If you're a fan of whitework embroidery, there's an online exhibit of fabulous pieces of whitework that you can't afford to miss! "Whitework" is a rather generic term for white-on-white hand embroidery, and as you browse through this exhibit, you'll see how whitework can encompass many, many needlework techniques.

The Whitework Exhibit online at Lacis Museum details extraordinary pieces of whitework - some are so detailed and finely worked that it's hard to imagine the time and effort that went into them! They are simply gorgeous pieces!



At the online museum, click "slide show" to meander through photos of this exquisite work. You can also select the Whitework Exhibit Catalog link to read (in PDF format) about the different types of whitework that are showcased in the exhibit.

If you have time to go browsing and you like whitework - or really any needlework technique! - this is a good place to spend some moments. Enjoy!

Labels: embroidery resources, historical needlework, whitework

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, April 20, 2007
PermaLink  |  0 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

When it comes to learning embroidery techniques, you can't go wrong with Country Bumpkin's A-Z series, and they've done it again! They've released another great book in the series, this time on whitework embroidery. Here's what you'll find in it...

The A-Z Book of Whitework (Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Whitework) covers all the basics of whitework techniques, from candlewicking to cutwork and net embroidery. You'll find hundreds of step-by-step photos for stitch directions and finish work. The book is thorough, has great ideas in it, and makes whitework accessible even for the beginner. You can purchase the book through Country Bumpkin's website, where you'll also find the rest of their A-Z books and heaps of other goodies - kits, accessories, gifts, and subscriptions to their magazines, Inspirations Magazine and Australian Smocking & Embroidery.



What is whitework? Basically, it's any kind of stitching technique in white threads on white cloth. Normally, it's associated with embroidering motifs in white cotton on white linen, and often includes spaces in the design that have been cut away, in a technique called cutwork. Whitework is often associated with household linens and smaller items like monogrammed handkerchiefs. The stitches used are various, but typically you see padded satin stitch, stem stitch, buttonhole stitch, lattice work over open ground, seed stitching, French knots, and a variety of filling techniques.

Some techniques of whitework, such as Mountmellick embroidery, rely on relief work, padded stitches, and stitches that provide a lot of texture, so that there's a noticeable and pleasing contrast between the fabric and the stitchwork.

I thought I'd show you some samples of my whitework pieces that are either (unfortunately) in storage boxes for lack of household space, or that I have here and there around the house.



This is a close-up of a handkerchief, which I guess passes for whitework, although some of the stitching, as you can see, is not white, but rather a pale, pale blue. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue - you guessed it - it's a wedding hanky! Most of the stitching is pin stitch, stem stitch, satin stitch, and eyelets. All of these techniques are covered in the A-Z book!



This is an angled close-up on a dresser scarf, which is on top of an old dresser. I didn't iron it too well last time, I guess. Anyway, you can see here the cutwork and the overcast stitches - all of which are covered in the A-Z book!



Here's an overhead view of the same, and you can see the embroidered net insert (filet embroidery), which is also covered in the A-Z book!



I just love this piece, which I'm keep stored for now! This one is NOT my work - I purchased it through an antique dealer. I can't take credit for something this gorgeous!! But I do love it! Here's another close-up:



The eyelets are really well done. This is my favorite part of the motif - I love the little 'crown' look with the bow at the tip of the cutwork.



The satin stitching here is very nice, and you can see another close up of it below. The other filling is merely created with long straight stitches in some cases, and rows of stem stitching in other cases. You can see the backstitching down the center of the leaves.



Very nice satin stitching on these petals! The thread looks to me like coton a broder. There's enough shine to it, anyway, to be certain that it's mercerized.



And here's another example of a whitework tablecloth, edged in needle lace, with eyelet work and needlelace inserts. Another favorite piece unfortunately enjoying storage!

