Cloth Buttons

The project today at work was to make six cloth buttons for the Persian/mid-eastern coat. I tried with the instructions I found online to sew 2 lines in a running stitch near the edges of a circle of cloth and tuck in the raw edges before finishing. That didn't work so well for me. Instead of doing that, I started with the thread tail on the outside and folded the cloth in on itself once while tacking it down with a running stitch. I did that so the unfinished edge is already folded in when I pull in the edges. This is how I made them:
1. Cut a 2 x2 inch square of cloth and trim it so it is roughly circular.
2. Cut about an arm's length of thread, or enough to leave about a 7-8 inch tail on each end. While folding over the edge by about an eighth of an inch, do an running stitch to tack that down. Don't make those stitches too chose together.
3. Pull the threads a little to form a pocket. Don't pull too much because you have yet to stuff the button.
4. Cut a piece of scrap or use fiberfill to stuff the button. Add or take some of the stuffing out as necessary. The button should be solidly stuffed.
5. Pull the threads to close the button. Use the extra lengths at each end to sew the cinched in edges closed. Tie it off with a square knot.
Other good ideas:
Use strong thread because you'll be pulling quite a bit.
Use a small needle to do the running stitch, but use a larger needle to sew the edges closed so you can get through the edges easier, and so you don't bend the smaller needle.

Persian Coat

I've already cut out the Persian coat. It's mostly sewn together. I put a sleeve on the wrong way so I need to take it off and put it on the correct way. The I will just need to hem it and make or find buttons. I want to see what I have at home first. If I need buttons in a hurry, I'll put plastic ones on temporarily, then change them to cloth buttons when they are done.
I'm going to ask Giovanna if she will measure me for cloth hose on Wednesday so those can be started soon. I have 20 yards of linen just waiting to be used.

Lillies Report

I got back from Lillies on Sunday, 6/17/07. A good time was had by all. I really LOVED having the large shade fly G made for my wedge. Despite having a little trouble putting it up at first, and putting it up the wrong one, then putting it up the wrong way, it worked well. To change it the correct way took all of five minutes. The sun shade covers a larger area than the wedge itself, but I don't have a problem with that at all. What is really neat, is that it can be set up without the wedge, using the same the two 8 foot uprights from the wedge, and the two 6 foot uprights for the shade fly.
I spent lots of money. I bought 24 yards of fabric. I bought 10 yards of white linen, 5 yards each of rust colored and mint green linen, and 4 yards of a light weight striped cotton/linen blend. I also picked up my copy of The Art of Dining, with the painting of the waffle iron I'd like to make. One thing I'm really excited about is the copy of Scappi I bought. It is a 1570 Venetian cook book published by the Pope's chef, and it is on cd-rom. My collection of period cookbooks got much larger because of Lillies. I also got a 4 qt cast iron dutch oven for $13. It has 3 legs, and the lid can be used as a frying pan. That was by far the best bargain at Lillies.
All the stays were cut for my new Tudor corset at Lillies. I burned the ends of the stays (large plastic cable ties from Home Depot), so it is now ready to be closed and covered. I didn't do very much blackwork, and no smithing at all. I did take a class on making animal heads.
There will be a surprise for the Barony that I also picked up, but I can't say what it is. I'll post pictures later.