The stitches below are of just a few of those which were used during the period covered by the SCA. The West Kingdom Needleworkers Guild is only suggesting these sites for your information. We do not endorse these sites, nor is the Guild in any way responsible for the content of these pages. It is better whenever possible to consult books on historic needlework and a Guild Mentor.
Counted Thread
We haven’t exhausted the search for web sites with useful information, this is just a start…
Counted Thread — cross stitch
How-To Stitch Sources
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchindex.html
index of many stitches of cross stitch
long arm cross stitch
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/cross-longarm.html
and
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/98-09.htm
equal armed cross stitch (modern)
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/cross.html
and
http://www.anniesattic.com/cross-stitch/content.html?content_id=95
has a QuickTime movie of basic cross stitch on aida cloth
upright cross stitch
(looking for links)
double-cross stitch
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/cross-double.html
Information on Historical Techniques
“Cross Stitch Embroidery in the Middle Ages and Renaissance” by Karen Larsdatter http://www.florilegium.org/files/TEXTILES/p-x-stitch-art.html
a good overview of Cross Stitch, written in 1998 and housed at Stefan’s Florilegium.It was published in Tournaments Illuminated #127 (Summer 1998.)
Cross: Cultural
by Christian de Holacombe
Link Here
Actual Historical Textiles and Patterns
Medieval & Renaissance Embroidery
(broken link)
the page discusses cross stitch, blackwork & assisi work in general; look for five links to a 15th century German long-armed cross stitch piece, photo & charts
Historically Inspired Patterns and Pieces
WKNG Member’s Work
http://wkneedle.bayrose.org/member/member_crossed.html
The patterns for the first 2 items were taken from a long arm cross stitched purse, from the Cathedral Treasury at Sens, near Paris. The third item was inspired by part of a long arm cross stitched stole found in The Royal School of Needlework’s Book of Needlework and Embroidery.
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Counted Thread — Assisi work
How-To Stitch Sources
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/working-method.htmAnd don’t miss the page on Assisi Work in our own Articles section.
Information on Historical Techniques
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/about%20the%20style.htm
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/history.htm
Actual Historical Textiles and Patterns
Historically Inspired Patterns and Pieces
Clare’s Historical Embroidery Pages
http://www.insanehobby.150m.com/clare/embroider.html (beware the pop up ads)
http://www.insanehobby.150m.com/clare/voided.html
Examples worked by the author, also a handout & bibliography of sources
Assisi Embroidery
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/designs%20small.htm
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/designs%20bigger.htm
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/designs%20big.htm
Patterns worked by the author.
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/pieces%20of%20work%20small.htm
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/pieces%20of%20work%20bigger.htm
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/pieces%20of%20work%20big.htm
Photos of work by the author
WCoB Competition Documentation – Voided Work
http://needleprayse.webcon.net.au/research/index.html
Jane Stockton from Lochac. Page has links see the voided work under Documentation
Documentation to accompany her entry in a competition – includes photo of her piece
replica of Assisi sampler
#5000 – Assisi Work Sampler
http://www.needleworkantiques.com/sampler_gallery_-_page_9.html
sampler was stitched in 1807, but it is an exact reproduction of a sampler stitched in 1657. “Samplers” weren’t done in our time period, but the stitching is still useful to look at.
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Counted Thread — Blackwork
How-To Stitch Sources
Not all blackwork is black. Not all blackwork is reversible. Not all blackwork uses counted thread stitches.
Reversible counted thread blackwork utilizes double running stitch, also called called Holbein stitch.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holbein_stitch
Non-reversible non-counted thread blackwork utilizes basics stitches such as back stitch, stem stitch, split stitch, and other surface stiches.
Blackwork Embroidery Archives – Besides information on stitches, this site includes patterns created by the site owner, not necessarily period in style.
http://www.blackworkarchives.com/
Blackwork Gallery – has links to art and objects
http://www.larsdatter.com/blackwork.htm
Medieval Egyptian “Blackwork” Embroidery
by Heather Rose Jones (Tangwystyl)
http://heatherrosejones.com/egyptianblackwork/index.html
discussion, patterns, & step-by-step instructions for technique
Information on Historical Techniques
Blackwork
http://www.geocities.com/monstonitrus/a_and_s/blackwork/blackwork.html
an overview
Blackwork http://web.archive.org/web/20041010120437/http://www.needlearts.com/articles/article_13/article_13.htm
An article written by Michelle Palmer and published in “Fancywork” magazine in 1984, presents an overview of blackwork with line-art illustrations.