So, if you want to see what whitework is all about, check out the A-Z Book of Whitework at Country Bumpkin. Right now, it's not available through Amazon, so you'll have to find it in a retail embroidery shop or order it straigt through Country Bumpkin. The disadvantage is that you will pay high postage, because it's coming from Australia. You can always offset the postage a little by combining the order with other goodies from Country Bumpkin, though! But if you're a little more careful with your budget, you might want to wait until it's available through booksellers in America. It will save you at least half again the cost of the book in postage, and you won't have to wait 10 or more days for its arrival!

Labels: embroidery books, pictures, whitework

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, April 18, 2007
PermaLink  |  3 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

Here's another video tutorial for hand embroidery stitches - this one is for the Palestrina stitch. Palestrina stitch is used for outlining or filling and is common in both Jacobean designs as well as in Mountmellick embroidery, the latter because it gives a highly textured line or fill area.

The line produced in Palestrina stitch is bumpy! Evenly spaced along the line are knots that have one little arm that extends slightly, and which, when exaggerated, gives a barbed look to the completed stitch. I like this particular online illustration of Palestrina stitch at Mani di Fata. You'll find there a photo of the stitch, as well as drawn instructions for completing it.



To create a filled area with Palestrina stitch, you simply work rows of it next to each other, alternating the placement of the knots, and creating a highly textured filling. You can work the first row from left to right, then come back from right to left (either turning your hoop over or working the stitch backwards), or you can work all rows from the same direction. One thing I have noticed when using Palestrina stitch as a filling, though, is that the knots do look slightly different when worked from different directions. It doesn't ruin the look of the filling at all, to have the alternating rows also reflect the directional change - but you should practice with it to see which look you like better.



You can also vary the look of the Palestrina stitch by working it on a diagonal (instead of using straight stitches in line, as I do in the video). When you work your knot around a straight stitch worked diagonal to the line you are covering, the effect is much like a buttonhole stitch that has a knot at the anchoring point. You can futher alter the look of the stitch by increasing the length of the "arm" of the first wrap stitch. After watching the video, play around with the stitch to see what you can do with it!

In the video, I'm working on 36 ct. Edinburgh linen, using perle cotton #5. You can work this stitch on any fabric, though, and with any thread, really. The finer the thread, the finer the line. It takes curves well, too, by the way!

Enjoy the video, and please let me know if you want any clarification on anything!



For more video tutorials for hand embroidery stitches, please visit the Video Library of Stitches Index.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Monday, April 16, 2007
PermaLink  |  6 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

 

Finally, a video tutorial for bullion knots used in hand embroidery! I've received heaps of requests for this stitch, and I've finally managed a video that isn't all fingers and no needle and thread! To do this, I filmed a bit further back than usual, so the stitch is not as "close up." Still, the method is visible.

The bullion knot needs a little practice to get it just right, and to be able to vary your technique to get the results you desire. Some useful tips before watching the video and trying the stitch:

1. The needle you use in important. While it is not impossible to create bullions with other needles, you'll get easier results with a milliner (or straw) needle. The difference between milliner needles and other needles is that the entire shaft of the needle is the same diameter, so the eye doesn't bulge. This makes it easier to pull the needle through the wraps in the thread. If you don't have a milliner needle, invest in a packet of various sizes. If you want to try the stitch without one, go for it! Just remember that, when you're pulling your needle through the wraps of thread, you'll really want to make certain that it comes through easily, so you may have to relax the tension on the wraps a little bit.

2. When you wrap your threads around the needle, you want them to follow the natural twist of the thread. So, for most stranded cottons and everyday threads, you're going to wrap your thread clockwise around the needle. The way to tell if you're going in the right direction is this: if, as you wrap your thread around the needle, the strands of thread start to untwist and separate, you're going in the wrong direction.

3. If you're having trouble getting the needle through the wraps, you can roll your thumb over the wraps lightly, back and forth, which will loosen them. Another trick is to roll your needle between your finger and thumb, back and forth in small movements, before you pull your thread through.



