Huck Embroidery Kits
Continuing on my exploration of "trip loot" from my recent vacation, during which I stopped at four popular needlework shops, I thought I'd show you a couple kits I picked up at Nordic Needle. They're kits for Huck embroidery, also called Swedish Weaving or Huck Darning. I thought they were appropriate to buy at Nordic Needle (considering the "Nordic" angle), and surely, thought I, they would make Really Good Projects to work in the car!
Six thousand miles and almost three weeks later, I'll admit I never did open up these embroidery kits while I was in the car. In fact, I don't think I ever looked at them again until I unpacked everything (and that was just briefly)... but while reorganizing this morning and putting things in a "definite" place (you know how it is - from The Stack to the Definite Place?), I came across them again, and thought I'd show them to you.
The kits are for two towels, which is a typical (but not the only) application for Huck work.
Strangely enough, though the kits caught my attention at the time, now as I look at them, I find myself chuckling. Neither are in "my" colors! They aren't really typical of me at all.
Yet, still, I like the idea of them.
Huck embroidery is worked on a specific type of fabric, normally (at least for beginners, anyway!) by following a pattern like the one in the photo above. The lines of the design represent the floss, while the little vertical dashes speckling the pattern represent the fabric weave.
You can use specific fabric for Huck work called Huck fabric, or you can use Huck toweling (or huckaback). You can also get away with using aida cloth or monk's cloth for Huck embroidery, too. For the actually "weaving" of the design (running the needle under loops of the fabric, according to a pattern, to create stitches that look like darning stitching - hence, "Swedish Weaving" and "Huck Darning") you use a blunt tapestry needle. And almost any kind of regular cotton embroidery thread or floss can be used, including pearl cotton and stranded cotton.
Those are the tidbits of information I picked up about Huck embroidery in reading the backs of the kits at Nordic Needle. Other than that, I don't really know much about the technique, as I've never tried it!
I've relegated these kits to the Someday Pile - I'm interested in trying them, but not right now, as there's just too much on the plate at the moment!
Still, I thought they were interesting enough to show you the kits, and ask if anyone out there is a great fan of Huck work, and if so, can you tell us any other information about it? Are there links and resources available for this craft? How 'bout some photo pages and so forth?
Six thousand miles and almost three weeks later, I'll admit I never did open up these embroidery kits while I was in the car. In fact, I don't think I ever looked at them again until I unpacked everything (and that was just briefly)... but while reorganizing this morning and putting things in a "definite" place (you know how it is - from The Stack to the Definite Place?), I came across them again, and thought I'd show them to you.
The kits are for two towels, which is a typical (but not the only) application for Huck work.
Strangely enough, though the kits caught my attention at the time, now as I look at them, I find myself chuckling. Neither are in "my" colors! They aren't really typical of me at all.
Yet, still, I like the idea of them.
Huck embroidery is worked on a specific type of fabric, normally (at least for beginners, anyway!) by following a pattern like the one in the photo above. The lines of the design represent the floss, while the little vertical dashes speckling the pattern represent the fabric weave.
You can use specific fabric for Huck work called Huck fabric, or you can use Huck toweling (or huckaback). You can also get away with using aida cloth or monk's cloth for Huck embroidery, too. For the actually "weaving" of the design (running the needle under loops of the fabric, according to a pattern, to create stitches that look like darning stitching - hence, "Swedish Weaving" and "Huck Darning") you use a blunt tapestry needle. And almost any kind of regular cotton embroidery thread or floss can be used, including pearl cotton and stranded cotton.
Those are the tidbits of information I picked up about Huck embroidery in reading the backs of the kits at Nordic Needle. Other than that, I don't really know much about the technique, as I've never tried it!
I've relegated these kits to the Someday Pile - I'm interested in trying them, but not right now, as there's just too much on the plate at the moment!
Still, I thought they were interesting enough to show you the kits, and ask if anyone out there is a great fan of Huck work, and if so, can you tell us any other information about it? Are there links and resources available for this craft? How 'bout some photo pages and so forth?
Labels: pictures, regional embroidery techniques
Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, July 23, 2009
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My mother in law gave me yards and yards of monks cloth, so I did a little research on huckwork and found this yahoo group to be a great resource- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SwedishWeave/
I haven't gotten to making anything yet, but it does seem like a fun thing that you can do a lot with.
I've always liked the looks of huckwork but for me the drawback was having to use a special huck fabric. I just didn't like the idea of that. Only now that you say Aida or Monk's cloth is okay-I happen to have plenty of that on hand! The beauty of it, I think, is the bargello style. There are many of us who adore the flame or Florentine stitching style. Have fun with your kits and of course we can count on you to post, right?! P.S. Are they gifts or will you keep them?
You have brought back some very nice memories with your Huck Kits. Huck embroidery was one of the needlwork projects I learned in Home Ec class (remember when the schools actually taught that!). Admittedly I did not keep up with it but I certainly do remember enjoying it tremendously. Perhaps it's time for me to renew that passion. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
ME in Ottawa, ON, Canada
p.s. I would like to be able to comment from the newsletter without going into the web site.
My neighbor taught me about this type of needlework years ago. It's easy and fun and the designs can get quite complicated. I made several towels. The one design you shared that looks like aqua colored trees is similar to the one I made for my Mom only I used oranges and rust for her. Cute thing about it is I made her a towel and she uses it to cover and protect her cross stitch work while in progress.
The Huckwork kits brought back fond memories of my grandmother! I remember sitting & doing towels with her using this stitching! I have forgotten most of the names of the stitching designs she taught me as I am 63 now & she started teaching me when I was 7. She passed away at age 95 & I still have several of her embroidery pieces & crocheted doilies. My sisters crochet & knit but mine never came out right! Thanks for reviving fun memories!
I have been making and teaching huck embroidery for over 20 years- we make prayer shawls, tallesim or challah covers. I learned from my friend Ellen Temkin who pioneered the technique for a prayer shawl and challah cover. She designed some unique Jewish stitches that I have been using and modifying over the years. I teach in Ridgefield,CT if anyone is interested- I may be making a book of Jewish Huck Embroidery if anyone has suggestions- please email me-
cantordkg@aol.com
THANKS
Cantor Debbie Katchko-Gray
Ridgefield,CT
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