Osage vests

[ehamilton34]

Not sure if Im in the right place? Been going to pow-wows since I was about thirteen, I have been straight Dancin for a while and Im building a vest but Im having trouble with some of that floral design, any suggestions....

[Fat Albert]

Howdy! Beadman helped me a great deal in getting started and then I had family help when it came to executing when I took that kind of project on a little while back. I would tell you in looking at old new and in between the most important thing is how you use the space (don't crowd it!). If you are going to put ribbon work binding or even a beaded lane or sequins or whatever you need to 'fence' that area off so when you lay out your floral work it is not crowded. People usually start with the floral work, do the beadwork and then find they hae not bound the cloth and are now out of room (consider space for seams as well). I personally like designs the flow through the length of the vest. Lay paper cut outs of your elements on the cloth and see what it looks like. You may need to make the elements larger or smaller or you may need to move em around until they 'flow'. Once you get that done you can work on setting up the design for the applique process. Some of the old Osage/ Ponca vests did not have the floral work. Instead they have real keen metal sequin work (faux pockets, horizontal lines or even a sequined heart). Lots of options. Good luck!

[CHEROSAGE]

Howdy! Beadman helped me a great deal in getting started and then I had family help when it came to executing when I took that kind of project on a little while back. I would tell you in looking at old new and in between the most important thing is how you use the space (don't crowd it!). If you are going to put ribbon work binding or even a beaded lane or sequins or whatever you need to 'fence' that area off so when you lay out your floral work it is not crowded. People usually start with the floral work, do the beadwork and then find they hae not bound the cloth and are now out of room (consider space for seams as well). I personally like designs the flow through the length of the vest. Lay paper cut outs of your elements on the cloth and see what it looks like. You may need to make the elements larger or smaller or you may need to move em around until they 'flow'. Once you get that done you can work on setting up the design for the applique process. Some of the old Osage/ Ponca vests did not have the floral work. Instead they have real keen metal sequin work (faux pockets, horizontal lines or even a sequined heart). Lots of options. Good luck!

This is very good advice. I would lay out your pattern and draw it with a sharpened piece of chaulk. My wife has this kind of chaulk whe uses for sewing to mark on her material. I have also used a chaulk like pencil. Make your pattern flow. You don't need to bead the whole vest to make it look very nice. I like the idea of ribbon work and bead work together.

Whe your finished take some pictures and show us.

[powwowbum49]

Mr Evan
If you are who I think you are then do what I told you and come down to gnawbone and I will help you get a design worked up for it. If you are not who I think then let me know and I will see if I can help you out on here.

[powwowbum49]

Fat Albert

I like to draw my designs and cut them out of manilla folder so I can then move them around and see what looks good. The prairie stylized floral work can really vary and thus can definately seem overwhelming to some and you are definately right that positive and negative space is the key to making good designs.

A trick I learned is to cut the designs I have chosen out of a medium to heavy weight fusable batting and you can them iron those down to the front of your project and bead right on them. No need for drawing line or using chalk or any of that crap. It also give you a firm non-stretchy area to bead on with a nice white background behind it to bring out the color of the beads, especially that of transparents.

[Fat Albert]

I was taught something similar with the manila folder. After you lay out the deigns and get it right you transfer it to the folder to create a template. Cut out the template, quick spray paint and you are ready to bead. Keep in mind that is a very simplified version of the process (which is really easy in the first place) but it works and keeps you from having to constantly replace chalk or pencil lines that ultimately get worn off while you work the cloth. Have not tried the batting idea... will look into it and report back... after I wrap up the other 5 projects in progress right now!

[powwowbum49]

Oh you are using Carl's trick huh, I haven't tried it. My new 'old skool' suit (I think you have seen the pics of it) was done by tracing the deisgns with a white charcoal pencil and them my wife would use a needle and white thread to quickly baste a dotted line in place of the charcoal pencil (which rubs off quickly).

A friend named Wayne Wagner is who taught me the trick of using the heavy fusable batting on the front side. He has some killer nice prairie floral stuff.