In the video, I'm using a milliner needle with two strands of stranded cotton (DMC). I'm working on Edinburgh linen (36 ct) which is set up in a hoop. I prefer working bullions in hand, without a hoop, because, as you pull your thread through, you can gauge the "finish" of the stitch by the little pleat that will form in the fabric. Then you simply smooth the pleat out, and the stitch will lie right down. This doesn't really happen in a hoop, but it doesn't matter - you can get results that are just as good in a hoop!

Also, I prefer working bullions on a smaller weave fabric, like a good muslin or a batiste (for little girls' dresses and such) or on doctor's flannel for blankets and whatnot. But that's just a personal preference.



You can do great things with bullions! The A-Z of Bullions put out by Country Bumpkin publications has so many ingenious ideas for the stitch - besides the typical bullion rose bud or rose, you can create teddy bears, clowns, other flowers, and all kinds of neat texturized accents. It's a fun stitch that, with a little practice, will surely become a favorite.



So, here's the video! Enjoy - and let me know what you think. If you think the stitch requires more explanation, don't hesitate to let me know!



For more video tutorials for hand embroidery stitches, visit the Video Library of Stitches Index.

Labels: Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Sunday, April 15, 2007
PermaLink  |  9 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

 

Here's a great textile and embroidery resource for anyone interested in historical embroidery, counted thread techniques, or costuming. This site has it all - embroidery designs, fashion plates of historical costumes, and lots of interesting articles and tidbits about historical textiles.

The website is called DragonBear, and it touches on fine arts, crafts, items of historical and literary interest, and "whatever else" they decide to put on their site! It's a pretty broad spectrum, so there's plenty of material for a good browse-through.



Of particular note for the embroiderer is the patterns section of DragonBear. Here's where you'll find plenty of historical embroidery patterns, especially in counted thread techniques. Be sure to check out Designs, Period in the links at the left side of the Patterns section. In that section, you'll find heaps of plates of different motifs for embroidery. They're fun to browse through, inspirational, and useful! You'll find detailed charts for borders, medieval motifs, and much more! There are over 250 designs in this section alone, and the designs come from different countries throughout medieval Europe.



While you're at DragonBear, check out the Strawberries pattern, which is listed first on the Patterns section.



The idea for this sampler is taken from a work in the Victoria and Albert Museum. It calls for several types of stitches - not just counted thread stitches - and silk and metal threads.

Other embroidery patterns include 16th century needlework Germanic borders, which are charted out for the embroiderer. They're simple designs, but versatile.

Besides embroidery, you'll find a heap of other stuff: cordial recipes (both the historical ones and the modern adaptations), articles on different aspects of medieval history, and, for those interested in historical costume, a great section of costume plates that span the Anglo-Saxon through 16th century in English costumes.

I'm adapting one of the designs from the Designs, Period section for a small linen bookmark. I think it will look very nice, and it will make a great gift for upcoming graduates. Have fun browsing through DragonBear!

Labels: free embroidery patterns, historical needlework

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, April 14, 2007
PermaLink  |  0 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

 

Assisi work is a kind of hand embroidery that originated in Medieval Italy. The technique produces a colored background where the motif in the design is void - that is, left blank. So you get the color background, and the design stands out because it is not colored.

Assisi work was popular as an ecclesiastical embroidery technique, where rich designs would be worked for altar frontals, vestments, and other church uses. The name originates from the town of Assisi, where this technique was often worked in convents responsible for providing church textiles.

In Assisi work today, the design is worked on an even weave fabric, and the motif is usually outlined in Holbein stitch or "running backstitch" - or simply in backstitch, according to some sources. The appeal of Assisi work is the boldness of the designs - no wimpy colors here! Rich colors of reds, blues, greens, browns, etc., will make up the background, while the "picture" is white.

