Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Vintage Embroidered Linen Jacket


The wind has been blowing.
The snow has been falling.
But I have had spring on my mind.


This is what it looks like from here.
But I have been busy working on an embroidered linen jacket for spring.


Something to throw on when I work in the garden.
I can also see myself wearing this on a picnic with Hubby.
We love picnics.
But I am getting ahead of myself here.
Spring seems so far away today.


I found this little jacket in my favorite vintage store. I think I paid $6 for it!
It is the softest linen. With real bone buttons. When I iron it, it releases a scent of fresh mown hay.
I love linen. And Flax. And 100% cotton. Fabric Love.
But you can see, it is very plain.



I used a dark linen floss to embroider a cross stitch onto some of the seams.
The rest of the stitching was done entirely in back stitch.


Even the flowers.


To make the back pattern, I simply used a cardboard template, 5"x8", to draw a rectangle with a pencil directly on the linen.  I measured to find the middle, then found the middle of the jacket back and lined them up.


I just drew the flowers in freehand. As you can see, they are thistles. I used a soft moss green for the leaves and stems. I also filled in with the same dark linen color I used for the cross stitching. I used blue and purple for the thistle flowers.


I then stitched the 'frame' in dark linen using the back stitch.


The jacket had lovely pieced seams around the waist and the bottom of the sleeves that I cross stitched.


I also used the dark linen floss to stitch around the collar and pocket top seam using a back stitch.
Soft natural fabrics with prominent seams work best for this technique.
Less than perfect design and stitching give it a vintage country look.
 
 
I hope this inspires you to look for your own vintage clothing to embellish. Simple stitches and soft colors add up to Vintage Love.
 
Now, if only it would stop snowing!

6 comments:

  1. What a stunning vintage jacket you have created and, yes, I am inspired! Lovely colors and design...

    Blessings,
    Dianne
    www.mysouthernheart.com

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  2. Thank you, Southern Heart for your sweet comments. I am happy to have inspired you. xx

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  3. Like Dianne, the word that comes to mind is "stunning"! You've taken a pleasing garment and made it into a work of art. I love your thistles! A little Scottish touch?

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  4. Hi Christine, Thank you *blush*! Yes, Thistles for the Scottish girl in me! xx

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  5. You are SO talented! I wish I knew how. What I love best in spring is silk or cotton cardigans - but not plain ones, embroidered ones. I have a few that I've always want to embellish, but I'm afraid I'll ruin the sweaters b/c I don't know what I'm doing! <3

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  6. This is a fantastic post ~ when I get around to sewing my own vintage clothes {sometime this century?} I am looking forwards to embroidered them with a little embroidery and this is the perfect stitch guide for an authentic feel.

    Thank you so much for posting...

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Thank you for stopping by! Your comments are important to me and are very much appreciated. xx Karen

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