Butterfly Motifs
So far I have not discovered any butterfly motifs in traditional Schwalm whitework designs. Butterflies started showing up in Schwalm designs only in the course of the last few years. The shapes of the butterflies are extremely diverse, and the design options are almost limitless; this is what makes them so interesting for embroidery. They can be combined with flowers and leaves or be used as individual motifs with excellent results either way.
Global Schwalm Sampler – Update (2)
I have received a couple of requests for clarification regarding the edges of the contribution piece. So, there are probably others who have the same question. I hope the following is helpful.
The piece should have a generous border of plain fabric all around – minimum 2cm as previously told – and straight cut edges. This means no hem or edge finishing (e.g. serged or zigzagged edges) at all – there must be enough plain fabric to be able to join all the pieces together.
Global Schwalm Sampler – Update (1)
#1
The first contribution comes from Germany. Elisabeth Baumgart was immediately attracted to the idea of a collective sampler.
She wrote:
“Even though I rarely embroider Schwalm whitework, I still want to be part of the great community effort!
It has become a small, simple motif and is supposed to represent a blossom.”
Coral Knot stitches, small leaves, and Blanket stitch eyelets as well as a Rose stitch Limet filling pattern decorate her nice and well done project.
The beginning has been made. Many more embroideries will follow soon!
Please remember that everyone is invited to participate. Your piece does not need to be elaborate, nor do you need to be an experienced embroiderer. The charm of the finished sampler will come from combining all contributions that arrive from all corners of the world.
One can find more contributions in Update (3).
The Pomegranate Motif (2)
The pomegranate was, and is also today, an interesting motif to be added to a Schwalm whitework border.
In the article The Pomegranate Motif (1), I showed examples of old traditional embroideries.
Here I show examples of contemporary Schwalm embroideries.
Perhaps the examples will motivate you to create your own pomegranate.
The pomegranate was an ancient symbol of the enticing joie de vivre in world culture; later it was also a sign of power and domination. In Schwalm whitework it was seen as a sign of fertility.
Old traditional – and in the next blog post, we will also see contemporary – embroidered pomegranate representations from the Schwalm can offer inspiration for different motif designs. The images also contain various examples of different embellishments using embroidery stitches or filling patterns.
Luzine Happel
Am Schindeleich 43
37269 Eschwege
Deutschland
Telefon: 05651-32233
Website: www.luzine-happel.de
E-Mail: leuchtbergverlag@aol.com
