Edwardian Walking Outfit

The outfit consisted of Linen Chemise, Linen Corset, Bum roll, and Silk Petticoat. The petticoat has a facing in Grey to avoid the silk showing where the top fastens. It also has a grey facing to the hem so that it is this grey that shows when the wearer walks and the splits in the hem move.

The skirt and top were made of fine grey wool, and the top has shaping in the front in the form of four radiating darts coming up from the centre waist.

The top fastened on the left shoulder with five self covered buttons, and down the left side seam with eleven more self covered buttons. When the front was folded back, then the lining was fastened with numerous hooks and eyes to stabilise the two sides. The high standing collar was stiffened with buckram, fastened with more hooks and eyes, and trimmed with hand made cording.

The top was longer in the front, with just a single split centre front, and the back of the top was split into several sections to accommodate the bum roll and give a smooth shape.

The splits on the skirt were treated the same way as on the top, all stiffened with buckram and weighted in each corner, then trimmed with hand made cording.

The completed outfit. It was commissioned and

has gone to Springhill, a National Trust

Property in Northern Ireland. They will be using it

as part of their handling collection - this is available

to school children as part of their education

programme.

One day workshop with Kurdish Families

I recently did a one day workshop with some Kurdish refugee familes. The mother with the carpet had hand knotted every tuft, and her son (left) had a go at spinning with my wheel, as mum had only ever used a drop spindle. When mum tried, she couldn't get the treadling at all, so we did a duet!

The three girls really enjoyed their attempts at hand quilting. The two on the left (Zhyan and Bayan) completed four squares each, and Zhian on the right finished six! When I wanted to take their photos, all three pairs of hands when straight to their scarves to make sure they were adjusted.

Update to latest work in progress

The assymetric borders have been added, and I completed the white trim on the train down to Dublin to see the Knitting and Stitching show.

I've also made a start on the narrower panel that I want to hang to the left of this one. work on that has been held up a little because I mislaid the green fabric for the tapes, and had to order more.