Couching - part of Siobhan's Challenge

[smlibrarian]

After reading the article on the British Museum's website on Embroidered Bookbindings, and zooming in on the images they have in their online collection, I have decided that I'll need to learn how to couch. Luckily, someone on one of my email lists provided these great websites on this style of embroidery last night! :)

• "Couching", from the

Comments

[patsmor]

I'm thrilled to hear this.

I found some info on the Midream Great Boke, which had a cover and embroidered cover and a satchel -- I got to help work on part of it, but it was amazing. You might see if you can find more info on it... (Lots of the C&I folks that worked on it have pictures, but I'm finding not much on the covers.)

http://www.randyasplund.com/browse/scribepg/mkgbp1.html

It was also talked about at the Northshield Peers' meeting in April (I think) of 2005, so possibly Master Geverhard knows more detail...

re:Midream Great Boke

[smlibrarian]

Ooh, very good to know! Always open to finding more resources. :) Esp. almost local ones!

Re: Midream Great Boke

[patsmor]

It was/is a fabulous project. It's being or was rebound, I believe, because it was carried around and actually used in ceremonies for peerages and it wasn't quite strong enough for that.

Laugh! Happy random chance

[patsmor]

Looking at the embroidered bookbindings, this was the second I clicked on --

http://prodigi.bl.uk/bindingsimages/Components%5C44%5C4401_1.jpg

And it has Chevronels braced!

Re: Laugh! Happy random chance

[smlibrarian]

And this was Catherine Parr's! I exclaim over this since I am using her portrait as my inspriation in the dress I'm making for Spring Crown. :) Here it is. I want to do the hat as well, but it kind of intimidates me. We'll see how ambitious I get on it.

See what happens when someone gets sucked into image files?

[patsmor]

So, I've been looking at all these pictures and a bunch of others, and am trying to figure out -- the ones with what looks like coiled metallic threads -- is that wrapped and couched, or what?

Re: See what happens when someone gets sucked into image files?

[smlibrarian]

Looking at the magnified version of the one you have linked to above, I would say/guess that they are couched. (You're talking about the decorative framing around the edges, right?) To my yet uneducated eyes, it looks like the cording there that is couched could be made of 2 different types of thread. Gold and silver perhaps? But I definatly see the couching threads tacking it all down.

Re: See what happens when someone gets sucked into image files?

[patsmor]

No, this one, more:
http://prodigi.bl.uk/bindingsimages/Components%5C51%5C5119_1.jpg

Re: See what happens when someone gets sucked into image files?

[smlibrarian]

Ooh, very pretty! That one looks like the cording is wrapped since it shows the gold/metal thread under.