Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Too Much To Learn

Firstly, we are doing a modified swetebag -- which is twinging my historic side horribly. It is an amalgam of bags and the tutors styling. It targets a 1630's bag, but does have several accommodations - most notably size. It is larger. The items on the bag have been simplified in some ways and added to in other ways -- it is hard to describe. Suffice to say it is all good for learning, but I doubt it is a project I will finish; as I hoped.

That said, there is lots to learn and much applicable to doing a real historic swetebag. The first 3 sessions for my group (we were divided into 3 groups)focused on stitching. Some of the things we covered included -- (1)detached buttonhole with return (Brussels stitch) and we did it coming out from the center of the flower with each petal separately, with 3 layers of colors; (2)hollie point - 3 or 4 colors with each petal separately and then totally detached edge (we will wire the edge eventually); (3)trellis stitch strawberry which we will add gold chips later.

The first 2 session of braids (never enough time) were on plaited braids which were finger looped and stitched as they were done - 2, 4 and 6 loop braids. The light truly went on when I think about the edgings on the 14th C gowns in the MOL books. The afternoon was making cording gimps and tassels -- this is where having a slightly larger scale really helps. As it was the gimps were 3 cm and the tassel and over all less than 10 cm. REALLY COOL!!!!

We also have had lectures galore - Overview of Swetebags (I asked after the lecture to PLEASE give each item a time frame (ie early 17th C) so we can really place things on a time tree. 2 on history - one on who was Lady Anne Clifford (Pembroke) and the George Washington connection. Then yesterday we went on a tour of Levens Hall and had a lecture on samplers. Really it was on motifs and how you see them time an again. The pictures our tutors have is amazing. Sigh!!! If only I had the same access. Many of the pictures I am familiar with the source, but frequently the picture is better than I have ever seen -- better detail or of items from private collections. Of course, the more you learn the more you see.

So I'll sign off now (boy do I sound British :) and let the brain rest up tonight. Kumihimo tomorrow and then goldwork in the afternoon. Ta Ta!

2 comments:

Linn said...

Work and play hard.

MeganH said...

Dear Sabrina,

I'm primarily a medieval calligrapher and illuminator but have gotten into embroidery lately (or it has gotten into me!)

I have the blog Elmsley Rose
http://elmsleyrose.blogspot.com/
where I'm making my first attempt - an Elizabethan embroidered book cover, mostly in satin stitch.

I'd like to learn a lot more of the contemporaneous stitches.
Your comment in the entry above
"(2)hollie point - 3 or 4 colors with each petal separately and then totally detached edge (we will wire the edge eventually);"
intrigues me.

I'm just finding out about hollie point, and I have some experience in Stumpwork.

Could you kindly point me to any information/images that would further elucidate "a petal in hollie point with a totally detached edge that will be wired later".

I'd really appreciate it.

I'll turn "receive follow up comments" on - it makes getting messages through on blogs so much easier, doesn't it!

regards,
Megan/Elmsley Rose