New and improved GSC buttons completed

As part of the Golden Seamstress Competition I am making the buttons for the outfit. The previous set of buttons that I created were a bit too large. I finally completed the new and improved set of buttons. Plenty of time to spare too. The GSC is over 5 days away yet…

Here are the 21 smaller buttons.

In the center are the five larger buttons which will be used for the slops.

My first A&S competition is done!

Well it is all over. I have survived my first A&S competition. While I debated with myself long and hard about if and what I should enter, I did end up submitting five entries. These are all items which I have at least mentioned here in the past. I am proud and a little embarrassed to say that all five entries scored a first place and are now eligible to submit in the Kingdom A&S competition.


The five entries I submitted are as follows:

Blacksmithed Round Jaw Tongs
Division III - Ironworking and Tool making

Late Period Ruff

Division II - Costume: Single Component

Plain White Linen Shirt

Division II - Costume: Single Component

The Suit: A 16th Century Man’s Red & Black Outfit

(Consisted of Leather Doublet And Slops, Black Flat Cap, Leather Belt And Pouch, Red Silk Sleeves, Red Worked Chemise, Leather Cannons and Black Linen Tights)

Division II - Costume 1451-1600

 

Wrapped Buttons

Division II - Costume: Accessories

All in all I am quite pleased with the way things turned out. It was rather a hectic day though. I judged four entries throughout the day while also having all five of my entries judged face to face. Due to the fact that I'm not big on speaking in public, I found the face to face judging very stressful. I found myself feeling very queasy most of the day and I never did fully calm down until I was back at the hotel. I think next year if I submit entries I will not volunteer as a judge. Trying to balance my nerves with the nine items I was either judging or being judged on was very tiring.

My biggest shortcoming was my documentation. I suck at it. I hate it. I consider myself an artist and not a writer. I love to read, love to research, just hate the process of having to be a good research paper author to get a decent score. While that still sticks in my craw, I have already started planning for the pentathlon for next year. Let's just see how well that year of stress goes.

GSC Buttons

Upon further review the buttons I had created for the GSC (Golden Seamstress Competition) were a bit too large.  The team wanted a slightly smaller button.  We had drafted our pattern from a period garment which did in fact have very small buttons, so I can't disagree with the decision.  The problem now is that I have to start making more buttons.  I had completed 20 of the other larger variety.

Here are the beads which will be used for the new buttons.  I've painted them black to prep for covering with black string.  I simply put them into a cup, squirted black paint on them and swished them around until they were sufficiently covered.  The beads are slightly smaller than 1/4 inch.  After being covered they will be about 1/2 inch wide.

More late period buttons

I will be competing in a Golden Seamstress Competition this coming April. As part of that competition we are designing a full outfit which shall be constructed starting at 10:00PM Friday evening and completing by 6:00PM the following evening. Some items are allowed to be created in advance. Accessories not made of fabric may be done in advance (Shoes, buckles, buttons, purse hardware, belts, etc.)

In preparation for this competition I will be creating 20~25 black buttons.
Here are the first few created.

I've finished four so far.  The rest of the buttons have been started.  I tied the string around the bead and placed them onto the card as a place holder.  This way I can just pick one up every now and then to work on.  So far it seems to take about 30~40 minutes per button.  Once the team finalizes the design I'll add either a glass bead or a metal bead at the end of the button to match the trim on the outfit.

Here is the site and info for the competion:

Tenth Annual Quest for the Golden Seamstress
"For the tenth year, the seamstresses of the Middle Kingdom will take up the challenge to create a complete set of garments, from the skin out, in eighteen hours. Twenty teams of from 1 to 6 active members are to start at 10 PM Friday and continue to 6 pm Saturday. Team members are expected to remain on-site during the competition."

http://www.expo-conv-svcs.com/QS/home.html

The team is still in the design phase.  We are planning a couple working practice sessions to see if we will be able to fit it all in.  If all goes well the outfit will look something like this...

Thread Wrapped Buttons

I planned to make at 50 thread covered buttons. Why? Because this it he A&S50... so I have to make 50 right? As part of the challenge and for personal growth I decided to learn a new skill. I really hate the look of modern buttons on period outfits. In general I don't use buttons. I wanted to make at least 50 buttons, not for any specific garment, but simply to develop the skill to required to make quality buttons for future outfits. I made quite a few buttons before I even started to like what I saw. It took a few attempts before I worked out the system. Once I figured out a process I liked, I started experimenting with different styles and types of wrapping. In general I use hooks and eyes for ALL my clothing, but now that I've worked out a way to make nice looking buttons I may use them more often. I've made 30 off-white buttons. Twenty five of the thirty are passable and may be used. Right now I have no idea what I'll use them for. Once I had 35 of the 50 buttons created I decided what I'd use some buttons for. I modified this project as some day I plan on making a pair of sleeves for a hand stitched doublet I have. I'd like to make the sleeves open with buttons on them. I believe I'll need about 12~13 buttons per sleeve and so I planned on making 26 two-tone blue and white buttons. I also made a couple handfuls of other buttons of varying colors as practice. I have no idea what I will do with those buttons. I'll likely never use them but can't seem to throw away. I'll keep them if for no other reason than to document the learning process.