Gentleman of Fortune Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 So I am sitting here, cutting out the lining for a 1706 pattern sailors jacket ( a short one with mariners cuffs) out of 100 year old hand woven linen that I will hand sew into the closest wool that I can find to Kersey wool (Its some antique wool that I found in a German Flea market), and I am thinking, "what would I pay for something like this?" I mean, we are living in the age of Walmart where everything at a low margin and the only way you make money is by selling THOUSANDS of them. We hate to pay more than $20 for a shirt to go to work in, let alone $100 one to use 5 weekends out of the year. I have probably spent 20 hours alone in researching and developing a pattern from the period pictures we have. I am just at the point where I am sewing the sleeves of the lining together and if I charged myself $5 an hour I would have to get $100 for work to date and I am guessing that I am ¼ the way done. Now I know that the professional tailors/seamstresses on this board are already itching to reply with their own woes but let me say I already know you are not properly compensated for your time either. I am a neophyte with a thread and needle but I am just guessing that by the time I am done, I will have about 60 hours into this thing. My next one will be faster as I already have the pattern but still, hand sewing takes time so lets say jacket number 2 takes 30 hours. $5 x 30 is $150. I spent about $30 on the 100 year old hand woven linen, and another $20 on the wool. Buttons from GGGodwin would add $20 and the linen thread was $5. Which leaves me a bear minimum of $245 to break even. Or you could just go to ebay and get a machine sewn out of faux distressed leather, made to YOUR size for $125! Maybe I am just in a funk right now but geesshhhh! Come aboard my pirate re-enacting site http://www.gentlemenoffortune.com/ Where you will find lots of information on building your authentic Pirate Impression! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Bess Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 If you wear it proudly.... .... then it is an effort well worth it. Good for you, say's I! Well, you may not realize it but your looking at the remains of what was once a very handsome woman! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tudor MercWench Smith Posted April 28, 2005 Share Posted April 28, 2005 I envy you your patience, sewing talent, and good luck to find all sorts of old material goodies! I would kill to have the time, energy and talent to make myself some really nice gear, but alas, am forced the e-bay route at times. Enjoy your lovely jacket! Share pictures when it's finished! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sealegs Constance Posted April 28, 2005 Share Posted April 28, 2005 Hand sewing the jacket eh? I admire your patience, and your craftmanship. Would really like to see a picture of it when it is done. :) Sealegs Constance I am what I am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gentleman of Fortune Posted April 28, 2005 Author Share Posted April 28, 2005 I guess maybe that is part of my point.... I have no sewing skills, no time, no engergy etc etc. I work on this bloody thing late at night and in the wee hours of the morning when the Warden, my 2 1/2 year old, and 3 month old are asleep. Sorry to vent on a forum like this.... I am just a little frustrated right now. I feel like its an excersize in futility. At the end of the day (or in another month of so), sure I will have a swell jacket, but I doubt that there will be an event to go to or a handful of folks that give a rats ass and could tell the difference. Maybe I should collect baseball cards instead. GoF Come aboard my pirate re-enacting site http://www.gentlemenoffortune.com/ Where you will find lots of information on building your authentic Pirate Impression! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumba Rue Posted April 28, 2005 Share Posted April 28, 2005 Before I got a sewing machine, I did everything by hand. I have excellent hand sewing skills that I still use on various things. So I give you big kudos for doing what you are doing. It makes the garment more special to you, even if the general public doesn't know it. Rumba Rue ** ** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hetha Posted April 28, 2005 Share Posted April 28, 2005 I am also one who started hand sewing, long before I ventured into investing in a machine. I hev a true appreciation fer th' time an' effort, and painstaking measures ye hev taken. I still tend to return to hand sewing, whenever certain detailing calls for it,(buttons, embroidery, patterns, etc.) Ye hev much to pride yerself on, an' let there be no shame in it, no matter wot anyone says, ye'll hev a garment t' be proud of, an' I fer another, would like t' see th' end result! Blessings t' ye, patience with yerself, and good luck! OOps! That was my outside voice;)! "Big on self-reliance and personal responsibility. Down on culture of victimology. Nobody owes you a thing and life isn't always fair. Spend a little more time being grateful and less time bitching and you just might find a smile replacing that scowl. Being miserable doesn't make you 'deep;' it makes you insufferable."-The Thirsty Celt ~Sail it like you stole it!~ "Silence is Golden; Duct Tape is Silver" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Jacob Badger Posted April 28, 2005 Share Posted April 28, 2005 'Back then' everything was 'hand sewn'......using a machine is just progress.....ifin ye wants an authentic, then ye either makes it yer self...or....ye pays someone wi' yer skills t' makes it...which costs. we are lucky to have a very good seamstress aboard that does 90% of our costumin'....(cheers sam)......an' I knows fer a fact she makes our stuff 'at a loss'.....authentic or naught......... so.....in all, ifin I was after the 'quality clothin' that ye be makin'....money ain't the problem.........'tis how soon could ye make it, an' how soon I could wear it..... keep up the good work, don't be downhearted......have an' ale on me sah! Cap'n o' the JADES RISC'S @ anchorage at the port o' Cardiff, Wales, Uk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox Posted April 29, 2005 Share Posted April 29, 2005 GoF, keep at it, you'll know its true worth when it's done This talk of old fabrics reminds me of a question I was going to ask. The other week someone told me of a silk mill somewhere in England they had visited which was selling off original 18thC silk by the yard - it was pretty expensive but they had a shed full of it. Alas, my friend didn't remember the name of the place or where exactly it was. Soooo, has anyone else heard of this place and if so can you remember details? Foxe"With this Fore-Staff he fansies he does Wonders, when, God knows, it amounts to no more but only to solve that simple Question, Where are we? Which every chi'd in London can tell you." - Ned Ward The Wooden World Dissected, 1707ETFox.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Hand Posted April 29, 2005 Share Posted April 29, 2005 It's an argumenent on "art" ................... what is art worth... the time that went into it for the finisehd work................. why bother because noone else does................. it is still art............. You have made something that is unique..... maybe a very small market... but it is still art.................. art is art............ the final... how do you feel about your "creation".......................... see art is art....... (and you only saw it as a period Sailors Jacket.......) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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