Blackwork partlet.
I spent the weekend at a tiny ren-faire in the mountains with my Barony. And spent some time starting and working on my early Elizabethan linen blackwork partlet. It was nice to get back into working embroidery again. But I realized that I really am better at working this without my glasses, which tells me just how funky my eyes are getting, as even with the bifocals.
I am using one strand of black silk embroidery silk, that I picked up a few years ago from a local source. The linen is an evenweave I got from an online source, I think eBay; too far back to remember. The pattern I am working is an allover flower & knotwork design, and it is not fully period. It was designed by Ianthé d'Averoigne, the editor/author of The New Carolingian Modelbook (plate 59). It is her design, based on period designs. I just rather liked it, as it was more than just one motif over and over and over again, as in the period modelbooks. It is also lots of different flowers, which I adore. And since this is for an item I will wear at faire, and most likely not enter into competition, I thought I would enjoy working this. I did have a period pattern I had taken & modified from one of my books, but... I lost the modifed pattern, and I didn't have time to rework it again before faire started. So, this will do even better I think.
The part in the middle is actually my sample piece. It has been so long, I figured if I started there, it would balance out the whole pattern onto the partlet. But that center piece will be cut out when I make my collar opening. That's ok, I really messed up badly there, so I am not too concerned about losing it later.
It will also take me some time to get done... I just plan on working on this daily, just a little at a time.
I am using one strand of black silk embroidery silk, that I picked up a few years ago from a local source. The linen is an evenweave I got from an online source, I think eBay; too far back to remember. The pattern I am working is an allover flower & knotwork design, and it is not fully period. It was designed by Ianthé d'Averoigne, the editor/author of The New Carolingian Modelbook (plate 59). It is her design, based on period designs. I just rather liked it, as it was more than just one motif over and over and over again, as in the period modelbooks. It is also lots of different flowers, which I adore. And since this is for an item I will wear at faire, and most likely not enter into competition, I thought I would enjoy working this. I did have a period pattern I had taken & modified from one of my books, but... I lost the modifed pattern, and I didn't have time to rework it again before faire started. So, this will do even better I think.
The part in the middle is actually my sample piece. It has been so long, I figured if I started there, it would balance out the whole pattern onto the partlet. But that center piece will be cut out when I make my collar opening. That's ok, I really messed up badly there, so I am not too concerned about losing it later.
It will also take me some time to get done... I just plan on working on this daily, just a little at a time.