Meltintalle's Closet

When I went back to this project a few days ago I discovered I was, oh, two minutes from being done with the horse's head. I have no idea why I stopped when I did, because apparently I could easily have been done at least a month ago.

Now that I've completed my very own pattern, I have learned a few things. For one, the thread I have on hand is not quite suited for the fine detail work I drew into the pattern. For future reference, I need to make my pattern drawings with a slightly thicker brush size...For two... the speckling stitch is super pretty. For three, perhaps I should have looked at my stitch guide and designed the pattern to use more of the stitches. But I'm quite pleased with my results anyway. 

Now I just have to cut it out and sew it together with matching bias tape. Or should I use a red tape around the edges? Choices like that could easily set this back another three months... 

We wonders, yes, we wonderss. *cough*

I had an opportunity to dig my Narnian/Pre-Raphaelite/Medieval/Renaissance gowns and pieces out of my closet recently, and that reminded me of the need for pockets. Because pockets are wonderful things and besides Gollum there's also a song about "Oh I bet you'll never guess/ What I've got!" and a lovely list of keys and bicycle rings and... Anyway. Pockets. 

I've seen it done where people with the same dilemma use their 18th century pocket recreations with their gowns and I think this will work with the gowns I have. But since it's for fun and practicality, I thought I'd do something fantasy for the pocket embroidery. 

First I went through a list of extant pockets for inspiration as well as visiting a site that sells pocket kits (see Bristol and the Blue Thistle stomacher in particular). I'm considering doing my initials and the year on the back, in something simple because it's the least visible side of something that's really supposed to be invisible... so I was thinking white on white, maybe.



For the front, I'm envisioning something Rohan inspired. Twisty knots and galloping horses, though I can't decide if I want to do it all in shades of blue and possibly silver, (because that's rather Elvish, just like my screen-name, and my favourite colours) or bright and somewhat random colours based on what comes to hand when I go looking for thread. 

The dimensions came from Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion Vol. 1.