The Armour Archive

Eyelet (holes), that is.

Why is it that back when I tried to align button holes and lacing holes, they'd be staggered all over the place...

Now when I work so hard to stagger the eyelets for proper spiral lacing, painstakingly measuring, marking, checking, pulling the material taut, checking again, *then* I hand sew the starter 4 on each side...And they align perfectly! Like NASA helped me align them perfectly with million-dollar space-lasers!

OK. If I ever get to meet any of you wearing my cotehardie(s), I'll lean ever so slightly to one side to add to the illusion of spiral lacing. Forgive me if I absentmindedly switch from one side to the other during the course of our gentle conversation--STOP LOOKING AT MY NON-SPIRAL LACING!

Just act natural.

Of course, if any of you have pointers, I'd love to hear them.

Until that point, I'll just keep practicing.

Rana wrote:
OK. If I ever get to meet any of you wearing my cotehardie(s)...

Oh.

My.

Rana,

A few tricks to help them be staggered...

1) Have your top and bottom eyelets (holes) align. Then on one side go up 1/2 the distance to the next hole then the full distance.
i.e. On the right, the 1st hole is only 1/2" above the base hole the 2nd hole and the rest of the holes are 1" apart. On the left, the 1st hole is 1" above the base hole and the rest of the holes are 1" apart as well.

At the top reverse it - When you get to the top, one side is only 1/2" to the top base holes while the other side is 1" to the top base holes.

2) I mark my holes with a piece of contrasting thread just whip stitched along the edge at the appropriate measurement (1" or 1/2" from the other holes depending on which it is). This allows me to take it with me when I go other places and I don't have to worry about chalk wearing off as I work with the garment.


Hope this helps!

Kim

Kim--I like it! I'll give it a go. Thanks.

I always do all of one side first. I make my eyelets the space of my thumb apart. Then I go back and pin both sides together, and mark the eyelets of the second side. Sometimes I do a few at a time, sometimes all at once. Make sure you pick a point to be the bottom on the second side, and check it every time you mark a new eyelet.

I really like the basting stitch idea.

You're probably forgetting the 1/2 spaces at the bottom of one side and the top of the other. The stitch that goes straight across keeps the sides from shifting.

Actually, I haven't forgotten the half-measure holes, I just have to be better about not letting my marked bits shift in the making.

Next time I'm definitely going to do all of one side first, as Charlotte mentioned, and I'll also do the stitch marking the spot, not chalk that rubs off, or pins that fall out.

I am rather proud of how the (second half) of the eyelets turned out. I finally get it!

For the record, Charlotte's guide has been absolutely INVALUABLE in making this cotehardie. I feel like I should embroider the site address along the hem, like a NASCAR racer's car.
"Made possible by: http://www.mathildegirlgenius.com/FittingAndConstruction.htm

and Red Trolley beer"