A London Experience
By Isela di Bari
From March 1998 newsletter
Author’s Note: In 1997 I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace just outside of London. The School specializes in the “restoration and conservation of all textiles including military and masonic banners, uniforms, tapestries, chair covers and altar frontals, using traditional hand embroidery techniques…”Continue reading A London Experience
Pattern Pages
Islamic blackwork patterns
by Christian de Holacombe
On this page are charts for both border and fill patterns, most of them charted from pieces shown in Marianne Ellis’s book (see Resources). Double running- stitch patterns like these are quite easy to chart with pencil and graph paper, since all the lines are composed of short segments of equal length, which can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal. These patterns are also available online as GIF files at the [WKneedle] Yahoo groups site, in the Filum Aureum folder. A ZIP file can be downloaded which has them all in one package.http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WKneedle/files/Filum_Aureum/Issue-34- Summer-08/BlackworkCharts.zipContinue reading Islamic blackwork patterns
Is Bargello Period
by Sabrina de la Bere, Guild Patron
Defining terms:To determine whether or not Bargello is period, we need to begin with definitions to ensure we are all talking about the same concepts.
The SCA by definition covers “pre-17th C European history.” Thus, if we can find examples of needlework that can be dated 1600 A. D. or before, it can be considered period in the strictest sense. There are a couple of examples which we will discuss that may meet this criterionContinue reading Is Bargello Period
THE PROJECT PAGE
An Islamic border
This border uses two embroidery techniques we usually refer to as “blackwork” and “whitework.” More strictly speaking, they are counted-thread double-running stitch (in black) for the dark lines of the border, and single faggot-stitch wrapping (in white) for the pulled-thread areas in the middle of every alternate diamond.Continue reading An Islamic border
An Imperial Eagle
Isela di Bari
Filum Aureum, Spring 2003
The eagle, a well known heraldic symbol of the Holy Roman Empire, is shown here as roundels appliquéd onto the background silk of the well known Eagle Dalmatic (c. 1330-40). These eagles are single-headed and are executed in black silk split stitch on a gold ground, all worked on linen before being appliquéd. The trims around the neck, hem, shoulders, and cuffs are also a great example of “needlepainting” with chiefly split stitch. More photos, assembled by Cynthia du Pré Argent, can be seen at www.virtue.to/articles/extant.html. Continue reading An Imperial Eagle
History of the West Kingdom Needleworkers Guild
Catherine Lorraine of Stonegate Manor
Filum Aureum, Winter 2008
Missing documents… blurred memories… absent eyewitnesses…. does this sound familiar? It’s an interesting exercise in history: reconstructing the history of the West Kingdom Needleworkers Guild. It’s probably been less than 25 years since this Guild began, and yet our knowledge of the exact names, dates and circumstances may be even less than we know about many kings and queens from the real Middle Ages.Continue reading History of the West Kingdom Needleworkers Guild
A Historical Chain
Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
Is This Stitch Period? #6
Filum Aureum, Winter 2004
Chain stitch is commonly used today in ways that show off its unique shape and structure. But the chain stitch embroideries I’m familiar with from the SCA’s historical period use it in the same way as split or stem stitch – as a filling stitch, one that follows the contours of the motifs (or of their internal details).Continue reading A Historical Chain
The Henricus Secundus Panel
Aldith Angharad St. George
Filum Aureum, Summer 2000
This panel is based on a 13th century German altar cloth, one that was probably used during Lent, as was much German whitework during this period.The original is stitched on a semi-transparent linen, using linen thread in a variety of “chained” stitches, and it depicts Pontius Pilate ordering the arrest of Jesus?). It appealed to me because it is unusual among German whitework:there are no dark outlines or counted white fillings (as in Opus Teutonicum), and it has a drawn-thread background.Continue reading The Henricus Secundus Panel
Flowered Chain Border
Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
Filum Aureum, Winter 2004
The pattern given here is for an interpretation of Tissus d’Egypte #176 (mentioned as [12] on p.4). My suspicion is that this is part of a continuous band, repeating the same pattern, since you can see fragments of repeats at the sides of the original. You might use this band to decorate a tunic, or at the bottom of a hanging or a covering cloth. Further research might suggest other uses.Continue reading Flowered Chain Border
Embroidered Dreams
Isela di Bari
Bed linens in the Middle Ages
Hoarded, inventoried, marked, bequeathed, and cherished… aptly describe the treatment of bed linens during the Middle Ages. Such linens were as likely to be found in a bridal trousseau as a death inventory.Continue reading Embroidered Dreams