The Scrap Heap of History
October 8, 2023 7:58 AM Subscribe
Making an 1830s Patchwork Dressing Gown (Vincent Briggs) - "The Victorian man carefully managed his appearance to reflect a dignified, businesslike demeanor. However, decorative waistcoats and gowns offered the chance for personal expression." This particular project took 4 years, 371 hours, and 7018 tiny triangles. For a slightly more achievable (but no less gorgeous) patchwork robe, try Shannon Makes’ One Robe To Rule Them All: Making Bilbo's Housecoat.
Historic and modern methods of clothing repair and scrap fabric use have gained popularity as a way of reducing textile waste and pushing back against the disposability of fast fashion. These methods include patchwork projects, visible mending, zero waste sewing, and creative use of cabbage (“Cabbage, by the way, if you're new here, is the historical term for scrap fabric.”). Textile waste is estimated at 92 million tons per year globally; this is exacerbated by the rise of fast fashion brands like Shein (which adds 700-1000 new designs to their website every day). See also France's recent law that reimburses clothing & shoe repairs.
Historic and modern methods of clothing repair and scrap fabric use have gained popularity as a way of reducing textile waste and pushing back against the disposability of fast fashion. These methods include patchwork projects, visible mending, zero waste sewing, and creative use of cabbage (“Cabbage, by the way, if you're new here, is the historical term for scrap fabric.”). Textile waste is estimated at 92 million tons per year globally; this is exacerbated by the rise of fast fashion brands like Shein (which adds 700-1000 new designs to their website every day). See also France's recent law that reimburses clothing & shoe repairs.
this is really cool. I have been dabbling in sock darning this last year or two. I'm not really set up to do any larger projects but I'm keenly interested in a return to a more conservationist mind-frame, regarding clothes and all other mendable items.
posted by supermedusa at 8:38 AM on October 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by supermedusa at 8:38 AM on October 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
I loved the little dance and posing at the end--it was well-earned.
posted by agatha_magatha at 8:59 AM on October 8, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by agatha_magatha at 8:59 AM on October 8, 2023 [5 favorites]
Vincent Briggs? Vincent Briggs is great! Not even Vincent Briggs can make me a true enthusiast for the pivot to video, but his blog is here.
This reminds me that I wanted to order some of his darling frog toile for a pillow cover.
posted by Frowner at 9:27 AM on October 8, 2023 [8 favorites]
This reminds me that I wanted to order some of his darling frog toile for a pillow cover.
posted by Frowner at 9:27 AM on October 8, 2023 [8 favorites]
His Leafkerchief video is also fun, and even as someone who is Bad at sewing I think I could follow along and do one slowly (if I wore headscarves).
posted by Shark Hat at 9:30 AM on October 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Shark Hat at 9:30 AM on October 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
what a charming blog!
posted by supermedusa at 9:56 AM on October 8, 2023
posted by supermedusa at 9:56 AM on October 8, 2023
Not my particular taste in fabric choice, but an undouably talented individual.
posted by Czjewel at 3:00 PM on October 8, 2023
posted by Czjewel at 3:00 PM on October 8, 2023
Quilting cotton definitely does breed, I agree with him.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:22 PM on October 8, 2023
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:22 PM on October 8, 2023
This is worth watching just for the tidbit that your fabric scrap bin's proper name is "Hell!"
posted by being_quiet at 6:48 PM on October 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by being_quiet at 6:48 PM on October 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
I can't watch the whole thing now, but these days I'm learning to use a sewing machine so this is porn great, and I love his presentation.
posted by rhizome at 1:28 AM on October 9, 2023
posted by rhizome at 1:28 AM on October 9, 2023
He's also the guy who does Pterrible Dinosaur Drawings, which are delightful.
posted by BlueNorther at 2:16 AM on October 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by BlueNorther at 2:16 AM on October 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
Initially I thought, no way am I watching more than an hour of video about this process. And then I heard his voice and the quiet piano and settled right in. The buttonhole stitching alone is high value.
From the YT comments "Vincent, you madman!"
posted by Lookinguppy at 9:32 AM on October 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
From the YT comments "Vincent, you madman!"
posted by Lookinguppy at 9:32 AM on October 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
I also thought, no way I'm watching an hour long video, and then it was so soothing I could have watched longer.
I have promised a friend a dressing gown, and now anything else will seem inferior, but this one is probably a little ambitious...
posted by stillnocturnal at 10:59 AM on October 9, 2023
I have promised a friend a dressing gown, and now anything else will seem inferior, but this one is probably a little ambitious...
posted by stillnocturnal at 10:59 AM on October 9, 2023
(Have you seen the banyan projects, e.g., stillnocturnal? Picking out material with your friend seems like fun. )
posted by clew at 12:08 PM on October 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by clew at 12:08 PM on October 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
« Older It's totally reasonable to be able to say, ‘Hey... | Scrap the ‘fiesta’ fonts. Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
I've been thinking about patchwork and historic mending techniques a lot, as I've been doing a ton of visible mending on my own clothes and household items. My sofa cushions have become a veritable sampler of techniques, including patching, darning, sashiko, and various sorts of decorative stitching. The cushions now look very odd and I am very proud of them every time I look at them.
posted by ourobouros at 8:02 AM on October 8, 2023 [8 favorites]