Wednesday, 3 January 2024

Playing with Beads and Strings

 

Finished Cuff on garment!

So as a part of the learning process for my future houppelande project, I'm experimenting with some couching and bead work.  

Plus !Excite! over a new toy! lol. 

And an excuse to use up some of the beads in my stash. 

3 reasons make it a viable project, right? LOL

So I started out with a test sample- 


With this particular testing out my of embroidery loom, I discovered that it would best to iron my fabric and make sure it fits better, instead of folding over edges. It also need some tension on the sides. 

I am planning a crazy idea for creating 10 feet of trim before a big event in 10 days. lol... Welcome to my madness...  Update- didn't happen, but did manage to get a pair of Cuffs!

Because I am going to be working in bands of silk for the trim, because I don't want to cut my fabric and because I'm beading, I wont be able to easily roll it on the frame, So I'm going to have to tension the fabric with basting stiches, but I can work with that. 

I'm inspired by this 14th century altar piece for the use of large metal beads and overall pattern. 

Although I'm also mixing in goldwork couching and a lot of pearl edging as seen on many 12-13th century examples. (I'm purposely pushing this design earlier, because reasons. Te he)

https://medievalbeads.com/13th-c-antipendium/

Although this 15th century example has some of the gold couching surrounding pearls in a roundel.

It's a creative mix of gold work and bead work at this point. 
Concept Idea


Side note- One thing I'm noticing with this site is that many of these pieces with gold work and beads also have fringe and tassels. While not appropriate for this quick project, I tuck away that info for a different, but semi related shenanigan in my brain. 

Some progress Photos!


Because of time, and changing scope with the other parts of this project, I only had time for a pair of cuffs, and the pattern changed halfway through, But I managed to make it work. They turned out very Byzantine looking. But for this project, they do kind of fit the theme, because this 13th century silk would have been an import from the east anyways. lol. 

Next time, I should use a stabilizer on the back, it continued to stretch and warp as I was working it, and more tension was creating holes.  And MORE time! 







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