieve in the 17th century and plant-dyes. You'd just have to dye it in cold water for about a month, or boil it in warm water for a day, but still.
The problem with dyeing cloth is that when you use thread it's polyester and that doesn't dye. So I can't start on the kirtle yet, because I wouldn't know what colour thread I need to use. Dye first, sew later. Still need enourmous bucket to dye in too.

The problem with markets where I'm selling is mostly the warmth. For larp, I only have warm clothes, usually worn in layers. So on each and every indoor market I'm warm, and in summers on outdoor markets too. So I really needed this kirtle for DG.
I'm now so broke that after buying dinner groceries for Thursday I can't even buy a cap any more, so I can't even start my horseback riding. Which I'd really been looking forward to. NoKey bought me that card for 10 lessons in May, and I still haven't even started on it! For shame!

Anyway, last night after dinner, we went over to Lorian's to watch The Ladyhawke, that wonderful movie with Rutger Hauer, Matthew Broderick, and Michelle Pfeiffer. It was the My First Fantasy Movie for me, the reason I got hooked.
I've seen that movie far too often.

We were home way too late, of course, and I made NoKey's bread last night so he wouldn't have to get up too early. I believe he's zombie enough today.

I have got a little bit of a headache today. Hm. Not good. The weather is just too warm and too moist. If I just do the dishes I get sweaty as hell.
I also updated the Yoshida website today, and there's some good stuff up. Hopefully this will inspire the other samurai to write some stuff as well.

Anyway, time for lunch. I didn't even have second breakfast...

Comments

Cap

[sjiva.livejournal.com]

I'm going to my parents for the weekend.
I can bring my old riding cap back with me and lend it to you, if you want...(It's safe)
Just let me know!

Re: Cap

[janestarz.livejournal.com]

Oooh yes please! I hope it'll fit!

I can probably ride on my kisten with an old jeans. I'm new so people will look weird at me anyway!

Re: Cap

[(Anonymous)]

Ok, I'll see what I can do!

Be careful with kisten. You actually want boots with a flat sole and with heels, so that if you fall, you're foot won't be stuck in the stirrups...

But you'll be fine! It's just great to ride! I love it, anyway

Re: Cap

[sjiva.livejournal.com]

The cap is in Schiedam, so you can come over and see if it fits...

[tommycee.livejournal.com]

blue tax envelopes make me go emo. we have a guy who fixes that problem.

time for a little trip to my neighbour the Bruna.

i'm cold and it's raining. but i'm an ice bunny so i guess i'm always cold. even in mexico i would be whining if there was a little wind.

[twilightbanana.livejournal.com]

You can get big cement mixing buckets at hardware stores and such. Those could probably serve you well as a dyeing bucket.

[janestarz.livejournal.com]

I know. The problem is: where to store them? The bathroom won't hold them, and going down to the shed every time I want to dye something is too cumbersome.

[twilightbanana.livejournal.com]

Hm. Do you store your fabric in those big plastic boxes like Steelweaver does? Because then you could just use one of those. Even if you don't want to use it for fabrics, you can put another box of fabric into it, saving you space.

[randallsilver.livejournal.com]

"Chamber of Commerce"? Do you have Rules of Acquisition as well? :-P

[janestarz.livejournal.com]

If only...

[silverseabear.livejournal.com]

Ladyhawke is the best movie on the planet. I dno't even remember how many times I've sseen it, and I'd see it again. And again. Do you know Rutger Hauer is Dutch?

What is a kirtle?

[janestarz.livejournal.com]

Ofcourse I know Rutger Hauer is Dutch. After all, I grew up in the Floris age, when he played in the Black and White (!) series, a knight.
Prrrr.

A kirtle is basically an underdress. I have no idea why it was called that. Usually, peasants in the 14th-17th century wore a shift that was easily washable, a kirtle and then a wool overgown.
See also Jen Thompson's Flemish working class gown (http://homepage.mac.com/festive_attyre/gallery/flemish/flemish.html).The red one, at the bottom, is the kirtle.

[steelweaver.livejournal.com]

While most kirtles look a lot alike, the name only really refers to the dress that is worn over the shift but under any overdresses (it can take on many shapes depending on the period and the wearer's status). In informal settings (working the land, doing laundry etc.) it can be an outer layer, but there's usually a gown or jacket layer involved. The gown often doubles as a coat with maybe a just mantle or hood for extra protection. The kirtle can also function as bust support, especially when no corset is worn.