Embroideries

Embroideries

Italian cutwork combines cutwork with whitework and needle lace techniques. The small designs are mostly geometric, but little figures or birds also occur. The ground material is linen. The cut-out designs are filled with stitches, generally buttonhole stitch. The stitches are attached to the surrounding ground material, which is further embellised with whitework worked in raised stitches, such as bullion stitch or detached overcast stitch.

Jacobean work may be regarded as a form of crewel embroidery, although it also uses silk or even metal thread. It is characterised by its floral designs, but it also includes animals, birds, etc. It became popular in England in the early seventeenth century, in the reign of James (Jacobus) I. A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, from c. 1599, heralds this style of embroidery (see the pertinent entry).

Java canvas work was a popular form of embroidery in the late nineteenth century, named after its ground material (Java canvas, aida). It was used for mats, music cases, work cases, and any article that requires a pliable, yet moderately stiff foundation (including slippers!). The embroidery was worked with wool, silk or filoselle silk threads.

Kells embroidery is a form of Celtic Revival work, which dates from the early 1880's.

The kloster block constitutes the foundation of Hardanger embroidery. It is worked with satin stitches or straight stitches. Five of these stitches are made to cover four even-weave fabric threads. The block designs thus created are placed along the border of the area that is cut away. The stitches of the kloster blocks serve to hold the threads of the uncut parts of the fabric together.

Knotwork is the interlacing of one or more bands, straps, or threads, in such a way as to create a decorative effect. It was a popular decorative style in sixteenth century Europe and was used for architectural features, paintings, pottery, as well as textiles, including decorative needlework. It is still sometimes used.

Krestetsky embroidery originates from the Krestetsky district, in the Novgorod Oblast, between St Petersburg and Moscow. This form of embroidery has over the years become famous in Russia and beyond. It is sometimes described as Krestetsky whitework, or Krestetsky flaxen work. It may be classed as a form of embroidered lace.

Lagartera embroidery, or Lagartera work, is an ancient hand embroidery tradition that originates from the Spanish town of Lagartera, near Toledo. It is known from at least the sixteenth century, and is often described as reflecting Moorish influences.

Luneville embroidery is an umbrella term for various types of tambour embroidery, originating from the French town of Lunéville (Lorraine, France), where in the late eighteenth century a number of embroiderers had settled. Around 1810 they invented a form of tambour embroidery, using a very fine tulle cloth, which was decorated with chain stitch. Luneville embroidery may thus be classed as a form of embroidered net lace.

Madeira embroidery (or Madeira work) is a type of fine whitework embroidery and cutwork lace, which is very similar to broderie anglaise. It may thus also be classed as a form of embroidered lace. This type of work was developed by Bella Phelps, who introduced this form of embroidery to Britain from the 1840's.

Madeira work trimmings are a form of whitework executed in long narrow strips (trimming).

Miniature needlework, or miniature embroidery, is the embroidery of miniature designs on a very fine canvas. Many items are worked on a 1/12 scale (1 inch = 1 foot). Such items are often worked on a silk even-weave cloth with a thread (mesh) count ranging from 24 to 75 meshes per inch. The main stitch form used is petit point.

Mountmellick embroidery (or Mountmellick work) is a type of whitework associated with the southern Irish town of Mountmellick. It is sometimes called Mountmellick lace, but this is incorrect as it does not include the holes associated with bobbin or needlelace.

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