Usually, the background was stitched in long-arm cross stitch or in a variation of Algerian Eye stitch, but modern embroiderers often substitute regular cross stitch, sometimes over two or even three threads of the fabric. They also will employ a variety of colors in their motifs, adapting the "voided" idea of the central picture to a more modern view of utilizing color. In any case, whether old or new, examples of Assisi work are attractive and captivating.

If you want to read about Assisi work, you'll find a good article at La Chatelaine Designs, the website of embroidery designer Lucy Willis. While you're there, check out her samplers! They're beautiful!

There's also a great website out of the Netherlands devoted to Assisi work, where you will find hundreds of free patterns - and they are marvelous patterns! The website is called Embroidery and Embroider, created by Jos Hendriks. You'll not only find wonderful patterns, but you'll also find plenty of photographs of finished work. It's really a fun site to peruse.



I especially like the easily printed patterns all over the site! There are some marvelous examples of truly medieval-style Assisi work, as well as work that can be adapted to a more modern approach. You'll find directions on Assisi work as well.



I like the look of Assisi work, and it's great for "small projects" as well as large. For example, an Assisi work bookmark takes only a little time to create, and yet would make a very thoughtful gift for a reader in your life! This style of embroidery is very suitable for household upholstery items, such as decorative pillows, etc. I can also see Assisi work well used on the cute and sturdy tote-bags that are so popular today. So many possibilities!

I'll be adding Embroidery and Embroider to my list of free embroidery patterns online - if you're looking for more embroidery patterns around the web, check out the list! It keeps growing!

Labels: counted thread embroidery techniques, embroidery resources, free embroidery patterns

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, April 13, 2007
PermaLink  |  0 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

 

Our embroidery guild is producing some embroidered baby quilts to raffle for fundraising. I didn't have time to contribute to the production of the embroidered squares for the boy's quilt, because I was working on a huge project with a looming deadline. We found we were two squares short, somehow, for the girl's quilt, so, thinking it would be nice to have a relaxing and "fun" embroidery project (that wouldn't really take too much time), I set up the two squares. This particular square I'm working on right now has plenty of seed stitching in it.

I found this butterfly embroidery pattern on Needlecrafter, I believe. There are some excellent free embroidery patterns available on that website.

So I started out with this little butterfly, and as I was working on it, I realized I wanted more color. The design is stitched on a pink quilter's flannel. I wanted to go with the pastels that are in the rest of the quilt fabric, but the whole design didn't seem to stand out too well if only outlined. So seed stitch seemed like the perfect option for a light filling.

Here's a photo of the square so far:



One of the little lines in the top wing is squiggling a bit: a good lesson - remember, when you transfer your design, if you draw it inaccurately and don't correct it, it WILL show up in your stitching! So I may take that out and correct it... or not. We'll see how noticeable it is when all is done.

Speaking of transferring designs, being pressed for time, I cheated on this one! I opened the design up in my photo editing program, reduced it to fit within a 6-inch hoop, and, holding the fabric on my monitor, traced it onto the fabric! Now, a word of advice: if you have an LCD monitor, be very, very careful if doing something like this!! You could damage it. I didn't, but I realized I easily could have!

Here's some of the seed stitching up close:



That's the inside of the wing. The lines are stitched in a whipped backstitch, using two strands of purple DMC for the base line in backstitch, and one strand of the green for the whipped running stitch. The whole butterfly wing is outlined in stem stitch.



You can see the medium purple seed stitching here - it's the same color on the head of the butterfly's body, which is worked in satin stitch.



I like using seed stitch for filling this kind of an area - it adds a "light" filling that almost looks as if it's dry-brushed in. Granted, the yellow reminds me a bit too much of cornmeal. But overall, I like the effect! Fun stuff with simple stitches!

Labels: beginner embroidery, guild, Hand embroidery stitches, pictures

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, April 12, 2007
PermaLink  |  0 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

 

Here's a video tutorial for the seed stitch used in hand embroidery. This is a very simple filling technique! Seed stitch looks great when it's worked either in a uniform pattern (as it is in the video) or when it's worked randomly. Some photos of seed stitching are also included.

