There are many types of embroidery, these are just a few of few of my favourites!
BLACKWORK is believed to have originated in 15th Century Spain, coming to England with Katherine of Aragon. It was used widely on costume and other household linens.. Stitches form patterns and these are used to form shadows. Omitted stitches form the highlights. Coloured and metal threads can also be incorporated to add an extra dimension. Blackwork works well either as a representation of an object or in the more traditional form of a decorative pattern.
CANVAS EMBROIDERY would have been found all over the house on bed hangings, wall hangings, sofas, cushions, footstools and fire screens to name a few. Canvas embroideries were produced from the the 1630’s as a cheaper alternative to the more expensive tapestries.. I like to work canvas embroidery in two ways - canvas shading, working purely in tent stitch concentrating on just the shading and a more textural form using lots of different canvas stitches together.
GOLDWORK embroidery has been around for thousands of years - developing in the East. It is traditionally associated in England with Ecclesiastical embroidery - techniques such as Opus Anglicanum and Or Nue` and with Royalty - it was used extensively on English Court dress during the 18th Century. Whilst being classed as ‘gold’ work other colours of thread - silver, copper and and brightly coloured metals can be used to stunning effect. Most subjects can be adapted to goldwork, it is a very textural, luxurious technique and can be combined with many other techniques, including (with the exception perhaps of whitework) all those mentioned on this page.
FINE WHITEWORK encompasses several different whitework techniques - drawn, pulled, the eyelets of Broderie Anglaise and the delicate fillings and surface stitches of Ayreshire. White work is a vast technique with many variations and traditions - unfortunately too vast to go into any detail here. Traditionally it is worked white thread on white linen/cotton and was used to decorate household linens, Christening gowns and costume.
SILK SHADING is a beautiful technique which enables the embroiderer to produce detailed, accurately shaded work. The technique was first used as secular decoration during the Tudor period. It’s a technique well suited to portraying figures, animals, plants and flowers, and once mastered gives an enormous sense of satisfaction.
STUMPWORK can be used to great effect to produce ‘pictures’ of people from the humorous, to everyday scenes, to records of special events. It incorporates many raised stitches and offers a more 3-d effect than many embroidery techniques. It appeared in England during the Stuarts reign and many stumpwork caskets were produced finely detailed with figures and oversized insects, mammals and flowers.
