I am following with interest all discussions on sacred threads. I hope to get an ecclesiastical embroidery group going at my church (Roman Catholic). Any suggestions? Any words of wisdom? Any good Canadian sources or reference books?
Second, I would really like to make a folding fan, like the glorious women of Spain use. Would anyone know where I could get a pattern, or a source for materials to make a fan?
I also do 99% of my embellishment by hand. I have the time, interest, reasonable skills and I don’t have room in my tiny sewing room for a fourth machine! For example, I made my niece’s First Communion dress. I sewed pearls all along the neckline, waist and bottoms of her dress sleeves. My niece picked out a delicate tulip lace for the hem of the dress as well as the edges of her complimentary organza jacket. On the dress proper I made the sleeves out of organza as well and hand-worked copies of the tulip motif randomly on the sleeve with small pearl accents on the tulip points and at the base of each leaf. My darling niece looked like an angel floating on the joy of her one of a kind dress!
Like other readers, I would like to see articles aimed at hand worked embellishment. May I also add that actual photos are much more helpful and encouraging than sketches?
Cheers All
Edited 7/14/2004 1:28 am ET by Louise
Replies
I'd love to see more articles on hand embellishment. Along with articles about designers and design, it's at the top of the list of things I'd like to see more of in Threads.
Caro or should I say Cara? I get very whimsical after 2 a. m.
Anyway....... what I would really love to see is how the lovely fine passmenterie braid is attached so uniformly over a floral or leaf design and then the "inside bits" are cut away revealing the lining colour or a secondary fabric! Specifically, I would love to see photos detailing how that gorgeous taupe coloured cape could be done. The taupe colour cape was on the back of threads about 15 issues ago!
Hi, Louise,
If you're interested in ecclesiastical embroidery, you might want to contact Pamela Burke, a Threads author who specializes in hand embroidery. She's taught lots of church groups the basics, and the refinements, of embroidering for the church, and she also is a supplier of the finest Belgian linens. Take a look at her website at http://www.threadpro.com. She's a wonderful teacher who does gorgeous work.
Carol
I don't make christian vestments.. but I do make judaica... there is a wealth of christian imagery out there.. I would use medieval manuscripts for needle work designs.. it is wonderful design wise and works context wise.. there are reproductions of some of the great manuscripts available in libraries and in museums - I'm sure that images are googleable as well.. you guys come out of a traditon that prizes imagery.. you have 2000 years worth of work available to troll... use it...
sarah in nyc
Dover publishing has a bunch of wonderful books out that have designs that would be great for ecclesiastical embroidery.
Barb
Thanks. I have used Dover books for many other projects, it didn't even occur to me to use Dover! Thanks again!
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