Seed stitch adds not only color but also texture to an area that you want to fill. Depending on how you work it, seed stitch can provide heavy filling or very light filling. For example, if you want an area to be densely filled, work your seed stitches close together. If you want an area only lightly filled, work them randomly and far apart. You can also shade with seed stitch, by varying the proximity of your stitches. For darker shaded areas, the stitches would be close, and, as you work towards the lighter areas, you would space the little stitches out more. Think of stippling in art!

Essentially, seed stitch is merely tiny straight stitches. You can double them, so that two stitches lie right next to each other, or you can work them as single stitches, as I do in the video.

Here are some basic examples of seed stitch in photos.



The leaf above is worked in white on white, using coton a broder #30. The outline is worked in a whipped stem stitch, and inside the leaf, seed stitching is used to add density and texture. (More photos of this particular piece of white on white embroidery worked in simple stitches).



You can see seed stitching in this project right below the green and pink chain. Here, the seeding is worked randomly, as a light filler. (More photos of this "sampler" worked on red felt - it will eventually be the cover of a large needle case.)

Now for the video. Again, this is a very basic, simple stitch! In the video, I am filling half a leaf, using purple coton a broder. There is no sound in this video, as the stitch is self-explanatory, once you see it worked. Enjoy!



For more video tutorials for hand embroidery stitches, check out the Video Library of Stitches Index. Thanks!

Labels: beginner embroidery, pictures, video tutorials

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, April 11, 2007
PermaLink  |  0 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

 

Earlier, I mentioned the flannel baby quilt that our embroidery guild is raffling, and showed you some up close photos of some of the squares. Here are a few more squares up close, and some pattern and embroidery stitch information.

As far as hand embroidery goes, these quilt squares are as simple to make as they are cute. We found our patterns all over the internet. If you're looking for free hand embroidery patterns, you can check out this list of free hand embroidery patterns online. The stitches used in the squares are simple hand embroidery stitches - perfect for beginners. If you're new to hand embroidery and want to learn the basic stitches necessary for simple designs, check out my hand embroidery video tutorials. They'll get you started with basic stitches so you can see how easy hand embroidery really is!



This pattern of little ducks on a pond is really cute! It's worked in stem stitch and backstitch.



The Three Bears is a great story to tell to kids - they love the "Someone's been eating my porridge" in a gruff, daddy bear voice. It's a favorite with the toddlers in my family! So here's a square to illustrate it. The square is worked in stem stitch, back stitch, split stitch, straight stitches, and seed stitch (for the filled areas on the yellow jacket and green overalls).



Here's a chipper little Jack-in-the-Box fellow. He's worked in stem stitch, backstitch, fly stitch, split stitch, and straight stitch.



And, finally, this square is worked in perle cotton, in stem stitch and lazy daisy. I love the bright colors on this one!

So there you have it - a few more squares for your perusal. The quilt is really darling in person! The pictures don't do it justice, I don't think! And it's well-made, thanks to Marlene, the quilt expert in the guild.

Check out the complete flannel baby quilt if you want a full shot of the quilt!

The baby girl quilt is almost ready for assembly. The nice thing about working such a project is that, with everyone stitching a square or two in such basic designs with easy stitches, the embroidery part goes very fast! Even if you're not working with a group, if you've got a child or a grandchild on the way, or you know someone who does, working up a small quilt like this isn't so difficult, and, especially for the beginning embroiderer, it's accessible and personal. Try it! You might like making one yourself!

Labels: beginner embroidery, guild, pictures

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, April 10, 2007
PermaLink  |  0 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Monday, April 09, 2007
PermaLink  |  0 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

 

Our embroidery guild recently shared the task of embroidering some simple squares for a baby quilt, which we plan to raffle later this spring as a fundraiser. The quilt turned out really cute! I can't take any credit for the squares - I got the project going, but left the embroidery pattern choices and colors to the individuals. A kind lady of the guild took the squares home and assembled the quilt. I like the results!

