We delivered the suits and shirts and ruffs on Friday. The folks at the fort were super awesome at let us take pictures of Brian all suited up, and then take pictures down at the Governor’s House.
It was so freaking awesome!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandys_pictures/sets/72157634272622472/
Sandy
A few more shots of the shirt closeup. Also a total on the number of hours: 74 over 3 months.
This is how the open work seam looks and another of the reinforcing stitch on the neck slit.
So Wednesday after 3 months of hand-sewing and embroidery, one of the Jamestown shirts is done!
Each piece was hemmed by hand with white linen hiding each raw edge. The pieces were then assembled using open work seams. This seam consists of a blanket stitch on the edge of each piece, buttonhole stitch just wider. Then the pieces are joined by stitching around the black silk on the blanket stitch with a white silk to join the pieces and create a decorative spiral look. This was based on examples from Janet Arnold’s Patterns of Fashion 4.
The neck was reinforced with a spider type stitched, based on examples from Janet Arnold.
The embroidery was stitched with a simple back-stitch and a reverse chain for the stems. A french knot was used for flower centers.
Finally the ties were finger woven using 5 loops into a square cord using white silk.
Materials used: Soie Perlee black silk and Gemstone white silk. The Au ver a Soie line is colorfast with washing while Gemstone silks will fade with time and washing in my experience. White linen thread and white linen fabric. I will post close up shots of the open work seams and embroidery later.
We’re so busy, we haven’t had time to really sit down and write up much. I have been taking pictures of construction and all, I just haven’t organized them into anything remotely coherent. So, what you are getting is a picture update.
The burgundy suit is proceeding well, and we’re at the button holes and buttons phase with the doublet. It took awhile to work out the best way to do the buttonholes on that shreddy fabric, but we’ve got it. The pants are very close to the same state (whee!!!) We’ll get pictures soon.
Carla has been busy working up a mock up of the pants for the green suit. She’s made a pair of red linen pants that we’ll put in the shop to sell. It’s turning out well, there are some tweaks that need to be made to the pattern. The original was for a rather large man (50″ waist) so there’s some adjustments to be made.
This is Carla showing off the pants. They are a bit big on her.
Neat pocket detail
Funky fly flap
Someone more appropriately sized for this mock up, showing off how poofy they are. I think they look fab!
The green doublet is proceeding along well.
Not the most flattering picture, but you can see the finger woven trim and the tangerine lining at the sleeves :).
Gardiner’s Company made an excellent showing at Ruby Joust over Memorial Day Weekend. Hospitality was provided for Bandesmen, guests, and many rapier fighters. Eleanore and Olivia were even kind enough to provide the recently requested Beet Pie and Spinach Tart. I know I ate more than my fair share of both. Bandesmen visited with guests, showed off the sewing in progress for the Governor’s new clothes, and even had a bit of a pike drill.
Esther kindly took pictures of the set-up, that you can view in her Flickr set.