Red and black, two of my favourite colours. Speaking of which, the buttonholes have been bound.
Buttonholes on the coat. Poking the "organza" squares through.
Then, I tack them down (after judicious ironing) in the back.
Buttonhole frames tacked open
Gertie suggests using silk organza that matches your fashion fabric. I have no organza (as far as I know), and I’ve never sewed with silk in my life. I also didn’t have anything light and crisp in red. So I used this off-white (chiffon? I really suck at the names for these floaty fabrics, as I tend to avoid them like the plague. But I salvaged a crapload of this stuff after a wedding last summer. It’s gone to make the sheer JJ, and the rest will someday become a tiered petticoat.) I suspect silk organza would be a lot stronger, and maybe a more firm weave?
Don't they look nice from the front?
You can see a tiny bit of the chiffon from the front. I made extra sure when sewing on the strips that none of this showed through.
The basted strips in position
As you can see, my strips are kinda massive. (They’re also interfaced, and I added an extra layer of white interfacing to the inside of the front mostly so I could see my markings better.) I am debating whether to trim them down or leave them that way—if anyone has strong opinions I’d love to hear them.
And stitched in place by hand.
Don’t they look lovely? I will leave them basted for now (at least until we go buy buttons). Now all I have to do is get the facings to line up. Oh, and did you notice my lovely iron-mark on the front of the fabric? *headdesk* Mostly I remember not to do this. Mostly.
Anyway, back to the poppies. Are we all marking Remembrance Day today? I am lucky enough not to have any family members involved with wars of any kinds (even my grandfathers sat out WWII). I’m also not organized enough to get to any of the various ceremonies they have around. So consider this my little moment of silence.
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918), Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.Lest we forget.
Tanit-Isis Sews 
1. They look great – I went out to buy silk organza and the FabricLand people laughed at me. So I got poly organza instead.
2. That poem always makes me cry.
1. Why does this not surprise me?
2. Me, too.
Wow… that poem.
Your buttonholes are so neat. I was wondering why you had to use organza. I used a poly on my Lady Grey, too. No silk anything at my only fabric store.
The buttonholes are looking great!
Hmmm…I didn’t know Veteran’s Day here is the same as Remembrance Day there. Both my grandfathers fought in WWII – they were so young.
Love the red and black contrast! I like the poem, too.
Great job!!!!
I’m especially partial to poppies, Poppy was my last name before I married. I think my family has given at least one man to every American war since My baby brother is in Afghanistan right now. War is a curse.
Your buttonholes look ah-mazink.
Agreed. I hope your brother comes home safe and soon.
*every American war since there was an America. Little girl hit the submit button prematurely.
Your buttonholes do look very pretty. Good job.
Ahem, if you have floaty you don’t have a substitute for organza, which is very light but crispness incarnate.. The main difference between poly and silk organza is that poly loses a good deal of crispness with the first washing. Silk is not hard to sew, floaty is :-).
No doubt you are correct. However, I *have* floaty, whereas I do not have organza. 🙂
Buttonholes are looking good!
Great job on the buttonholes! Pretty cool to read the last post, where you’re wondering which technique to use, and then wham! Nice, tidy, contrasty buttonholes, less than a minute later! 🙂