The quilt is quite darling - and we'll have a girl's quilt to match soon - slightly different design in the border of the quilt, but overall, the same effect. In the meantime, here are a few photos of the boy's quilt, with some close ups of some squares.



The entire quilt is flannel. The quilting is done "in the ditch" up and down the sashing and around all the embroidered squares, as well as along the border.



Here, you can see the flannel used for the backing - really cute stuff!



The dark flannel posed a problem in design transfer, so the ladies used Solvy to transfer the designs. The patterns were gleaned from all over the place, the thread is DMC stranded and #5 perle in most cases.



Simple stitches, such as stem stitch and backstitch, were used on most of the squares.



Some of the gals modified their embroidery designs - like these ducks who got dressed up for cold weather.



I'll add some more close-ups on the squares later on! Hope you enjoy looking!

Labels: beginner embroidery, guild, pictures

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Sunday, April 08, 2007
PermaLink  |  1 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

 

This excellent online textile resource could keep me occupied for hours. You'll find many books in PDF format on different types of needlework. If you're just in the mood to browse and you're interested in needlework, you'll enjoy looking through this site!

According to the title of this textile resource site, it actually deals with weaving and related topics, but many of the techniques in the digital books overlap hand embroidery techniques. They all fall into the category of needlework, anyway! Some of the books I've browsed through focus on drawn thread work, filet embroidery, petit point, etc. The On-Line Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving and Related Topics also contains a section on Documents Related to Lace, which also presents some great needlework books. You'll find art journals, illustrations, manuscripts, articles - all kinds of materials published about lace making, weaving, and needlework - all in downloadable PDF files. You'll also find historical photographs of textile-related places and people, including old postcards of lace-makers and weavers and such from Madeira, Ireland, etc. The site is hosted and maintained by the University of Arizona Computer Science Department. They've done a marvelous job making this resource available!



This website is great for anyone interested in textiles and in research on textiles. For the embroiderer, you can flip through the publications and get all kinds of inspiration!

Labels: embroidery resources, free embroidery patterns, historical needlework

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, April 07, 2007
PermaLink  |  0 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

 

Here's another example of ecclesiastical embroidery - a chasuble of the Crucifixion, worked entirely by hand, with embroidery and goldwork. It is really stunning - the "needlepainting" techniques that achieve the shadows and shading are so expertly done that, from a distance, it's difficult to realize that the piece is embroidered. I've included here several close up photos so you can see the range of colors used in this exquisite piece of historical church needlework.

This piece is housed at the Benedictine Convent in Clyde, Missouri, which I explained about previously when displaying photos of an embroidered cope. The vestments on display at this convent are all behind glass - some in drawers, with a couple exhibits in large, walk-around display cases. This particular piece was lying in a drawer behind glass, so only the back was available for viewing and photographing.



This is as full a shot of the chasuble as I could take. To give you the basic layout, underneath the crucifix is Our Lady of Sorrows (Mary, the mother of Jesus), and underneath her is St. Mary Magdalene. The vessel in Mary Magdalene's hands is indicative of the oil she annointed Christ's feet with when she washed them with her tears and dried them with her hair. At the right arm of Christ crucified (so, on the left side of the photo) is St. John, the "beloved" apostle, present at the crucifixion along with Mary, the mother of Christ, and Mary Magdalene. On the left arm (so, on the right in the photo) is .... ? I don't know - perhaps St. Peter. It could also be, perhaps, St. Benedict, as it's a Benedictine convent. At the top of the Crucifix is God the Father and the dove symbolizing the Holy Ghost.

