Oldie but a Goodie

12 years ago, I made this black work coif for myself when I was entertaining ideas of doing Elizabethan. I found out then that I love doing black work but not wearing the garb for that era.  Here is the coif I made for myself and have since gifted to a good friend who does wear that time period garb. It looks amazing on her.

The pattern was taken from the Jane Bostock sampler of 1598
The materials used were linen fabric, silk thread single strand and gold pallions. Also white satin ribbon for the ties.

There are things I have learned since then about black work that I would do differently such as I would now extend the blackwork just past the outline of the coif shape so that I have complete stitching to the hemlines. I know some of the work would get stitched inside and not seen but better than having the blank white linen showing. You see some at the top seam too but not as badly.  All the embroidery took me 7 months roughly and I think at that point, the end being in sight I was anxious to be done and put it together.  I was a little less patient 12 years ago, if you can imagine. :D

I am entertaining doing another one and possibly just using it for displays. I love doing black work embroidery so much. Perhaps ill make one and sell it or donate it to a travel auction for future royals.  Its addicting!
(thank you to my guy Ryan for being my hand model)

Pelican Hood

A friend asked if I would make a light weight Pelican hood for the warmer weather (as he has a heavy double layer wool hood he was elevated in).  This hood I made is of a light weight linen and has "ermine" trim that I purchased at Calontir trim at Pennsic.

The hood was received so now I can post the images.

 

 

 

Apron dress Do Over



So, the apron dress I sent to my friend in PA was not fit correctly. So after some pinning, she sent it back to me so that I could refit it for her. Before I send it out to her, I decided to spiff it up a little to make up for my mistake in measuring when I cut it out and stitched it together.  I added this little motif that I found online to the dress in matching silk embroidery thread.  I sent her a picture and she loves it! :D Going out in the mail tomorrow.

 

 

 

 



Walk Down Memory Lane...



 

I was going through the bookmark file and I came across the link to an old shutterfly account I had. The last time I entered into it was 2011! While I was looking through the pictures, I came across some shots of embroideries and sewing I did that I had lost the original pictures to. So I'm posting them here for view and to keep track for my own records.  I am doing this from memory so bear with me on the history of each item.

 

 The first two images are of a wool hood lined in red linen with gold metal thread embellishments on it. I recreated this hood from an image in an illuminated manuscript from the 14th c.  The good gentle modeling it is Count Isenwulf from AEthaelmarc (when he lived in Eastern PA many years ago).  The gold metal thread I used was Japanese metal thread so, not a true gold metal but it was what I could afford at the time. It was couched to the wool with silk thread.

 

 

 

The acorn embroidered below was one of man that went onto a cushion for Dutchess Brenwen as her gift from The Guild of Athena's Thimble.  Members were asked to embroider an acorn that would be appliqued onto a cushion of a bench for her. The one I created was silk stitched onto linen. The cushion is also pictured beneath.

 

 

Below is my display from an A&S event that was held in the Shire of Eisental many many years ago.  The laurel hood was made for Mistress Lettice Peyton. It is a summer weight wool outside and a fine yellow linen inside. Each leaf was embroidered with DMC cotton thread (it took a lot and all these items were made when I was a stay at home mom so money was a factor) in split stitch. I outlined each leaf  and the stem with Japanese gold metal thread, couching it down. 

 

Also on the table is the embroidery for an apprentice belt I was creating as a commission. Above it is the start of an alms purse that was later damaged by a two year olds dirty hands and juice cup (ahhhhh kids). 

 

 To the right of that is a German brickwork stitched pouch lined in silk.  The stitching was done in silk threads as was the tassels and the cording.  The ground cloth was a counted linen fabric that is used in cross stitch but was PERFECT for this project as it was my first attempt at it this type of counted work and the even weave of the fabric made for the perfect stitch.

 

The purple hood was one I made for the boys with little ivy and leaves on the hem. it closed with a cloak clasp. The embroidery was done with DMC cotton thread, because...well...Kids!



 

 



 The napkin below was one of many (I did only one) that were created for Pennsic gift baskets. The napkin was provided to me and the instructions were to embroider a white heraldic rose onto its corner. I used silk embroidery thread by Splendor. The napkin was a linen with a crochet lace edging.

 

I look back at a lot of what I did and it really lets me see how far I've come. Lets me see what I've learned and how I would do things differently if I were to work on these projects now. 

 

My only regret is not having put that alms purse embroidery in my craft caddy that night. Ill have to get started on another one for myself one of these days. 

Viking tunic..yes another one

 

I just completed this Viking tunic for a friend.  We talked about me making it months back and was FINALLY able to get measurements (by stealing a tunic he was wearing that day!) and able to get working on it. He chose the color linen and had it mailed to me directly. I washed and dried it prior to cutting it out and then used the "stolen" tunic as a pattern for it.  His request was to have Viking runes on the sleeve that when translated say "It begins in the beginning as all things do."  He provided the translation.  The hem and collar are a double herringbone stitch done in blue, white and green thread. The wolves heads are the symbols on his coat of arms and I copied them onto the tunic for further personalization.  I used cotton thread instead of silk thread because honestly, cotton is a bit tougher. I have found that men tend to be a bit tougher on their garb then women.  Also, The gold and green colors I was out of in my silk thread collection and funds being on the snug side, I chose for the lesser pricey threads that I had in my collection already. 

 

As with my other Viking type tunics, my inspiration for the embroidery comes mostly from the Mammen embroideries found on extant pieces.  Paired beasts were often used, though not in the fashion I used it on his tunic.  Below is a fragment of embroidery showing the paired beasts. I placed the wolves heads on either side of the neckline to personalize it more for the recipient, as they are on his coat of arms.

 

I'm so very happy with how it came out and his reaction when I sent him pictures was even better.  I'm still cracking up laughing over it! I promise to add a picture of him wearing it when I see him in it.

 

The materials I used were as follows: 

DMC Cotton thread

Coats and Clark sewing thread

Linen fabric

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edit 06/18/15:

Two photos of the recipient wearing the tunic