Literary Sewing Circle Round Up

The Spring round of the Literary Sewing Circle featured Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce, a fun middle grade mystery. While there were only a few finished projects shared, there were lots of readers involved! This series has 3 books so far, with 2 more titles forthcoming. So lots of Myrtle to read ahead :) 

Here are the projects that were finished and shared for the Literary Sewing Circle, Premeditated Myrtle round: 

Jan at @conlon.jan
Making the Castlepoint Skirt by Itch to Stitch
Featuring florals to suit the theme of the novel as well as a nod to Myrtle Hardcastle...

Sara making a great Zero Waste apron
 embroidered with a gilded lily
-- inspired by both the key flower in
 this tale and Cook's useful apron

Sarah at @a.little.quiet.sewing 
with a Flora Blouse by SBCC
inspired by the gardening theme
 & featuring a guest appearance
 by a special cat!

And finally, me! Wearing a
  Pivoine Blouse by Delphine & Morrissette
Inspired by Peony the cat and
 of course writing itself

Hope you enjoyed this trip through some projects! Keep your eyes open for our next Literary Sewing Circle round this fall.

Pivoine Blouse for the Literary Sewing Circle

When I was thinking about projects for this round of the Literary Sewing Circle, I kept coming back to the Pivoine Blouse by Delphine & Morrissette.

I have owned this blouse pattern for quite a while and always intended to make one, so now is the time. As I said in an inspiration post, Pivoine is French for Peony, so we are nodding both to Peony the cat and to Miss Judson's French background with this pattern. The fabric I chose is an alphabetical novelty print (actually a sheet originally), so it is also reflective of the entire writing world, I'd say.

There are many versions of this blouse in many fabrics, but I thought that this crisp polycotton would give a boxier look to the blouse - which I wanted. I had just enough left from a previous project using this sheet to fit all the pieces of this blouse pattern onto. I wanted to be sure that the letters ran across the top evenly, on the same plane, and that the cuffs were also vertical (which necessitated cutting them on the cross grain). 

This pattern is all in French, and while my French is basic, I only had to search a few words and instructions on Google Translate to be sure I was doing things correctly. There is a good photo laden blog post about the construction of this blouse on Delphine & Morrissette's site, which was also helpful, mostly to be sure I was getting the seam allowances right and doing things in a good order. 

Otherwise I just depended on my sewing experience to help me along. This was actually quite an easy sew, not many tricky bits at all. I used my trusty 1/4" quilting foot to help me get even edgestitching on the button placket and collar band. Then I searched through all 5 of my button tins to try to find a good match for this fabric. I had a basic white shirt button in mind, but when I saw all of my random one-off buttons that just seemed to match the colours in the fabric so well, I made a decision to use multicolour buttons. They are all nearly the same size, so I just made all the buttonholes based on the mid-sized one (the largest was infinitesimally bigger, and the smallest just a hair smaller) and that worked out okay. I worked out my own button placement so I ended up using 8 buttons rather than the 7 called for in the pattern.

I am really pleased with the cute summer feel of this blouse, and I do love a good alphabet print. This is light and floaty and goes with a lot in my wardrobe. I think I'd make this blouse again, maybe in a drapier fabric for a really different look. I enjoyed sewing this while thinking about Myrtle's adventures in Premeditated Myrtle and all the following titles in the series. I hope everyone else participating in this round of the Literary Sewing Circle also enjoyed both the reading and the sewing! 

Literary Sewing Circle: Finale & Project Round Up

 

Today is already our final day of the Literary Sewing Circle focusing on Elizabeth C. Bunce's Premeditated Myrtle!

I hope you've had the chance to read the book, and both the first and second inspiration posts, and are getting lots of ideas for a project of your own. 

The project linkup will be added to the bottom of this post: as soon as you are done your project, just pop a link to your post into the linkup and we will all be able to visit your blog/instagram etc. and explore your creation -- remember, it can be sewn, or knitted, crocheted, embroidered... any textile art that you practice.

I shared a lot of my thoughts on the book in our earlier book talk post, and I reviewed this novel on my book blog when I first read it. You can explore those for some of my thoughts; today I'll share an overview of my impressions of this novel. I hope you will too!