Design-wise, this chasuble is lovely. The color schemes are pleasing, the symbolism is thought-provoking (as it should be), and the embellishment of the embroidery (with the goldwork) enhances, not detracts, from the needleworked scene. It's quite stunning work!



This is amazing - it's the coloring and shading that capture the eye. The gold and blue work together so well! The realistic folds and shadows are stunning!



Here is a close-up on the face, where you can really get a good idea of the gold and blue shading. Note also the eyes, the smooth stitching on the face, the two tones in the mouth (so the lower lip is shaded).



The smaller insert of Mary Magdalene is not as exquisite as the one above, but some details - especially the expression on the face - are not to be missed. A lovely smaller piece.



Here is a close-up on the face of Mary Magdalene. Note the stitch direction in the face, the eyes, the eyebrows, and all the details that contribute to the "painting."



If you look at the crucifix from a distance (above), and then look at the photo below - the close up on the face of Christ - you will see that "impressionist" appearance in the needlepainting. If you've ever looked at an impressionist painting up close, you see the strokes and rather a jumble of color, but when you step back, the effect is much smoother.



Look at how many colors are used to produce the face! These people really knew the art of needlepainting! Check out the rose, the red, the yellows, the greenish-browns - all work together to create a very "smooth" face from a distance - perfectly placed shadows, and very realistic.



This is the image of St. John. I'm not sure why the snake in the cup - undoubtedly an image of temptation of sorts, but I don't know the details of the story behind it. The flash really reflected on the glass here, so the photo isn't as nice as I could wish!



The dove symbolizing the Holy Ghost is incredibly detailed for something so small - approximately 2.5 - 3 inches across, tops. Note how the goldwork is couched on the halo - it's not "bricked," but rather creates a "sweeping" circular movement.



Again, the color selection for the face is amazing. Also, the detail in the hair and beard is exquisite. Note the stitch direction in the cheeks - the horizontal stitches create the shadow.



And finally, here's a close-up on the goldwork that embellishes the whole piece.
I hope readers enjoy seeing this stitching close-up! It really is amazing work! Imagine the understanding of colors and the artistic sense that each needleworker who contributed to this had to possess. What an art!

Labels: ecclesiastical embroidery, historical needlework, needlepainting, pictures

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, April 06, 2007
PermaLink  |  8 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

 

I need to make two embroidered squares for a baby girl quilt that we are making as a guild project. I was thinking of embellishing up some "Sunbonnet Sue" patters - adding a flower garden, butterflies, etc. But then I thought I'd rather go with a Kate Greenaway style girl, so I started searching online and came across a pretty neat site with plenty of inspiring content on it.

The site, Illuminated Books, hosts a digital library of many illustrated books, among them several Kate Greenaway books.



In addition to Kate Greenaway, you'll find some William Morris and even the Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones, as well as some of his other works. The Grammar of Ornament is especially excellent - instead of a scanned version with slightly "off" colors, this is a photographed version. It's great fun to flip through!

My plan is to find a Kate Greenaway style gal and turn her into a line drawing, placing her in a little garden, with, perhaps, a beehive and some bees. So I'll keep flipping through Illuminated Books to see if I can come up with any specific inspiration for just the right girl!

As for the second quilt square, I haven't decided - there's no real theme to the quilt, so I have plenty of options!

Labels: embroidery design, embroidery resources

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, April 05, 2007
PermaLink  |  1 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

 

Here it is, at long last, after approximately 380 hours from start to finish - an embroidery project worked entirely by hand, in silk threads and gold. My goal was to finish by this past Sunday, April 1st, to deliver on Monday morning. I missed the deadline by one day, and delivered it Tuesday morning.



Continue on to see the close-ups!

This is an example of ecclesiastical embroidery. I've been giving regular updates on the progress of this project, and you can find them all in order here:

• Agnus Dei project underway
• Project Update #2
• Project Update #3
• Project Update #4
• Project Update #5
• Project Update #6

This past weekend, I finished the gold around the edges, the blood, and the finish work on the hill, adding grass and flowers.



