Did you know that the most famous tapestry isn't even really a tapestry? While actually it is technically, but most of the time you think of tapestry as being a woven piece of fabric but tapestries can also be an embroidered canvas. And the Bayeux Tapestry is a 230 foot long embroidered cloth, depicting the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England in 1070. The earliest reference to the tapestry is 1476. It is currently preserved in Normandy, France. It would be amazing to see. We have been busy doing some family history work lately and recently found out that on my father's side we came from a line of Kings until the dang Norman conquest. That was the ending of our royal blood. I could have been a queen! :)
If you missed the first part to this series click here: Renaissance Embroidery Part 1. I covered some of the history of Fiber Arts during the Renaissance period in the first part. I am continuing to teach my Renaissance Embroidery class at my daughters' school. My lesson plans were a bit
ambitious and we don't cover as much as I want but I think the
students are still learning a lot and enjoying the experience.
Doing research for the class, I've learned a lot. For example I learned there are (at least) six different types of embroidery:
- Crewel -which uses wool thread and firm fabric to make somewhat large and bold designs.
- Cross stitch - which usually uses cotton thread to make precise x shaped stitches on fabric with evenly spaced threads and stitch holes.
- Needlepoint - which uses silk, cotton, or wool thread on canvas with evenly spaced stitch holes with a variety of stitch types.
- Needle Painting - which uses very closely placed long and short stitches to create a detailed, realistic, and intricate picture. Stitches almost look like brush strokes. My husband is very good at this type of embroidery.
- Hardanger - which uses the same color of thread and fabric. Designs are usually geometric, using specific shapes.
- Blackwork/Whitework/Redwork - This embroidery uses a single color of named thread on white or natural colored fabric. Designs usually consist of outlines without filled areas.
I have attempted the Redwork style of embroidery with my little Sunbonnet Sue design. I purchased the pattern for a $1 at Deseret Books a few years ago and was glad for the extra push this class gave me to finally stitch it. I love all the Sunbonnet Sue designs. Unfortunately with so many students in and out of the box of embroidery threads and using red as well, it has a few different shades of red in it. It was hard to keep track of the correct red from week to week. In hindsight I could have held it out or written down the number but I guess it didn't matter that much to me. I kind of like the slight variations of the color anyway.
My daughter that is taking the class embroidered the ice cream cone. I was so happy that I could find lots of great, free embroidery designs on the internet to print for this class. That was one of them. I wish I had kept that link so I could give the designer the credit.
My other daughter, in second grade, who has declared that she is "just not an outdoors kind of person" comes to visit my class during her afternoon recess and embroidered the cupcake. She was really into it one day and didn't hear the bell to go back to class. Her teacher was worried and looking for her. I felt kind of bad. But I am impressed with her stitching skills. Actually 90% of the class has really made a lot of great progress with their needle threading and even stitching skills. 10% still need a lot of prodding to stitch more and talk less. But I am dealing with junior high kids so what can I expect?
Happy Monday!
Renaissance Embroidery Part 3
Labels: embroidery, Hearts Knit Together