I really enjoyed this book each time I read it. The clever chapter headings and footnotes, the variety of characters, the well plotted mystery, and the Victorian setting were all pluses for me.  I found Myrtle reminiscent of some of my other favourite girl sleuths like Flavia de Luce or even Harriet the Spy - especially in the relationship between Myrtle and Miss Judson, one of the most pleasing bits of the series for me. 

The story held up to rereadings, as it was both clever and full of detail that could be enjoyed on the second go-round. I appreciated the attention given to the setting and domestic details, which were added in so naturally but grounded the story in its place. Seeing Myrtle's reactions to clues and facts and other characters was also richer the second time, when you know what's going to happen and can slow down a little and take in all the elements of the narrative. 

Of course I loved the clothing and household descriptions; as one of our participants mentioned previously, the clothing adds to the development of each character when you notice that what they are wearing expresses them in varied ways. 

Also, the emotional element of Myrtle's connection to Miss Judson as a mother figure is touching. I loved the addition of Miss Judson's background, which adds depth and nuance to her as a person and to her role in the family. And Myrtle's much hoped-for romance between Miss Judson and her father is a great touch. I have enjoyed the additional books in the series and hope some of you will too!

Questions for you all:

Did you enjoy this mystery for younger readers? Are you intrigued to follow up with some of the other titles in this series? (heads up, book two has some sewing related content as well...) Did you connect with Myrtle's character? How does she compare, for you, to other young female sleuths?

Please share your thoughts on the book, its themes, characters, or anything you noted about it -- either in the comments here or on our first Book Talk post, or on your own blog with a link to your longer thoughts in the comments so we can find it. I love to talk about the experience of reading so feel free to comment no matter when you're reading this post; if you've read this I'd love to hear your thoughts.

What project have you made, inspired by your reading of Premeditated Myrtle? Share a link to your project on this post as soon as you're done! The linkup will be live until May 31 --  you have another 3 1/2 weeks of sewing time to finish and share.

Literary Sewing Circle: Author Feature!

 

This week we have a special feature: an interview with the author! Elizabeth C. Bunce is both a writer and a sewist, and has shared some of both of those worlds with us. Read on for more!

1. Welcome, Elizabeth, and thank you for taking the time to do this interview for the Literary Sewing Circle! Can you tell us a bit about how you came to write Premeditated Myrtle? What was the genesis of this character and her delightful story?

I am so happy to be here! Thank you for the generous invitation! Premeditated Myrtle is the product of an early morning Freudian slip. Several years ago my husband and I were dragging our groggy selves through our morning routine, attempting to carry on a cogent conversation while woefully precaffeinated. One of us, remarking on something on the news, tried to say “premeditated murder,” and it came out “premeditated myrtle.” I looked at my husband and said, “That is a middle grade mystery!” 

2. Myrtle is such a clever, intellectual character, but she's also a believably young girl with emotional issues to face in her life. How did you find that balance, which makes her so relatable and sympathetic?

Well, confession time: Myrtle is me, when I was in eighth grade and my home room teacher told my parents I was antisocial and argumentative. I remember being a clever twelve-year-old, fascinated by things that my peers couldn’t relate to, and yet surrounded by supportive adults (Mr. Lippe notwithstanding) who nurtured my interests, encouraged my intellectual pursuits, and gave me room to be myself—argumentative and all.

Writing Myrtle therefore comes pretty naturally! But I’ve also realized that Myrtle is at her best and most entertaining as a character when she is pushed to the absolute edge. She may see herself as a totally rational professional, but she’s also twelve, and being twelve and clever in a world that is not quite prepared for you is a recipe for some moments of… passion, shall we say? One of my favorite scenes in Premeditated Myrtle is when Miss Judson tells Myrtle she sounds hysterical and ridiculous, to which she stomps her foot and cries, “I am NEVER hysterical!” Of course not, Myrtle. Sorry we suggested it…

3. There are so many great female characters in this book - Myrtle herself, of course, but others like Miss Judson. She's a complex and intriguing person. Did her relationship to Myrtle come to you immediately when you first conceived of this story, or was it something that developed as you wrote?