Here's a shot of a few bunches of flowers around the foot. The flowers are worked in flat silk - some in Au Ver a Soie Soie Ovale and some in True Embroideries Sleave Silk from Helen Stevens. I was rather random in the creation of the flowers - I wanted the effect of wild flowers - not anything stylized.



Here are the yellow flowers at the base of the staff. For colors, I wanted to mimic the brighter colors of spring rather than pastels. I thought the effect would be better, considering the brighter colors of the whole work.



Here's the whole hill. I didn't want "too many" flowers - sometimes less is more! The tufts of grass are just straight stitches in two strands of Soie d'Alger. I combined two colors in some blades of grass, and in others, used just one.



The blood is part of the symbolism of the whole image - the sacrificial Lamb of God (Agnus Dei). It is worked in three colors of red, all in stem stitch.



This is a close-up of the outlining on the lamb, above the back legs. I wanted a little definition in the body of the lamb, so I outlined it in stem stitch, using one strand of YLI silk in a grey-ish brown. I didn't want a "bold" outline. YLI silk is fine and well-suited for delicate lines.



You can see here a close up on the gold couching, and, above it, part of the outlining of the inside of the gold. Using the same YLI silk - one strand - that's used around the lamb, I outlined around the whole inside of the gold trim. I wanted a "hint" of a shadow and a finished edge. Underneath the corner of the book here, I worked two rows, since there was a small gap of white between the corner of the book and the gold. If I had thought about it in advance, I would have couched the gold in a definite ornamental pattern, rather than just a "brick" pattern, alternating the placement of the stitches over each row.



The finished product! You can see the original outline of the design still - I did not work the gold all the way to the line, as I thought it would be overkill. Besides, when I mounted it on the vestment today, I still had space for a red outline outside the gold. I'll post a completed picture of the whole vestment once it is assembled.



And finally, a long shot from the side, so you can see the gleam of the gold.

Now that it's finished, I can move on to other projects. Whew! That was a challenge, but it was a lot of fun and a good learning experience. I hope you enjoyed the updates on this particular project. Next up - some quilt squares....! Which will be very relaxing! Thanks for reading and for your kind compliments and enthusiasm over the last couple months as I worked this project!

Labels: ecclesiastical embroidery, goldwork, pictures, silk

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, April 03, 2007
PermaLink  |  14 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this

 

Just a quick update on my corrent embroidery project, for those of you interested in taking a look. This is a hand-embroidered medallion for the back of a vestment. It's supposed to be finished by the time I go to bed tonight! The lamb is finished, and now it's just a matter of a few details and the outside edge, which will be couched in gold.

This embroidery project has been underway for about eight and a half weeks now. I calculate I've spent about 350 hours on it! Needless to say, outside of work, I haven't been doing much else besides plying the needle!

Without further ado, here's the update:



I have a tiny bit more outlining to do on the lamb, and a little area to fix on the neck next to the left side of the halo.



The eye looks a bit exaggerated, with the dark lines around it, but it will be viewed from far away, so it needs to show up! I wasn't exactly satisfied with the inside of the eye, but it's too late to go over it, and the overall effect is ok.



This is a close-up on the "wool." The lamb is stitched with a stem-stitch filling, worked in two strands of Soie d'Alger, over which I worked flat silk by whipping little bits of the stem stitching. I also worked in, here and there, small rounded straight stitches.



Here's a side angle, so you can see the effect of the gold which is couched over the sky.

Next step: finish outlining the lamb, then I'll do the blood and the little flower details on the hill (tufts of grass and little flowers), and then couch the gold around the edge. It's going to be a long day....!

Labels: ecclesiastical embroidery, needlepainting, pictures, silk

Click here to read the whole post & comments.

Posted By: Mary Corbet on Sunday, April 01, 2007
PermaLink  |  0 comments  | Click to Comment

Share this