Thursday, January 27, 2011

Sultan Suleyman is very magnificent

I got the idea for this little purse from a robe owned by Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. The garment is described as a ceremonial kaftan"with ogival pattern" and dates from the mid sixteenth century. It is on display in the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul: I have promised myself I will get there one day.

I have found many artifacts from the Ottoman Empire to be inspirational so this isn't the only design that you will see on this blog with an Islamic influence.

The front of the purse with a small button closure


I sewed the purse in half-cross stitch on 18-count canvas using DMC pearlised cottons for their rich, saturated colour and the lovely silky sheen. When it was finished I lined it with a turquoise silk and hand stitched it together. My sewing machine wouldn't pierce through the canvas and the fabric stiffener that I had ironed on, even with a heavy duty denim needle! It is fastened with a tiny wee button I found in my button jar.

I like to wear it cross-wise when I am going out in the evening dressed all in black. It is quite a talking point.

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