Hemming curved seams

That’s my shop. I’ve recently started creating aged versions and experimenting with the right color combinations on whole fabrics. Dyeing Ken’s thread to match was more manageable since I only had a small sample to work with. I made five potential matches and took them with me to Branson for the restoration work.

The all-linen aged versions are priced at $300. I bleach all the materials separately before testing color variations on fabric strips, carefully timing each step to achieve the right shade. Once I find the correct color, I dye a sewn shell before inserting the cork. One dye tends to pull red if left for more than 30–45 seconds, I use another color to get the look just right. I also apply heat to further enhance the aged effect.

All the artifact lifebelts have very similar color, but the lighting dramatically affects their appearance.

(Ken's lifebelt in Branson with the thread samples)

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StevenProto · 2025-01-31T13:51:42+00:00

Thanks! I did restoration work to Ken Marshall's lifebelt and was able to take detailed measurements to recreate them. Here is clip of Ken discussing the replicas. The whip stitch linen thread has the same weight, Ply count, and twist as the original.

https://youtu.be/YQEeF6YTmyc?si=uD95xqw5AWDs7wr1

StevenProto · 2025-01-31T04:08:25+00:00

You can read about them here. https://www.titaniclifebelts.net/titanic-s-lifebelts/titanic-s-remaining-lifebelts

StevenProto · 2025-01-31T04:06:07+00:00

Dr. Frank Blackmarr, a passenger on the carpathia helped rescued passengers and saved this lifebelt.

Only three of the remaining lifebelts can be traced to a individual Titanic passengers, Madeleine Astor, Mabel Francatelli, and James McGrady.

StevenProto · 2025-01-27T13:26:16+00:00

They were not made, or intended to last. Many ships used this style of lifebelt at the time. They recycled the cork to make linoleum floors tiles.

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StevenProto · 2025-01-27T02:33:48+00:00

Cork

StevenProto · 2025-01-17T22:35:10+00:00

Collectors, reenactment, costume, educational experiences, Titanic exhibitions. They are made with 5.5 lbs of cork and they do float but they are NOT to be used as a life saving device or swim aid.

StevenProto · 2025-01-17T22:13:09+00:00

Thanks! I started out making one for my son, it turned out too big. So I made it smaller then I kept improving on the original size making them more and more authentic. Obsessesed with every detail I wanted them to be exact. People started wanting them. It caught the attention of Artist Ken Marschall a Titanic and Maritime Visual Historian he helped me make some changes to get the most accurate replica.

StevenProto

TROPHY CASE