Big Bad Beaded Buttons

Thank you to those who commented on my post yesterday concerning my daughter's coat. I loved making it for her.

Previously, I spoke of Christine Reilly--the bead embroiderer extraordinaire. One of the classes she taught is "beaded buttons". These begin with a covered button form-3/4" and up are good sizes. The form is covered with fabric, as covered buttons are normally made, with the addition of a layer of lightweight quilt batting under the fabric. That pads the surface for embroidery.

In the samples above, the buttons are large--2". They aren't meant to be used as closures. I attach them to my garment using a button pin on the backside. The white button is actually lace with beads embroidered on top, and beaded fringe dangling.

In the center of both of the buttons is what is called a "crown rim setting". A round crystal is "fixed" by beading around it with seed beads, securing the crystal. NO GLUE! Around the exterior of the buttons, I made a beaded ruffle. These are fun, and can match any garment.

I have a lot of beading books. Here's a photo of just a few:

Another person who does absolutely fabulous bead-work is

RobinAtkins. Her beaded buttons are completely covered with beads. Gorgeous!

And last, here's beaded motif that I intend to mount and frame one of these days. I copied the design out a book, and bead-embroidered it. It was a sample to teach myself some techniques.

Now, back to my beads.

Fringed Buttonholes

I have a new camera. I'm not a photographer in any sense of the word (nor am I a writer). My husband has a nice camera that I've been using, but it's big and doesn't fit in my purse or pocket. Yesterday he asked if I would like a small camera to carry about. Now I have one of my own. Yay! If I could figure out how to post my pictures where I want them, and get them to stay there, AND enlarge when clicked, my stress level would decrease.

Here's a jacket pattern by DarleneMiller, who teaches dressing the various body types. She has a few basic patterns for each body shape. My shape is a triangle, thus the name of the pattern, "Triangle Jacket". Well, to interject here--my person started out as a triangle, but each year it evolves and morphs until it has its own uniqueness!

To the pattern I added "half belts" at the waistline. They are sewn into the side seams and fastened to the fronts. I added small vest buckles to the strips of fabric, which are frayed.

I made what I call "fringed buttonholes". These are separate squares of fabric, each with a buttonhole in the center and frayed on all four sides. The squares slip over the buttoned jacket. Here's a detail:

This idea came from an old sewing book, "The Bishop Method of Clothing Construction". This book was published in 1959, written by Edna Bryte Bishop, the developer of the Bishop method, and Marjorie Arch. I found this book and its sequel, "Fashion Sewing by the Bishop Method" in a used bookstore for a couple of dollars. These are wonderful old volumes, and can still be found on used bookstore websites. Since vintage garments are so hot right now, the out-of-date clothing doesn't look unreasonable, at all.

Can anyone tell me how to get control over these photos? I'm not at all happy how they are laid out, but don't know what to do about it. Still, I want to continue to blog, without this being a major hang-up.

I will put up a photo of my face when it looks better than it does tonight. Believe me, no one wants to see it as it is now!

I hope to get to my sewing room tomorrow. I'd like to get started on the spring coat before the season is over!