Quilt repair, part 1

A friend of mine (who is actually someone I've never met, and hadn't even interacted with directly before all of this--such is the wonder of internet communities) has a quilt of significant sentimental value, which the puppy took a bite out of.  She trusted me enough to send it to me, I care enough to fix it.

The holes extend clear through the quilt. The white visible in the first image is a sheet of paper I slipped between the quilt layers, not the batting.  The backing fabric visible in the second is the backing of the next layer. 


I knew matching was going to be a problem, especially the prints, because both patterns and colors change with fashion, and it's been a lot of years since some of the fabrics in this quilt were made.

The yellow turned out to be the easiest to match. I found something pretty much spot-on, no problem.

I knew the floral print was going to be a challenge, and focused on something that fit the aesthetics (color, brightness, density and size of print) rather than trying to find a duplicate.  It's not the same. would never be mistaken for the original fabric.  But it won't be too jarring, once it's in place. I do intend to keep as much of the original block as I can; I don't want to remove anything if I don't have to.

The blues were surprisingly hard to match, which is weird, because there are a few different very close shades of blue in the quilt.  But everything was too dark, too bright, too pale.  So I picked up two close shades of blue that were the closest I could find.  Again, they won't be mistaken for part of the original quilt, but they might actually blend in enough that a casual glance wouldn't spot it.


The backing, like the gold floral print, was obviously going to be a problem.   I went with a very
geometric print, using the same tan, red and black as the original.  Again, it won't be mistaken for the original quilt fabric, but it's not meant to: this is for the back of the quilt, it's primary purpose is to keep the batting from falling out. Matching is secondary.



I didn't know, until I had the quilt, just what was going to be involved in fixing it.  Turns out, it's hand pieced and hand quilted, which means I'll be doing handwork to fix it.  My current plan is to cut new pieces out and press the seam allowance under, and then applique them onto the quilt individually in whatever manner makes sense when I'm actually doing it.  I won't know until it's in my hands.

Project Planning

Right!  So that's (most of) the backlog I've been sitting on; from this point forward, I can blog while I'm doing the project instead of after the fact, which should make this whole process a lot less painful.  On the other hand, it means that projects are going to be split into chunks and mingled with each other, because while some people may be able to consistently see one  project through to completion before starting the next, I am not one of them.

So, coming attractions:
Dickens Fair
Quilt rehab
Maybe a knitting update?
The epic corset project!

So.  Coming Soon.

Yarrrr, part 2

Occasion:
Halloween Party of the Damned

Competition description:

Best costume, best pirate

Project:

Robb Zombie meets Captain Morgan

Selection:
I let the Husbeast pick out what fabric he wanted as the core of his outfit, and he chose a red chenille brocade (which I'd actually been sort of wanting to use for mine).  As he'd expressed the intention of using a pair boots he already owned, his "neutral" color was going to be brown, as opposed to my black.  Which is convenient, because I have a whole bolt of chocolate brown velveteen to use, and I still had the goal of using only fabric I already own.

My inspiration was Les Pacte des Loups, again, because that's where I'd just been looking. I imagined the red brocade as the coat, the brown velvet as waistcoat and trousers.

After a consultation, however, it turned out his tastes were more Once Upon A Time.

I drafted a pattern for the coat, and found there just wasn't enough of the red fabric, so I swapped the layers, which incidentally made the outfit even more like Hook's costume.


The vest was made from Vogue 7488, one of my rare uses of a modern commercial sewing pattern.  So very worth it, not having to draft something s complicated as a formal men's waistcoat.  I used the single-breasted version with a notched collar, as seen in the lower left hand corner, and the leftmost of the two tiny images at the top.  I exaggerated the lapels a little, and made a standing collar instead of the little mock collar the pattern uses.

 Incidentally, those six buttons are the only ones of the 30 in the outfit that actually have functional buttonholes.

Also, I need to point out that my dress form was made for a small woman circa 1910, and therefore has entirely the wrong silhouette for these garments.

As I said, I drafted the coat, using his historical sloper.  I gave it enormous lapels, and a gigantic collar, and added extra fabric for pleats at the side-back waist seams.  It was drafted to hang open, it does not close.

what do you mean the buttons don't match?

 I bound the edges with bias strips of a weirdly sparkly gold satin, wrong side out, and used the same for the cuffs.  If I'd had time, I would have made pocket flaps out of the same gold. Using the wrong side toned down the *shiny!* synthetic satin, leaving me with a soft, almost metallic sheen instead of glare.

But wait! It's not just a pirate party, it's an undead pirate party. 

"...so, Rob Zombie?" he says.  Uh, sure.

 
So we went through my fiber stash and found some undyed wool, which we used to make dread locks.  A strip of silk "aged" in coffee provided a yellowed headscarf, which held the dreads in place.  I would have made the hat, just like I'd made mine, but I couldn't find felt hoods in a good shade of brown, and the green one I got (figuring it would look okay, even if it didn't technically match) just wasn't working out.  But it turned out the store I went to purged their Halloween stuff early, so I found a pretty good hat for under $10.

The vest collar turned out to be pretty irrelevant.

Add some fright makeup, and the finished effect was pretty good.  And again, well received.