Microsuede works for Indian dress...

[Chantilly]

A while back, there was a great thread about clothing made from hides. I believe Dogwoman and Fannie both stated that microsuede would work. Since I'm sewing challenged, I thought I should try the microsuede first. Dogwoman suggested the book 19th Century Plains Indian Dresses. I followed the directions for a three hide dress using microsuede and it works! If I can do it, anyone can do it and there are NO BUTTON HOLES! (I haven't learned button holes yet.) I tried to make sure that the fringe wouldn't get in the way of the holster rig and pistols. Hopefully, this will work. I took many liberties, and here it is....

[Allie Mo]

Hi Chantilly,

That's very pretty. I like the two-tone fabric piecing. Good job!

Regards,

Allie Mo

[Fannie Kikinshoot]

I love the 2 tone effect also! I think you will be very pleased with your dress...Bulls Head loves his shirt I made from microsuede.

[Nellie Blue]

Looks great!!!:007

[DogWoman]

Very nice!!!

Yes, that fringe can be a buster at times. I had one stage DQ because of it.

I wear my dress shooting when I want to make style points. However, if I want to compete (translation: gamer), I wear something else.

The best thing about the ultra suede is that it is machine washable and you can pop it in the dryer.

The downside is that it won't take heavy beadwork without a heavy back lining.

[Singing Bear]

How much y'all paying per yard for ultrasuede? Way back, I saw it for sale at our local Kaimuki Drygoods at close to $90 per yard. :eek: That discouraged me from buying it, right quick. Way back is something just over 10 years ago. I'd hate to think of what it cost now, if the price went up like everything else. :fw

Great looking outfits, btw. The dress looks ready for powwow.

[DogWoman]

It is almost equivelent in price to regular buckskin. However, I think the width is 60" as opposed to 45".

[Nevada Skye]

Chantilly: That Indian Maiden dress looks great - and most comfortable. What are you wearing for shoes? Skye

[Hugh Damwright]

Dang ! If only I could sew !! I like that shirt of Bill's, that would look good for what I am looking for.... hmmm, mom has a machine somewhere... may hafta dig it out and see what i can do!

[Coffee Em]

Singing Bear, artificial garment suedes and leathers are big this year in fabric stores. Check out JoAnn's and Hancock's web sites for the range of prices. For the most part, the more you spend, the more the stuff looks like suede, but the new fakes are way cheaper per yard than Ultrasuede used to be. (Hey, they used to be the only game in town for fake suede!)

Cheers,
Coffee Em

[Poney Racer]

Warning for microsuede sewers.

In another lifetime I worked as the warehouse manager for a place in Rockville Md called G St. Fabrics (great place, great owners - highly recommended - they have web business).

Anyway - that microsuede and other "plether" that comes from India and other countries like Pakistan is great stuff....but.

If you cut or prick yourself deeper than normal (draw blood) be sure to immediately wash your hands.

The stuff is treated with heavy chemicalsand when unpacking large containers of 30-50 yd rolls i wore a mask and gloves - knew a few people who got some nasty infections when they cut themselves using the fabric and did not wash until next day.

Word to the wise...

Poney Racer

Yes - a bit of a reniassance man - i write music and poetry too!!

Did I mention I like to shoot!

[Chantilly]

Chantilly: That Indian Maiden dress looks great - and most comfortable. What are you wearing for shoes? Skye

Minnetonka Moccasins - boot type with fringe and "snap on" feather - they'll work just fine. The boots are black suede, my gun rig is black - therefore, all the black - must be a little wicked in me somewhere :whip

Coffee Em hit the nail on the head. I didn't use the "real" microsuede - some type of micro ultra suede stuff from Joann's on sale 50% off - pd $4.50/yard. I had to finger a lot of different kinds to find one that would not unravel when cutting the fringe. After reading Poney Racer's reply....I'm glad I didn't cut a finger off or anything. Suppose the germs come out in the wash?

:sailor

[Poney Racer]

The germs do come out in the wash Chantilly.

It's the maker of whatever garment that has to be a little more careful then usual.

If ya'll smelled the boxes that I used to have to open in early 90's - you would probably wear some kind of gloves while sewing with the stuff.

lets just say it was :18

Not trying to be alarmist :nuhnuh - just a healthy taste of reality.

Poney Racer

[DogWoman]

Don't know if all of you do this or not but I usually wash all fabric before I cut or sew. I don't like the smell of sizing and after working several years in a sewing factory, it really gets to me.

[Nellie Blue]

Oh, Dog Woman...that's too cool...my first job out of high school was at the dress factory...did you work for piece work? Boy...I sure could go fast!! I liked my money! Did you find it difficult to go back to a regular machine after sewing on those commercial ones...I keep going to look at the used commercial ones down on Charleston....I'd love to have one!

[DogWoman]

I started out on the floor. Later, I got to work on the machines but still worked hourly. I did better that way because I was a top stitcher and pocket setter on Phoenix suits. They took too long to do to make piece work a viable choice.

I sewed so many darned men's vests that when I see them now on SASS shooters I get flashbacks...*grin*

[Nellie Blue]

The factory I worked for did dresses for Jone's New York...very high end...because I had sewing experience, I moved quickly from long side seams, to sewing curved collars, to rolled hems on a really sheer fabric...of course anyone who knows me, knows I HATE sewing, so I only stuck with it for about 7 months! :rofl Then I found the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show (http://www.buffalobill.com/)...that was much more fun! Too bad they didn't pay us on a regular basis. :rofl

[DogWoman]

We did Ellen Tracy (another high end NY brand). Don't know what happened to the Phoenix suits. People like Johnny Carson wore them. They were very pricey.

Now those mills are all closed. Jobs went way south. The area is now a ghost town. I remember that you had a traffic jam into town on Friday nights to go to the bank! Now you can have a gunfight in town ANY time and no one will care.

[Coffee Em]

Nellie, that looks like a heck of a day job. Too bad about the paycheck, though.

Cheers,
Coffee Em