Buttons! They are going to eat me!

Aside from painting Kingdom writs and adding calligraphy one of my major pastimes is costuming. There is always 'something' I'm adding to my family's wardrobe, no matter whether it's for hubby, Finndragon who always appears to be growing out of his garb before events and myself. At Pennsic I wore my 14th century outfit and - don't tell the Master - enjoyed the looks of it greatly. Ever since that occasion I've dabble with the thought of making another one - simple understated 14thcentury elegance. Well, I did embark on that project sometime last winter and have been working on it ever since.

This 14th century ensemble consists of a slate-grey wool-silk blend front-laced cotte and a fitted madder-red surcotte. I keep alternating between these two pieces which keeps my interest and excitement strong although I must admit that lately that theory has been tested quite a bit. The surcotte, you must understand, is buttoned on the front. The -entire- front. -All- the way from the neck to the bottom hem. 49 buttons, to be exact, and 49 buttonholes *sigh* I managed to get 45 of 49 buttonholes stitched up by hand over the past two days and frankly, I've had it. Up to here and then some ... bleargh, button holes. The buttonholes for the sleeves and the lacing holes on the cotte are next ...

So, if sometime during the next week I start babbling and drooling and cackling like a maniac you will know that I lost my sanity (or whatever remained of it) to the buttonholes of the dress ...