As a religious sister (nun) I should know the ins and outs of vestment making. Nuns have made vestments for centuries, but like all art forms it has to be constantly updated because of the newer fabrics, trims, and notions. It seemed to me that there were only a few of us left out there, So I have been very gratified to see the number of people who have shown interest in making church vestments, and have been more than happy to pass along information to those requesting it. That is why I am so happy to have come across the ebook “Guide to Vestment Design and Construction.” put out by Convent Vestment and Embroidery.
This “Guide” is exactly that. It begins with background, history, and development of vestments and then moves on to the design phase. There are ample pictures to show many of the different types and styles as well as color combinations. It answers design questions about linings, choice of colors, trims, and fabrics.
As it prepares you for cutting, sewing and assembly it also gives you tips and tricks that make use of modern notions such as stitch witchery and fabric glues. Since orphrey is very expensive there is a section explaining how you can make your own.
The book was written with both the experienced and inexperienced seamstress in mind. Sewing on velvet, a very difficult fabric to work with in vestments, is suggested only for the experienced and then it gives suggestions on how to do it well.
The book takes you from beginning to end for a complete set of vestments including some of the more traditional pieces: burse, maniple, stole, dalmatic, cope, humeral veil, chalice veil, and several types of chasubles. There is even a supplement that includes a mitre pattern.
Because of size the book it does not contain full size patterns, but it does contain scalable patterns that you can make yourself using that one inch pattern paper/fabric you can buy at most fabric stores or online.
Since it is an ebook and is therefore downloadable people from other countries who also sew vestments have access to it easily. A copy can also be purchased on CD for those who want a “hard copy” version.
All in all, this book is well worth the small price asked for it, and I’m glad to recommend it to all of you who are interested in this traditional art.
You can sometimes buy this book on Ebay, but you can always buy it from the publishers website: http://www.sewvestment.com, and I strongly suggest that you do.
Copyright © Sister Mary John, I.H.M.
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