Jude's outfit is coming along nicely. Slower than I'd like, but I have to pace myself because inserting studs, and beading through leather is very hard on the fingers.
I spent most of yesterday prepping his leather armour. All the little pieces needed to be individually cut and glued, and all the edges needed leather binding.
I spent most of yesterday prepping his leather armour. All the little pieces needed to be individually cut and glued, and all the edges needed leather binding.
I started the beading last night. Each one of those little rectangles needs a bead at each corner to suggest 'rivets'. I chose a small brass-coloured seed bead, but was having so much trouble with most not fitting over the leather needle I was using. I got fed up, and decided that I'd need to use different beads, so ripped off everything I'd done.
Then I realized that I never had an issue with seed beads and my leather needle in the past. But I was using a different needle then. So I found my old leather needle, which was the same length, so I assumed it was the same, and sure enough those same beads slid just fine over it! So I didn't have to rip all those beads off in the first place. A total waste of a few hours! Sigh.
Then I realized that I never had an issue with seed beads and my leather needle in the past. But I was using a different needle then. So I found my old leather needle, which was the same length, so I assumed it was the same, and sure enough those same beads slid just fine over it! So I didn't have to rip all those beads off in the first place. A total waste of a few hours! Sigh.
I've also been cutting my last piece of chainmail, which is a challenge of its own. Each little jump ring needs to be cut and removed... one...at...a....time.....
So this is where Jude is at today.....
So this is where Jude is at today.....
I sewed chainmail cylinders onto his undershirt sleeves, but they are hanging out too far in my opinion, so I'm going to have to remove them and sew them back on again about 3/8" higher.
His navy blue shirt is finished. The studs around his neckline and sleeve edges were not fun to put in, but they are done now. My fingertips still ache from doing them.
I started the beading on his leather armour again. The neckline is almost done, and one armhole edge is done. I also started doing a few of the 'rivets'. Those aren't too bad to sew on, and don't even require the use of a thimble. All the sewing on the edges goes through three layers of leather, and I need a thimble to push the needle through. Then after a few beads the thread will break from the sharp inside eye of the needle. Definitely not fun. But it's necessary to get the look I want.
And once I'm done sewing all the beads on, the whole thing needs to be 'aged' to look more authentic. So still lots to do....
His navy blue shirt is finished. The studs around his neckline and sleeve edges were not fun to put in, but they are done now. My fingertips still ache from doing them.
I started the beading on his leather armour again. The neckline is almost done, and one armhole edge is done. I also started doing a few of the 'rivets'. Those aren't too bad to sew on, and don't even require the use of a thimble. All the sewing on the edges goes through three layers of leather, and I need a thimble to push the needle through. Then after a few beads the thread will break from the sharp inside eye of the needle. Definitely not fun. But it's necessary to get the look I want.
And once I'm done sewing all the beads on, the whole thing needs to be 'aged' to look more authentic. So still lots to do....
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