The Season for Embroidery
Some time back I agreed to give a short talk and show 18th c embroidery items to the local group of Embroidery Canada Association (EAC). The date of March 31 is now fast approaching and that means I really need to get busy and complete several embroidery projects in order to have something to show that night.
In the 18th c ladies did not carry purses. Money or small items were carried around in "pockets". This is actually a separate clothing item that consists of usually two pockets which are tied around the waist with tapes and worn under the petticoats.... one does want to thwart pickpockets as much as possible. For an item that is virtually never seen, these pockets were often highly embroidered and very decorative. They were often pieces of art in their own right. Of course they were also a wonderful beginning spot for the novice embroiderer. These pockets were usually (although not always) done using wools and some very basic stitches, including stem, satin, herringbone, chain as well as a variety of laid stitches. Silk embroidery thread could be used but it certainly seems to have been much less common than the use of wool thread. Since I currently do not own a pocket this will be one of the projects I want to complete before the EAC meeting. I plan on creating at least one pocket using this design from the V&A
One of the items on my hope to get completed are some embroidered gloves to be worn with my 1760s caraco and quilted petticoat. because the lower arms are bare in the 18th c gloves were a much needed accessory if you were going to be out in either cold weather, or at least late into the evening. I had managed to save a small amount of red silk from the petticoat and have wanted to make up these gloves. Often these gloves only have embroidery where the knuckles would be on the hand using a very simple stem stitch, although there are a few instances of much more decorative embroidery along the top or sides of the gloves. In truth how much I embroider these gloves will be a factor of how much time I have left before the meeting.
Currently I am working on embroidering two pairs of cuffs, one for each of my two caracos (jackets). The pair I am doing just now is being completed on white batiste, using white silk thread and primarily buttonhole stitch, stem and satin stitches with a few French knots. It will create an effect similar to this example
This is fairly heavy in embroidery so I think the second pair will be a little more light and airy and done on fine quality linen:
If I can complete all of this before the meeting date, I will be very pleased but this will not be enough to do an entire evening of discussion, so I will be including my quilted red silk petticoat as another example of the decorative arts. I also plan on bringing and example of tambour embroidery. Tambour embroidery came from India and was introduced to Europe in the mid 18th c. It is fast and fairly easy to master and so became a very popular form of decoration. Examples of this style of embroidery can be found on everything from fine muslin aprons to silk waistcoats and gowns.
This is a brand new technique for me and the apron I am planning on will be my very first attempt in this art form. Perhaps someday I will be able to create something as lovely as that gown design.
In the 18th c ladies did not carry purses. Money or small items were carried around in "pockets". This is actually a separate clothing item that consists of usually two pockets which are tied around the waist with tapes and worn under the petticoats.... one does want to thwart pickpockets as much as possible. For an item that is virtually never seen, these pockets were often highly embroidered and very decorative. They were often pieces of art in their own right. Of course they were also a wonderful beginning spot for the novice embroiderer. These pockets were usually (although not always) done using wools and some very basic stitches, including stem, satin, herringbone, chain as well as a variety of laid stitches. Silk embroidery thread could be used but it certainly seems to have been much less common than the use of wool thread. Since I currently do not own a pocket this will be one of the projects I want to complete before the EAC meeting. I plan on creating at least one pocket using this design from the V&A
One of the items on my hope to get completed are some embroidered gloves to be worn with my 1760s caraco and quilted petticoat. because the lower arms are bare in the 18th c gloves were a much needed accessory if you were going to be out in either cold weather, or at least late into the evening. I had managed to save a small amount of red silk from the petticoat and have wanted to make up these gloves. Often these gloves only have embroidery where the knuckles would be on the hand using a very simple stem stitch, although there are a few instances of much more decorative embroidery along the top or sides of the gloves. In truth how much I embroider these gloves will be a factor of how much time I have left before the meeting.
Currently I am working on embroidering two pairs of cuffs, one for each of my two caracos (jackets). The pair I am doing just now is being completed on white batiste, using white silk thread and primarily buttonhole stitch, stem and satin stitches with a few French knots. It will create an effect similar to this example
This is fairly heavy in embroidery so I think the second pair will be a little more light and airy and done on fine quality linen:
If I can complete all of this before the meeting date, I will be very pleased but this will not be enough to do an entire evening of discussion, so I will be including my quilted red silk petticoat as another example of the decorative arts. I also plan on bringing and example of tambour embroidery. Tambour embroidery came from India and was introduced to Europe in the mid 18th c. It is fast and fairly easy to master and so became a very popular form of decoration. Examples of this style of embroidery can be found on everything from fine muslin aprons to silk waistcoats and gowns.
This is a brand new technique for me and the apron I am planning on will be my very first attempt in this art form. Perhaps someday I will be able to create something as lovely as that gown design.