Interestingly, the book really started to come alive for me when I focused on writing Miss Judson. I had been doing character and scene sketches with Myrtle, Peony, the neighborhood… but the important pieces of the world didn’t click together until Miss Judson’s efficient boots first telegraph-tapped into the schoolroom, in what became the very first scene of the book. As soon as she was on the page, I knew her. But, of course, she has a fascinating and complex background—she’s an immigrant and a woman of color in Victorian England, a world with a very narrow definition of British Womanhood. Having been thrust forcibly into that world as a young girl—Black and French in an English boarding school—and expected to become as British as possible as fast as possible, I think she has a unique perspective on how to help Myrtle navigate the challenges of becoming a Young Lady of Quality while still learning how to be true to herself. 

It’s been such fun exploring even more aspects of her personality as the series goes on. As Myrtle herself says, “Miss Judson is a deep well”—she’s constantly surprising me. I’ve just turned in the first draft of Book 5, Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity, which revolves around a surprising change in Miss Judson’s fortunes, and it's been a great chance to really explore the evolution of the relationship between my two (human) heroines. 

One thing readers might not have noticed is that Miss Judson gets the first line in every book. (“Correct me if I’m wrong,” being her opening in Premeditated Myrtle.) When I begin a new book, it’s that first comment of Miss Judson’s that sets the tone for the whole story.

4. What was your inspiration for the precocious Peony? Are you a cat lover yourself? And if so, do you have a "cattern weight" who helps you with your sewing?

I am a cat lover—a cat adorer—a cat worshipper! I am a Friend to All Cats! I always thought of myself as a Confirmed Dog Person—so much so that I wound up sharing my home with a retired racing greyhound and ten unemployed coonhounds. I mean, that’s some serious Dog Devotion right there! As they grew older and needed more fulltime care, I took time away from writing to focus on them. In the summer of 2016 a little stray cat showed up on our doorstep (actually our garage), and gradually insinuated herself into our lives until, over the course of the next year, she became a permanent member of our family. When she meowed, she really did sound like she was saying “No!” …And she said it a lot. At the time we first met her, I was just starting to play around with the notion of a new story, and a friend reminded me that mystery lovers love cats (or maybe it was cat lovers love mysteries?). She suggested I write a mystery about the opinionated little feline. Peony was the perfect fit for that back-burner idea I had, the middle grade mystery called Premeditated Myrtle…

My cat Quincy—always called Boo—is my biggest sewing fan. Ever. He tests all new fabrics for coziness, monitors my progress, and peforms quality control tests on every project. He also likes to photobomb awards ceremonies.  

5. I find that this book works perfectly for both middle grade and adult readers; personally I especially enjoyed the footnotes. But I can imagine it takes some work to get the tone just right. Is it difficult to write something aimed at the middle grade audience which is also an entertaining read for adults?

No. 😊  Well, at least I don’t find it so, in these books. I had a very specific audience of young readers in mind when I began Premeditated Myrtle: kids who “read up,” or whose reading level is above their age and grade level. My first several books were for young adults (teens), but most of my fan mail was coming from younger readers—fifth and sixth graders. They were responding to my dense prose, the historical settings, the darker themes… did I mention the dense prose? I realized I needed to write a book especially for those kids. And that meant not changing anything about the way that I wrote: with respect for the intelligence of my audience, and with trust that they will follow—and enjoy!—a story even if they don’t know every single word on the page. Myrtle certainly didn’t disappoint me as a narrator: she uses some words even I have to look up! (She knows four languages, after all, and I have… one.)

One of the first fan letters I got after Premeditated Myrtle came from an eleven-year-old who told me she studied Latin and forensics and had no idea that there were books about murder written for her! Smart kids like Myrtle often find themselves reaching for—or being handed—adult books. Such kids who are mystery fans very often find their way to Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie and fall in love with the genre. But as wonderful as those stories are, they’re not about kids. They don’t have young heroes solving the crimes. And that’s what I wanted to give my younger fans: all the complexity of an adult novel, but starring somebody like them. 

6. I know that you are also a sewist and maker with a wide range of interests. What are some of your favourite creations, and where can people find out more about your creative pursuits?

