Day 72 : No Man's Sun

Day 72: No Man's Sun

Today's button was a real experiment for me. I have never actually embroidered on faux leather and I am really happy with it. The faux leather is a good quality one as well, which has helped, it really does look like real leather. 

I'm really please with the experimental edge. I finished the button last night and it didn't look finished. It sat on the table while I worked on some braids and I mulled it over. I thought about covering a ring to add a frame, or even stitching along the edge, but neither method seems to suit, so I came up with this method that combines a bit of gathering and manipulation. The technique needs a bit of refinement, so here's full warning that you may well see it again!

So, faux leather and perle cotton No 12. I also used a No 4 mould.

Size: 34mm / 1 5⁄16" / 54L

Day 71 : Kismet

Day 71 : Kismet

This button includes a fingerloop braid made with gold thread. This gold thread was specially commissioned by a group of medieval textile enthusiasts I was involved in many years ago, and it does have a silk core - that's quite rare these days. Suffice to say I had a fair bit at the time!. I had already made the braid and knot - it has been in my goldwork tin. The centre domed embellishment is an antique - part of a few that I bought at auction some time ago. There are some interesting pieces in that tin, and I like being able to use them when I can. The person who originally owned them was, I think, making items for the church. These have been stitched to the silk ground, and I have added a double stem stitch in Soie Perlee silk to enhance the overs-and-unders of the knot. I've also used a No 4 mould.

I've had a few people ask me about how I finish the back of my embroidered buttons. To be fair, I don't tend to! I leave them the way 18th centruy buttons were left. After all, no one is going to see the back. Here is the back of this button to show you what I mean.

Now, if I were to make the buttons for sale, I would finish according to the end use. For most modern applications, this would mean fabric or felt stitched on the back to hide the working. I'd probably also include a stitched shank. If for a costume, I prefer to keep the back in keeping with the period. If for one of my couture customers, the back will get a special treatment, in keeping with the rest of the garment. I'll plan up a blog post on the 'regular' blog showing some different types of backs soon. 

Size : 31mm / 1 1⁄4" / 48L

Day 70 : Bamboo

Day 70 : Bamboo

Well, I have to be honest, this isn't really what I had in my head - although if you were to look at my initial sketch, it is really close! I wanted to incorporate sheer layers to look a bit watery - which doesn't make much sense I know - and that did not work and I cut it away. Ah well. 

I've used the  variegated No 12 perle for the leaves. It shows what variegated threads are really good at. Underneath all that padding (there's a few layers) is a No 3 mould.

The thumb is improving slowly, and I'm thinking I might try a wrapped button again at the weekend... just in case you are all getting tired of embroidery :)

Size: 28mm / 1 1⁄16" / 44L