Special Offer: Linen with Pre-Transferred Designs (2)

By on 12. March 2021   /   blog, printed designs   /   6 Comments

Last week I started to offer linen with pre-transferred designs, mostly doilies.
Here I present the last of the available designs – mostly tea cloths and table runners.

Again, the designs are all applied to high quality linen. It is article #925 from Weddigen; the 16/cm thread count linen that is most commonly used for Schwalm whitework.

These are not listed in my online store, you may order them by contacting me directly via email: info@luzine-happel.de

Information regarding the shipping costs can be found at the end of this article.

#15 out of stock
doily
size: 40 cm X 40 cm
design size: 26 cm in diameter
weight: 57 g
price: €11,76 for customers outside the EU and €14 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #15

#16 out of stock
oval doily
size: 35 cm X 45 cm
design size: 22.5 cm X 32 cm
weight: 50 g
price: €11,76 for customers outside the EU and €14 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #16

#17 out of stock
table runner
size: 50 cm X 100 cm
design size: 19 cm X 50 cm
weight: 154 g
price: €23,53 for customers outside the EU and €28 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #17

#18 out of stock
table runner
size: 50 cm X 100 cm
design size: 21 cm X 21 cm X 2
weight: 157 g
price: €23,53 for customers outside the EU and €28 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #18

detail of embroidered example of #18

#19 out of stock
table runner
size: 45 cm X 90 cm
design size: 17 cm X 21 cm X 2
weight: 117 g
price: €23,53 for customers outside the EU and €28 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #19
Details of the embroidery one can find here.

#20 out of stock
table runner
size: 50 cm X 100 cm
design size: 21 cm X 50 cm
weight: 150 g
price: €23,53 for customers outside the EU and €28 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #20, on coarse linen

detail of embroidered example of #20, on coarse linen

#21
tea cloth
size: 65 cm X 65 cm
design size: 39 cm X 39 cm
weight: 130 g
price: €27,65 for customers outside the EU and €32,90 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #21

detail of embroidered example of #21

#22 out of stock
tea cloth
size: 70 cm X 70 cm
design size: 38 cm in diameter
weight: 160 g
price: €22,94 for customers outside the EU and €27,30 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

#23
tea cloth
size: 70 cm X 70 cm
design size: 35 cm in diameter
weight: 160 g
price: €22,94 for customers outside the EU and €27,30 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

#24a out of stock
tea cloth
size: 70 cm X 70 cm
design size: 32 cm in diameter
weight: 140 g
price: €22,94 for customers outside the EU and €27,30 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

#24b out of stock
tea cloth
size: 90 cm X 90 cm
design size: 32 cm in diameter
weight: 250 g
price: €34,71 for customers outside the EU and €41,30 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #24

#25 out of stock
tea cloth
size: 70 cm X 70 cm
design size: 35 cm in diameter
weight: 150 g
price: €22,94 for customers outside the EU and €27,30 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #25

detail of embroidered example of #25

detail of embroidered example of #25, worked with colour

#26 out of stock
tea cloth
size: 80 cm X 80 cm
design size: 30 cm in diameter
weight: 170 g
price: €31,18 for customers outside the EU and €37,10 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

#27 out of stock
tea cloth
size: 80 cm X 80 cm
design size: 45 cm in diameter
weight: 185 g
price: €31,18 for customers outside the EU and €37,10 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

#28 out of stock
tea cloth
size: 90 cm X 90 cm
design size: 52 cm in diameter
weight: 230 g
price: €34,71 for customers outside the EU and €41,30 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #28

#29 out of stock
tea cloth
size: 90 cm X 90 cm
design size: 35 cm X 35 cm
weight: 230 g
price: €34,71 for customers outside the EU and €41,30 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #29

detail of embroidered example of #29

#30 out of stock
tea cloth
size: 90 cm X 90 cm
design size: 58 cm X 58 cm
weight: 240 g
price: €34,71 for customers outside the EU and €41,30 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

detail of embroidered example of #30 – worked with colour

#31 out of stock
tea cloth
size: 90 cm X 90 cm
design size: 41 cm in diameter
weight: 240 g
price: €34,71 for customers outside the EU and €41,30 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #31

weight of the required envelope: 70 g

Shipping up to 500 g without tracking is €3.80 for customers outside the EU and €3.81 (which includes 19% VAT) for customers inside the EU.

Shipping up to 500 g with a tracking number is €6,15 for customers outside the EU and €6,60 (which includes 19% VAT) for customers inside the EU.

Shipping up to 1000 g is €9 for customers outside the EU and €8.33 (which includes 19% VAT) for customers inside the EU.

Shipping up to 1000 g with a tracking number is €11,35 for customers outside the EU and €11,13 (which includes 19% VAT) for customers inside the EU.

I do not add on any PayPal fees or handling charges. So you pay only the price of the printed linen and the shipping costs.