You’re asking me to pick a favorite project? That’s like trying to pick a favorite cat—or book! I’m a lifelong needlewoman (I had my first embroidery project handed to me when I was five), and an internet-taught seamstress who learned to sew as an adult. My first love was historical costuming, and I learned to sew making Renaissance Fair costumes for my whole family. (If you come to visit during Fair season, you get a costume. Full stop.) Along the way I started making costumes related to my books (I made an 18th century ensemble all in wool for my first book, A Curse Dark as Gold, which takes place in a woolen mill.) With the Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries, though, I am quite a few years (cough, decades) removed from the age of my protagonist, and the schedule of a book a year hasn’t left a lot of time for my own costuming endeavors. I have since discovered a delightful new outlet for my historical costuming: I now make them in miniature, modeled by 18” dolls. I have been developing a girl’s 1890s wardrobe based on period fashion plates—and I’ve gotta tell you: this is the most fun you can possibly have with a needle and thread. The second-most-fun is quilting, although these days I do more garment sewing than anything—my everyday work clothes are disgracefully casual, but I enjoy dressing up for author events, and this spring I got to make a couple of Very Posh Frocks for awards ceremonies (Cold-Blooded Myrtle, Myrtle Hardcastle #3, was nominated for the Edgar and Agatha Awards). Since Myrtle debuted during the pandemic, these were my first events for which I need something presentable on my lower half! 

I try to share my projects on social media. I blog at my website, www.elizabethcbunce.com where there is also a page devoted to Making. You can find all my social media handles/links there, too. And, of course, I participate in the message boards and post reviews at the sewing website PatternReview.com, where I go by the handle “stirwatersblue” (a reference to my first book, and at the time the only username I could come up with that hadn’t already been taken!) There is now a lively contigent of fellow seamstresses who know me primarily as “Stirs!” 

7. Are you working on anything else that you'd like to share right now?

Having just turned in the latest Myrtle book, I am now officially On Holiday! But I have an incredibly exciting event coming up next month. The Kansas City Public Library, Westport Historical Society, and the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures Museum have teamed up for World Doll Day 2022 to celebrate this year’s theme, Dolls & Books. To that end, they are creating a Myrtle Hardcastle doll! They had no idea I was a doll costumer when this idea was conceived, and I am beyond excited by their project. We’re doing a presentation at the festival, for which my vintage 1993 Battat 18” model will be getting a new frock, Myrtle’s outfit from the cover of In Myrtle Peril (Myrtle Hardcastle #4), which comes out October 6. The dress is based on a period fashion plate I sent to Brett Helquist, the cover artist for the Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries. I have been gathering all the materials for this project for the past couple of months, and now at last I have time to start sewing! Kaufman fine-wale corduroy in “amethyst,” some deep purple microsuede, pleated organza… It’s going to be very fun! 

*************************

Thank you for sharing some of your writing and sewing journeys with us, Elizabeth! We hope you'll enjoy seeing the projects we make inspired by your writing. 

You can find out more about Elizabeth here: 

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Literary Sewing Circle: Premeditated Myrtle Inspiration

 

Time for a little more inspiration for your Premeditated Myrtle sewing project! Today we're going to be looking at some of the elements of the story to see how we might pull them out to inspire a project. 

The most obvious symbol/image to adapt from this story is the Lily. You could be literal by using a lily print, or a pattern named Lily, or go more abstract with a floral theme (and bring in the whole flower show). Here are some ideas:

This Lily Dress by CocoWawa Crafts seems like a perfect match - that little middy collar on the dress feels like something a young girl like Myrtle might wear out and about visiting the Victorian seaside. You could even wear the top view with some bloomers to go for a dip ;)

Or if you want a whole Lily themed wardrobe, this Lily set by Fabrics-Store.com comes with a dress, skirt, tunic and blouse. They're famous for their linen so this would be a super relaxed capsule summer wardrobe. 

Another lovely linen Lily Dress would be this one by Tessuti. It's a loose and comfy design with lots of room for showing off great fabrics. 

If you want to go in a different direction and make a topper instead of a dress, try this Lily Jacket by Decades of Style. It also has a vintage flair that might work for you -- don't you think the lines of it rather resemble a lily stem?

If you're looking for something a bit more relaxed, try the Lily Cardigan by The Tailoress. Easy knit comfort. 

Or you could go out on a limb -- or out on the water? -- and make the Nénuphar Jacket by Deer & Doe. Nénuphar means water lily, and while Minerva Wodehouse's lilies are definitely garden varieties, we can branch out in our projects! 

