Yesterday evening saw the start of my live goldwork embroidery course “Gothic Pansy“. Together with a group of international students, we covered the course outline and did a round of introductions before I showed them how to set up a traditional slate frame. Since the next lesson isn’t until the Read more
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 Read more
Back in 2020, when we were all cooped up inside, I taught an 8-part series on Zoom called the Imperial Goldwork Course. The series was based on the book “Lehrcurs der Goldstickerei” published in 1902 by Amelie von Saint-George. I have now uploaded the original PDFs and the recorded Zoom Read more
Today, I am sharing a free medieval embroidery pattern with you. Late last year, I visited the Treasury of the basilica of St Servatius in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Among the display cases with medieval textiles sat this very damaged alms purse. Colours faded and threads fallen out. When I studied Read more
Today’s embroidery tutorial was inspired by the tablecloth of the Last Supper in a 14th-century Italian embroidery. By couching down a pair of twisted cream silk threads with a thin, untwisted cream silk thread, it looks as if the tablecloth is made of damask. This is a clever way to Read more
In the past, my tutorials have shown you how to layer different layers of embroidery on top of each other to get a particularly sumptuous result. This goldwork embroidery tutorial will add to your skills. This time, you will add a beautiful layer of silken flowers freehand. That’s right—no pattern Read more
In this medieval embroidery tutorial, I will show you how to recreate the lovely female face with the big braids as seen on this 15th-century chasuble. You will practice silk embroidery, padding and beading when recreating this lovely beaded stumpwork portrait of a female saint. Whilst working the medieval embroidery Read more
Identifying an embroidery stitch correctly on a historic piece is not always easy. As inspecting the back for correct identification is often necessary, historic embroideries can be challenging. Either the back cannot be checked due to a lining or is displayed, so it is inaccessible. The solution? Make embroidery samples Read more