The Embroideress

Stitches wind up with a plethora of names as they pass through centuries and cultures. One of the most diverse is the group of names used for what I prefer to call Double Running Stitch. I think it is the most practical, down-to-earth name for a stitch that has been variously known as Holbein stitch, true stitch, line stitch, square stitch, punto scrito (writing stitch) or Spanish Stitch.

For an article with a good discussion and the author's interpretation of this stitch as reflected in a Portrait of a Lady in White by daBrescia (c. 1540) see Kathleen Epstein's article Concernynge the Excellency of the Nedle Worcke Spanisshe Stitche in the January/February 1995 issue of Piecework.

Labels: Needlework Stitches, Recommended reading

I'm spoiled in a big way here at Robin's. What a feast the other night with some of their historic friends. The costuming was stunning and boy can those folks cook. Good conversation, good food, eye candy all around - what more could be wanted.

ATC class was super. Folks fell in love with some German designer off cuts I had along. They layered beautifully. Another big hit was the Kreinik Iron On Threads. They added a lot of easy glam to the cards. I hope someone else wants an ATC class in the future because it is sooooo much fun and you can turn out a real handful of FINISHED projects in a day.

Today is lunch out and then more stitching on stitch samples for Friday's class. The Victorians named many stitches differently than we do today. It's no wonder there is some confusion in the stitch world. The stitches I will be demo'ing are from a 1900 Brainard & Armstrong embroidery instruction booklet and some of them are familiar, some fairly familiar and some pretty unknown or unused by us today.

More in the next few days.

Labels: Artist's Trading Cards, Needlework Stitches