You might be interested in the fancy key that Myrtle finds in the vase of lilies she's given by Priscilla Wodehouse. If you're a knitter, this (free!) Skeleton Key fair isle sweater by AndreSue Knits is the perfect fit for a murder mystery.

Maybe Cook's useful and all-purpose apron will be the inspiration you need. I love this Grace CrossBack Apron from TotoShopUA on Etsy -- she has a variety of apron patterns, and even some for kids if you want to make one for someone more Myrtle-sized. 

You might be inspired by the practical outfit that Miss Judson dons while bicycling with Myrtle early in the book. Practical riding skirts and bloomers abound! Check out the classic Big Sky Riding skirt by Folkwear - whether horses or bicycles, this should do the trick.

Or investigate these Sporting or Bicycle Bloomers by Laughing Moon Mercantile for something historically inspired. 

You may also be intrigued by this set of free Victorian Convertible Cycle Wear patterns, part of an academic project based at Goldsmiths, London. While the 6 patterns are only in UK size 12, there is a ton of cool Victorian cycling info there, and maybe you can grade a pattern or two. 

You could, of course, just go with fabric as your theme. There are endless options for floral prints, or you can stick with lilies. Like this White Lilies & Lavender print by Southwind on Spoonflower.

Or something a little more subtle like this Woodland Lilies print by Kaija Heitland at Indigenous Nouveau for a beaded effect.

You can find key themed prints like Castle Keys coming soon at ThreadCount Fabrics

Or a bit more mysterious and Victorianish, this Boo Skeleton Key print from Cotton & Steel 

Or maybe Priscilla's precious typewriter is the spark for your ideas. You could use a fabric like this Typewriters in Cream by Camelot, found at Pins And Needles Fabric.

You could even just make a Peony inspired t-shirt with this cat print jersey called Kitty Meow from Spool & Spindle

Or, use one of these fab cat prints from Sunshine & Peony!

Multi Kitty Garden

Cat Tea Party

Whatever you choose, I hope you enjoyed the read and are having fun coming up with your sewalong project. If you have other ideas to share, please drop them in the comments!

Literary Sewing Circle: Premeditated Myrtle Book Talk!

 

We have jumped right into the Spring 2022 Literary Sewing Circle round! Today's the day for some beginning book talk! How are you doing with the book? Have you started it yet? Finished it? Do you have any reactions you'd like to share? 

Here are a few questions to ponder today and for the next while -- whether you have begun reading, or you've only read blurbs & author interviews so far and still have something to say, join in! Although there might be a few spoilers in the questions and discussion below so if you haven't got too far yet you might want to come back to this post.

I'll add some of my own thoughts and you can reply to them or add your own impressions. If you want to hear other takes on a part of the book that you are curious about, leave your own questions in the comments, too. 

If you decided to pick up this book and read it for this round, why? Do you usually read children's/middle  grade books like this one, or is this a new genre for you? 

I read a lot of everything in my day job (librarian) and so have read a number of juvenile books - I used to be a children's librarian way back in the beginning of my work life. Lately I read more of the ones in the genres I'm interested in, which just happens to include classic mysteries. I enjoy the different levels in books like this, and have found some amazing stories.

What do you think of the relationships in this book? Are the characters realistic? Relatable? 

I think that the characters are really what makes this series work. The relationship between Myrtle and Miss Judson is such a wonderful one, with both support for Myrtle's curiosity and some adult guidance as well. She has a strong relationship with her father though it's a bit more Victorian in the sense that he is not always available to her. Even her prickly relationship with her Aunt Helena is interesting, and it's certainly believable that she would resent the bossiness and condescension she feels from her aunt. 

Where do you think Myrtle falls in the history of girl sleuths? How does she compare to other young sleuths of literature?

I think she's a great addition to the roster of girl sleuths! So many of them seem to be right at this age; moving from childhood into their own place in the world, and so consumed with curiosity about the world. Plus, they are clever and not yet afraid to show that cleverness. Also, because of her age, she's intelligent and curious but also a bit impulsive and inexperienced, which makes for a lot of drama. Myrtle reminds me of Flavia de Luce in many ways, another character (and series) that I loved, even if Flavia is operating 60 years after Myrtle is. 

