As with my earlier story on the Floral Glove Needlecase, I have for show and tell: the kit, the frame, the linen for the embroidery piece, some examples of historical research, and a glance at the pattern of the Nightcap.
I am unsure when I'll start work on these pieces, but as I mentioned in my previous post, sometimes things move you and you have to jump in. I do understand that people like myself have to keep an eye on just starting things, or signing up to projects and then putting them in the cupboard. I am hoping that life can be full of wild abandon and focused discipline.
I know that it might be a long stretch to say that my comfortable suburban life, in a small regional centre, in an affluent democratic country, has many instances of wild abandon. It is also equally true to question whether I have many examples of focused discipline in my life. Just last night, I sat up way past midnight brooding about my internal struggles with a workplace gone awry, drinking red wine and very, very slowly stitching a gift for a person of generous nature. That is, I'm making a gift for someone who was very kind to me last year when I was grieving. Not sure what part of that behaviour was disciplined.
I think though, that one of the appealing features of these two projects (Floral Glove and Glittering Gentleman's Nightcap) was that there was something a bit obsessive about them. The documentation that comes with this course is intense in its detail and thoroughness. I'm not sure I want nor need to read every word, but I am curious enough to tangle with it somewhat. I am sure I can learn a great deal about historical embroidery and elite material culture from this research.
Long before I became a social researcher, I studied history at Sydney University and for many years after starting full-time work, I thought about researching or writing a history as a part-time or additional activity. That thought persisted for quite awhile but eventually love and marriage and children became my primary attention grabbers. When I now read these research pieces on historical embroidery, I am curious about the history of the embroidery but feel something is missing. I want to go back to the lives of these people and find out who wore the cap, and when did he wear such a garment? Would the gentleman have worn it before bed or in bed or both? Was it comfortable to wear? It is heavily embroidered and therefore might be a bit lumpy on your head. Was it the kind of thing you could wear in polite company? Just with your family present in the home or could you wear it in the presence of guests and visitors? I do think those English houses were cold. You would need a nightcap.
My house is lovely and warm. Toasty, comfy heating roars into action on a thermostatic setting, at set times of the day and week. I am no spartan. I know some Canberrans don't let their heaters come on until later in the year - but not me. I also know that my life is very different to the life of the person who wore a glittering nightcap.