Medieval Egyptian “Blackwork” Embroidery
by Heather Rose Jones (Tangwystyl)
http://heatherrosejones.com/egyptianblackwork/index.html
discussion, patterns, & step-by-step instructions for technique
Double-running Stitch — Spanish Stitch, Reversible Blackwork, And Islamic Embroidery
by Mathilde Eschenbach
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mathilde/embroidery/blackwrk.htm
a historical background of the 3 types, includes bibliography & some on-line sources (no photos)
Actual Historical Textiles and Patterns
Fill-In Patterns from 16th C. Blackwork Embroideries
http://aeg.atlantia.sca.org/projects/howto/blackwork/index.htm
Blackwork Designs from 16th Century Sources
http://web.archive.org/web/20040411213908/http://infotrope.net/sca/textiles/embroidery/blackwork-sources/
Three charts by Kirrily Robert (SCA: Katherine Rowberd) are based on 16th c. paintings.
Elizabethan Practical Companion: Blackwork Gallery
http://www.larsdatter.com/blackwork.htm
Links to a wide range of garments on-line, on the website of Lady Roxanne Greenstreet.
Jane Seymour’s Blackworked Cuff
http://elizabethancostume.net/blackwork/seymour.html
A chart for the design by Lorraine Behrens, based on a portrait painting.
16th Century Embroidery & Blackwork Resources
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/black-bib.html
on the website of Costume Laurel Dréa Leed. A list of books and web page resources.
Medieval Egyptian “Blackwork” Embroidery
by Heather Rose Jones (Tangwystyl)
http://heatherrosejones.com/egyptianblackwork/index.html
re-creation of patterns based on historical pieces
Historically Inspired Patterns and Pieces
The Blackwork Embroidery Archives http://www.blackworkarchives.com/
patterns for blackwork by Paula Katherine Marmor. She says, “These patterns are inspired by historical needlework of sixteenth and seventeenth century England, but they are all original designs.” They are not historical recreations.
Leon Conrad Designs http://www.leonconraddesigns.freeserve.co.uk/blackwor.htm
Blackwork pattern charts/kits from Leon Conrad Designs
Rainbow Gallery-Blackwork http://www.rainbowgallery.com/freechartdownloads.cfm?ID=14
Clare’s Historical Embroidery Pages
http://www.insanehobby.150m.com/clare/embroider.html
Photo of author’s first competition piece; general description of blackwork & a bibliography
Medieval Middle Eastern Counted-Thread Embroidery
Double-running stitch
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mathilde/embroidery/chrtindx.htm#doublerunning
charted patterns from various sources
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Counted Thread — Pattern darning
How-To Stitch Sources
Pattern Darning
by Sally Simon
http://www.needlepoint.org/Archives/00-02/darning.htm
Originally published in Needle Pointers, Volume X, Number 1, Spring 1982
a how-to for the technique & a few basic patterns, not medieval-focused
Information on Historical Techniques
Handout from class taught in Atlantia, June 2000 by Karen Larsdatter
Unfortunately no pictures in this online version, but does have bibliography & some links
Actual Historical Textiles and Patterns
MEDIEVAL EGYPTIAN COUNTED-THREAD EMBROIDERY:
Mathilde’s Medieval and Renaissance Embroidery
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mathilde/embroidery/mamsamp.htm
Mamluk-style pattern-darning sampler, charted the patterns from photographs of original pieces in Baker, Humphrey, and Rhodes
Icelandic Altar Hanging
Joyce Miller
http://www.doctorbeer.com/joyce/emb/icealt/icealt.htm
charted a piece based on an altar hanging & created a cushion
Mamluk Embroidered Tunic Yoke and Detail
By Urtatim (Anahita)
http://home.earthlink.net/~lilinah/Textiles/mamluk_tunic-front.html
photos of pattern darning on the collar of a tunic
Book review of Embroideries and samplers from Islamic Egypt
- published by Ashmolean Museum Oxford, 2001
http://www.annatextiles.ch/book_rev/rev2001/r1610sam/r1610sa.htm
- a few photos of textiles with pattern darning, mostly from the Ayyubid period (A.D. 1172-1249) and the Mamluk period (1250-1517)
Historically Inspired Patterns and Pieces
Pattern-darned Tablecloth
By Mathilde Eschenbach
Reprinted from the Fall, 2005, issue of Arts and Sciences, a special issue of the Pikestaff, the official newsletter of the Kingdom of the East
http://www.eastkingdom.org/artsci/articles/pattern_darned_tablecloth.html
description of a tablecloth worked by the author.
Medieval Middle Eastern Counted-Thread Embroidery
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mathilde/embroidery/chrtindx.htm#patterndarning
charted patterns from various sources
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Other Counted Thread Sources
Dragon Bear Designs
http://www.dragonbear.com/dp.html
A Book of Medieval, Renaissance, and Heraldic Patterns for Needlework,
with Many Charted from Original Embroidery Pieces of the Period.
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