Do you like the style of the book? The footnotes? Do you feel that the narrative style reflects the setting?

I feel that the author has captured the feel of the Victorian setting perfectly, while making it readable for modern juvenile readers. The style (especially the footnotes) entertained me a lot, but then I'm a sucker for amusing footnotes. I think she's included just enough detail to make the setting convincing and complex, while also not overwhelming a reader with too much of anything - the plot still engages and the characters are real and vibrant.

Is there anything specific  in the book that has sparked an idea for a project yet? Are you mulling over any ideas?

Many of the ideas I shared in the last inspiration post are ideas I've considered! I haven't quite decided where to go with my project yet, but lots of novelty fabrics are calling me. We will have to see...

Literary Sewing Circle: Premeditated Myrtle inspiration!

 

It's the first week of our Literary Sewing Circle featuring Premeditated Myrtle. Have you found a copy yet? Have you started reading? If so, how are you finding the opening chapters? 

Today's inspiration is going to look at some of the characters in this story; we'll find ideas based on their names and personalities. 

We have to begin, of course, with Myrtle! To make something inspired by her, you might take just the name and try out the Myrtle dress by Seamwork. Although it looks like this pattern has been archived...

So perhaps this new McCalls pattern would do instead -- it's one of their attempts at creating a hashtag, and this one is the Myrtle McCalls. And it has a nod to Victorian style with those shoulders, so perhaps it is extra relevant ;)

Of course, if you wanted to make something more appropriate to a 12 year old Myrtle, one rather reminiscent of the fancy dress she has to wear to tea, check out this Myrtle Dress by Peony Patterns! (the pattern company is also a good fit for this book). 

If you are more inclined to make something Myrtle might find useful, take a look at this Myrtle Crochet Cowl, great for sneaking out on cold nights.

Now on to Miss Judson! Style Arc has a knit Ada Top that would be comfy to lounge in. 

And Duana DIY has a pretty peplum top and dress pattern called The Ada in two size ranges: I could see this peplum top with long sleeves being worn over a long a-line skirt to look just like a governess ;) 

What about Myrtle's neighbour Minerva Wodehouse? She of the suspicious death... perhaps a Minerva Knitted Cardigan by FabelVintage would do -- this one looks like something Miss Wodehouse might have worn on a chilly morning in the garden, don't you think? If you can knit, this might be a lovely choice.

I like to think that if Minerva Wodehouse were gardening today, she might sling on a cozy bomber jacket to pop out at dawn, instead. Like this Minerva Jacket by SleepingGiantShirtCo.

Perhaps Aunt Helena could inspire us. When she comes to dinner with Myrtle's family, she turns up in a silver Paris gown. Could you make the Helena Wrap Dress by Just Patterns in a silvery fabric to compare?

For a more relaxed wear, you could try the Helena Dress by Sew Me Something - the neckline looks faintly vintage; you could make it as a top and wear it under a proper jacket or cardigan to give it a more Victorian flair. 

Maybe you'd like to make a Caroline party dress in honour of Caroline Munjal, so that she and Myrtle can be dressed up together? Here's one by Mouse House Creations.

Or you could just make an adult version of the Caroline Dress - this also has a full dress or peplum top option. Also by Mouse House Creations!

Of course we can't forget Peony! This clever cat plays a big role in the story. There are many ways to bring Peony in. 

You could try the Peony Dress by Seamwork. It's a pretty dress with a detachable belt. Make it in some novelty cat print cotton and you're right on theme. 

Or test out the Peony Woven Dress by Style Arc if you're looking for something elegant for a summer wedding, perhaps. 

You could go for something a little more current with this free Peony Top from Mood. Their floral print sample suggests a garden, perfect for this story. 

Or, since Miss Judson and Peony get along so well, and Miss Judson is after all from French Guiana, you might look for something French -- peony = pivoine in French, and this Pivoine Blouse by Delphine & Morrisette is just lovely. 

I hope that this gives you something to think about! There are so many patterns linked to the character names in this book, and that's not even looking at any of the male characters. Feel free to share in the comments if you have more ideas, and keep your eyes open for our next inspiration post when we will be sharing ideas based on images and events in the story.