Wallachian Embroidery (2)

Cover of the book Wallachian Embroidery, by the Priscilla Publishing Co, Boston 1908. Cover of the book Wallachian Embroidery, by the Priscilla Publishing Co, Boston 1908.

Wallachian embroidery is a form of whitework embroidery that became popular at the end of the nineteenth century in North America, and should not be confused with the 'original' Wallachian work. Its characteristic feature is the use of buttonhole stitch. It was based upon a traditional embroidery style from Wallachia in Romania. The urbanised American version is mainly worked in white silk or cotton on a linen ground.

There are three main features: buttonhole eyelets; shapes such as leaves worked in slanting buttonhole stitch, and, thirdly, what are called dovetailed buttonholes, by which two rows of buttonhole stitches are worked facing each other with the long ends of the stitches interlocking.

This type of embroidery was used to decorate clothing and soft furnishings, such as cushions and towels.

Source: ANON (1908). Wallachian Embroidery, Boston (Mass): The Pruscilla Publishing Co.

GVE

Last modified on Tuesday, 24 January 2017 17:06