At the start of August, I anticipated a month of embroidery research. I aimed to study the embroidery on the vestments of the Golden Fleece and turn it into a goldwork course. But you know what they say: “The universe laughs when you make plans”. For the first three weeks I was ill. And in the last two weeks I helped a friend who hit rock bottom. In between, I had just enough time left to dig out a project that I never properly finished: the Gothic Pansy orphrey panel. I was originally going to teach this at a retreat. Then, the pandemic hit, and the project never saw the light of day. Until now, that is! Starting on the 4th of October, we’ll have eight Zoom lessons in which we’ll tackle stitching a medieval orphrey panel together.
Tackling stitching an orphrey panel on your own, even with ample instructions, is hard. Joining me for this live Zoom goldwork course is the perfect alternative. The lessons are held on Sunday with plenty of time in between to finish your homework. We also avoid the time when the clocks turn back and the major holidays towards the end of the year. Don’t worry if you cannot make the Zoom sessions; these are recorded. Lessons drop a week before the Zoom so that you already get an idea of what we will tackle. When you stick to the plan, you will have a finished orphrey panel before the end of January 2027!
In this goldwork course, what will you learn? Which techniques will we tackle? The orphrey panel features classic elements of a typical late-medieval goldwork embroidery. However, the completed design is 20 x 10 cm, a bit smaller than the originals. This course will teach you how to read diaper pattern diagrams, apply string padding, layer goldwork, stitch or nué and apply slips. The course starts with setting up your slate frame and transferring the design. It will end with applique the slips and mounting the orphrey panel onto chasuble fabric.
It was great fun to finish writing up the instructions for this goldwork course. Since I stitched the original nearly 10 years ago, I have learned so much more and would stitch things differently now. So, re-stitching the piece during the Zoom sessions will also turn this project into a proper online embroidery course that will stand the test of time on the membership part of my website.
Have I whetted your appetite, and would you like to stitch the Gothic Pansy orphrey panel with me? Great! You can already see the materials you will need, along with all the important dates and times on the course page. The course is open to all my Monthly and Yearly Members. Free Members will need to upgrade to either a Monthly or a Yearly Plan. Please leave any questions you may have in the comments below (due to spam control, you will need to sign up for a Free Membership and be logged in to do that). Looking forward to seeing you in class!
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