We recently had Jeanette Sendler teaching at the studio. She’s an amazingly talented costumier and textile artist who also uses felt fabrics in her work. While everyone was making Victorian inspired collars, cuffs, and capes I found myself a corner in which to make a new sleeve design. I’ve long admired this type of sleeve in the book Nineteenth Century Fashion in Detail (published by the V & A) and when one of my customers traded some beautiful vintage braid with me I thought this was my chance.
The sleeves are made of two layers of fabric, one wider and longer than the other. The top layer is held in place in ‘puffs’ on the layer underneath. I used habotai underneath with silk organza on the top layer.
Victorian-inspired sleeve with vintage braid
Now I plan to make a dress using the same idea but using the Nuno technique to make the fabric. I’m really pleased with the sample. Where I placed the wool fibre in narrow lines, I was also able to nuno some vintage lace onto the surface.The fibre easily held the three layers (habotai, organza and lace) together because each one was so fine.
Organza and Habotai Nuno design fabric
