Saturday, January 15, 2011

Seminole Patchwork Vest

I wore this vest Saturday and thought I show post about another type of craft which I do. I don't do patchwork quilting, but do like Seminole patchwork. This was made in '97, but I did see the pattern still available a few years ago, so it still may be.

The smallest pieces are 1/4 " by 3/4" finished. I worked with something that small? Yes, I did and I loved it. It is 100% cotton. I lined it with the same eggshell which I used in the pieces.

I put on these purchased pants for the photo, and I see that that was a bad idea, as the fit is, well, bad.
The front of the vest overlaps the back piece. A layer of batting is in between and to determine how I wanted the placement of the Seminole bands, I put the batting on a board, and laid the bands on the batting.

This is view b, with a variation they offered although it is not shown on the envelope.




Editing to add:
Someone just asked me what a vest like this would cost. I really don't know, but I read that the Seminole Indians, when making clolthing for themselves put in a lot of bands of designs separated by solid colors. However, when making clothing for the tourists would charge by the number of bands, then put in a few narrow solid bands witihin an item. The entire garment would not be pieced, (as my vest is). A woman wrote that she paid, in 1948, $40 for a black skirt with one band and only a few narrow strips!

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