Monday 18 July 2011

17th century embroidered jacket

I have for quite some time been lacking in embroidery projects. Of course, I ought to finish the petticoat to my embroidered polonaise but truth to be told, I'm a bit bored with it. After working on it for five years I would like to do something else for a while. One embroidery project I have been toying with for years is to try to replicate this jacket from Victoria & Albert.



It has always felt like a too complicated thing to do, but in Seventeenth-Century Women's Dress Patterns the jacket is analysed which means I have pattern, embroidery pattern and construction at hand. The embroidery in itself isn't complicated, only wriggly. The biggest problem right now is the fabric. It's made of fustian, but not with wool but with a linen/cotton blend. I'm not sure if that is possible to get and if, if the modern fabric is anything like the 17th century one. Perhaps I should just use linen, which is, after all, used on other jackets from the same period.

I'm currently on vacation at the summer house, but unfortunately the weather isn't that great, which means my son is bored to his teeth and we are watching a lot of movies. So I'm hand-sewing an 17th century shift. It's in linen gauze and the construction makes it impossible to use the machine. Quite boring work but not hard and I'm sure it will be very nice when it is done.

7 comments:

Olympe de la Tour D'Auvergne said...

It looks like a project that would take a great deal of time to complete. I wish I had half the patience for that. Good luck!

Lauren R said...

I always thought this jacket was so fascinating, especially the sleeves/cuffs. Go for it! I can't wait to see your finished piece :-) I <3 17th c!

Jenni said...

I can't wait to see how your version of the jacket turns out!

The Dreamstress said...

Ooooh...what a gorgeous jacket! I'm so awed and envious that you would tackle such a project. I'd just by pretty fabric and make it from that.

Isis said...

Comtesse Olympe: Yes, it probably would take time... I'm sure i won't give it a deadline!

Lauren R: I love the sleeves too. I'm definitely going to go for it!

Jenni: You may have to wait for a while, though... :)

An historical lady: There is next to none 17th century re-enacting in Sweden but me and some friends are working to change that. :)

Dreamstress: I think it may look more complicated than it actually is- the embroidery is really pretty simple. I hope... :D

Lauren Hairston said...

Can't wait to see the finished shift (and the jacket, too!). Hope your weather improves!

Isis said...

Lauren: Thank you! I don't have much left on the shift, but somehow it gets slower and slower to sew... :)

Isis Ariana: Thank you! I have to disappont you a bit, though. Isis isn't my real name but a variation of my real name that my sister came up with when she was a kid (She had no idea about Egyptian godesses then) :)

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