I went to pick my things up at the fair, and the "best in show" was this:
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have never seen this work before in my life and I thought it was stunning. Can anybody tell me what it is, what it's called, how to do it, and/or where to get a book on how to do it? I'm dying to learn this...
Thanks bunches!
LG
PS...I was very impressed by the level of craftsmanship I saw there. We
might be a dying breed, but we're going slowly.
and she's had articles specifically on monograms, padded satin stitch,
shadow embroidery, and so forth. Inspirations magazine also has
projects with this sort of work pretty frequently.
Hope this helps a bit,
Ericka
What beautiful workmanship. It includes beading, smocking, and padded
whitework. May also include hand sewing (tucks, seams, lace, etc), but
that's unclear from the picture. It may have been machine sewn.
In *today's* language, it falls under the heading of "heirloom sewing",
but also is referred to as plain and fancy (that's an old term). It's
just a style that incorporates several different techniques.
To answer your question, you'd have to learn several techniques to
produce the results you see. :-) The most difficult would be the
padded whitework and the roll/whip (if it was hand sewn).
Dianne
--
Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net
WIP: FrankenFauna, Morning Glory, NoshiRibbons, Emperor's Coat II
Most recently Finished: Water Lilies, Be Mine, Honey I Shrunk the Heart
Stitching log:
When I first looked at it and posted, I didn't notice the shadow
embroidery. But you and Erika are correct, and it's pretty obvious.
Sorry I missed it.
Now, where did you find the trapunto? That's a form of quilting and I
didn't notice any. :-) The bodice looks like smocking to me (at the
sides, the middle is plain).
Dianne
It's possible that the shells and scrolls are done in standard
embroidery, but they look a little more like trapunto than surface
embroidery.
As I understand it, trapunto doesn't have to be part of all-over
quilting. It can be a simple as channel-stitching a motif and then
drawing a heavy thread/light yarn through the channel from behind.
When a piece is already shadow embroidered, highlighting a motif with
trapunto is a trivial step.
--
Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net
WIP: FrankenFauna, Morning Glory, NoshiRibbons, Emperor's Coat II
Most recently Finished: Water Lilies, Be Mine, Honey I Shrunk the Heart
Stitching log:
I wouldn't stake my life, but I'm pretty sure those are
padded satin stitch, which would be in keeping with the
rest of the techniques.
Best wishes,
Ericka
I'm with Jenn on the trapunto. Look at the close up photo, the
scrolls that start just under the cross. Follow them around to the
bottom end of the S. The very end flares ever so slightly as if the
fabric was pulled on itself.
The outer ribbons look appliqued. If you follow the lines when they
cross other work, you can notice the other work underneath.
But it is very finely executed. I can see why it won best in show.
Tara
I don't think that's the fabric flaring. I think the scroll
widens into a little "bulb" at the end. The sheen of the scrolls
is different, which makes me think it is more likely padded satin
stitch.
That could well be. I was thinking shadow work from the first
picture, but when I found the closeup underneath, it does look more
like applique. I can't see the backstitch on the front, nor any of
the crosshatching behind that I'd expect from shadow work (though
I think the bird might be shadow embroidery).
Best wishes,
Ericka
From what I can remember of my first impressions, I do not believe
anything was appliqued.
I remember wondering how she got the fabric to pop out dimensionally
like that without stitching ON TOP, because there was very little satin
stitching.
From the descriptions of trapunto and shadowing, I'd say that's
probably what it was, because nothing was laid on top and appliqued down.
It is very difficult, from fuzzy pictures, to tell exactly what is being
done. There definitely is padded satin stitch (the "S" scrolls are
worked in this manner). There is definitely some smocking on the
bodice. There are bullion roses, and the birds are shadow embroidery.
Since very fine shadow embroidery, and its resultant back stitch on the
surface, would be difficult to "see" in these photos, it's too difficult
to tell exactly what technique was used for the ribbons.
The shells are not trapunto. And indeed, it would be unlikely to use
that technique in this "genre" of needlework. It is probably trialings,
as is the cross and several other design elements. Or, it could be
whipped stem, also common in this work by those less skilled.
Always fun to try to figure out embroidery from pictures. :-)
Dianne
It was such fine work, I wanted to find the person and congratulate her,
then pick her brains, but I wouldn't know how to contact her if I even
knew her name.
In the meantime, I'm off to attempt to learn some of this heirloom
stuff. I never even knew it existed, but then, the craftswomen in my
family are 1) quilter and baker (and reluctant needleworker), 2)
crocheter and baker (and reluctant needleworker), and 3) seamstress and
dollmaker (and non-needleworker). So you see, I'm kind of on my own
here, as I don't care for their arts much and can't blame them for not
caring for mine.
Thank you, ladies, so much, for your input. You've given me some
invaluable leads. I'm sorry the pictures didn't come out so well. I
wasn't sure how they would with the digital.
it looks like "candlewicking"; i've seen it on that Sew Beautiful pbs
show w/martha pullen....
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are
they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be
filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed
are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the
peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
(Matt. 5:5-9)
=A0 Inspired
When I picked up embroidery after years of neglecting the art, this was
the first type that I pursued. Martha Pullen's magazine "Sew Beautiful"
(I've written two articles for them) was my inspiration. Then
"Inspirations".
You might want to try your hand at smocking, which (like cross stitch)
includes "picture" smocking as well as the beautiful geometric
patterning. I never ventured much into smocking, so it's not one of my
forte's, but I enjoyed the couple of pieces that I did.
Dianne
Candlewicking is knotted stitches. I didn't notice any knotted work.
There was one area that looked like chain stitching, but I doubt that's
what it was. So hard to tell from the photo. Wish I could see these
two gowns up close and personal.
Dianne
Just one gown, but I found how it was listed on the fair website:
DAYGOWN W/ DRAWN THREADWORK/SHADOW
I also found the artist's name. I think I'm going to try to contact
her, if possible.
From the original link, there were two gowns. The front one had the
blue ribbon and the "fair" tag. The one behind had bead work and it,
too, looked lucious.
I hope you're able to find the needleworker. I didn't see anything on
this gown that was remotely related to drawn threadwork!
Dianne
Ah, yes, you're right. I didn't think it was that visible. That was
cutwork and beads, although I neglected to get a picture of it.
Yes, you're right. It was luscious too.
I didn't either, but the entrants wrote their own descriptions. Who
knows? In any case, I'm going to bug all the people on Switchboard with
that lady's last name and see if I can't track her down.
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