Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Queen's Tea Favor
I was asked by my friend, Baroness Viennet de la Mar, to create a blackwork embroidery Queen's Tea Favor for Her Majesty Marguerite of the East for Pennsic XXXIX.
Materials:
100% silk satin (clearance from JoAnn Fabrics samples)
100% silk thread, black.
Size 11 sharp needle.
Some observations:
I waxed the thread because I wanted a very smooth finish, especially pulling through the tightly woven silk-satin. The images are taken from Richard Shorleyker's "A Schole-house for the Needle", 1632 edition, available at http://eebo.chadwyck.com/home.
Although the book edition is "out of period", the images are very similar to "in-period" examples available on extant shifts and shirts, so I felt comfortable using them.
I used a steel needle because I'm concerned about the width of the eye on punched bronze needles. I use tightly woven or very finely woven materials, and I'm concerned the eye will leave a hole too big for the material to "heal itself".
This picture is of the finished embroidery, but not the finished tissue packet. It was lined with black linen, and closed with a whip stitch.
Materials:
100% silk satin (clearance from JoAnn Fabrics samples)
100% silk thread, black.
Size 11 sharp needle.
Some observations:
I waxed the thread because I wanted a very smooth finish, especially pulling through the tightly woven silk-satin. The images are taken from Richard Shorleyker's "A Schole-house for the Needle", 1632 edition, available at http://eebo.chadwyck.com/home.
Although the book edition is "out of period", the images are very similar to "in-period" examples available on extant shifts and shirts, so I felt comfortable using them.
I used a steel needle because I'm concerned about the width of the eye on punched bronze needles. I use tightly woven or very finely woven materials, and I'm concerned the eye will leave a hole too big for the material to "heal itself".
This picture is of the finished embroidery, but not the finished tissue packet. It was lined with black linen, and closed with a whip stitch.
Change of Focus
I've been away from this blog for so long because I got discouraged working on the gown. I did the typical "oh my G-D, must finish this tonight to wear tomorrow!" and the fit was ill, and so upsetting I put it away and haven't revisited it since.
Combined with grad school, both spring and summer sessions, and I just haven't wanted to do it.
And then Pennsic came, and it was Good, and I realized that what I love is doing embroidery. I make clothing as historically as I can, but that's not what I want to spend huge amounts of time and focus on.
So I now have a renewed enthusiasm for embroidery, and that will be the focus from here on out, unless it's not. :D
Combined with grad school, both spring and summer sessions, and I just haven't wanted to do it.
And then Pennsic came, and it was Good, and I realized that what I love is doing embroidery. I make clothing as historically as I can, but that's not what I want to spend huge amounts of time and focus on.
So I now have a renewed enthusiasm for embroidery, and that will be the focus from here on out, unless it's not. :D
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