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Special Offer: Linen with Pre-Transferred Designs (1)

By on 5. March 2021   /   blog, printed designs   /   2 Comments

In the last few years the interest in handcrafts as a whole, including embroidery, has declined. Some companies have reduced their production, and others have given up completely. Many famous linen weaving mills no longer exist. Reduced demand means that the available range of required materials is limited. Sometimes the offerings are reduced in scope, for example there are fewer choices when it comes to the weights of embroidery threads. Good sources dry up. This is also true for linens printed with Schwalm designs; there used to be a treasure trove of these. I have taken over the remaining stock of an elderly lady’s linens printed with Schwalm designs, and I am now offering them for sale.

Printed designs offer the advantage that you can start embroidering straight away. The mostly very consistent lines remain visible until the end of the embroidery work. However, they can be washed out with a special detergent.

The designs are all applied to high quality linen. It is article # 925 from Weddigen; the 16/cm thread count linen that is most commonly used for Schwalm whitework.

Sometimes there are only single pieces left: all will be sold on a first come, first served basis. So please don’t hesitate to order here: info@luzine-happel.de

Information regarding the shipping costs are found at the end of this article.

#1a
doily “Blanket Stitch Eyelets Star” small
size: 32 cm X 32 cm
design size: 22 cm in diameter
weight: 32 g
price: €5,88 for customers outside the EU and €7 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

#1b out of stock
doily “Blanket Stitch Eyelets Star” somewhat larger
size: 45 cm X 45 cm
design size: 35 cm in diameter
weight: 57 g
price: €11,76 for customers outside the EU and €14 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #1a

embroidered examples of #1a and #1b

#2
doily
size: 40 cm X 40 cm
design size: 26 cm in diameter
weight: 57 g
price: €11,18 for customers outside the EU and €13,30 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #2

#3
doily
size: 45 cm X 45 cm
design size: 32 cm X 32 cm
weight: 59 g
price: €11,76 for customers outside the EU and €14,00 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #3

#4 out of stock
doily
size: 45 cm X 45 cm
design size: 22/23 cm in diameter
weight: 62 g
price: €11,76 for customers outside the EU and €14,00 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #4

#5 out of stock
doily
size: 45 cm X 45 cm
design size: 27 cm in diameter
weight: 62 g
price: €11,76 for customers outside the EU and €14,00 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #5

#6a
doily
size: 45 cm X 45 cm
design size: 18 cm in diameter
weight: 57 g
price: €11,76 for customers outside the EU and €14,00 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.
Here one can find how to work such a narrow plait wreath doily.

#6b out of stock
tea cloth
size: 70 cm X 70 cm
design size: 25 cm in diameter
weight: 164 g
price: €22,94 for customers outside the EU and €27,30 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

flechtkranz_10 embroidered example of #6

#7
doily
size: 45 cm X 45 cm
design size: 23 cm in diameter
weight: 62 g
price: €11,76 for customers outside the EU and €14,00 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #7

#8 out of stock
doily
size: 45 cm X 45 cm
design size: 17.5 cm in diameter
weight: 62 g
price: €11,76 for customers outside the EU and €14,00 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

#9
doily
size: 45 cm X 45 cm
design size: 19.5 cm X 19.5 cm
weight: 59 g
price: €11,76 for customers outside the EU and €14,00 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #9

471_Bild_10 one more embroidered example of #9, the filling pattern is found here.

#10 out of stock
doily
size: 45 cm X 45 cm
design size: 19.5 cm X 19.5 cm
weight: 59 g
price: €11,76 for customers outside the EU and €14,00 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

#11 out of stock
doily
size: 50 cm X 50 cm
design size: 18 cm in diameter
weight: 77 g
price: €11,76 for customers outside the EU and €14,00 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #11

24_mk_6 one more embroidered example of #11

#12 out of stock
doily
size: 40 cm X 50 cm
design size: 23 cm X 33 cm
weight: 62 g
price: €12,35 for customers outside the EU and €14,70 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

embroidered example of #12

#13
oval doily
size: 40 cm X 55 cm
design size: 37 cm X 29 cm
weight: 74 g
price: €12,35 for customers outside the EU and €14,70 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

>#14 out of stock
table runner
size: 40 cm X 70 cm
design size: 25 cm X 51 cm
weight: 86 g
price: €18,24 for customers outside the EU and €21,70 (which includes 19 % VAT) for customers inside the EU.

Next week I will offer tea cloths and table runners.

weight of the required envelope: 70 g

Shipping up to 500 g without tracking is €3.80 for customers outside the EU and €3.81 (which includes 19% VAT) for customers inside the EU.

Shipping up to 500 g with a tracking number is €6,15 for customers outside the EU and €6,60 (which includes 19% VAT) for customers inside the EU.

Shipping up to 1000 g is €9 for customers outside the EU and €8.33 (which includes 19% VAT) for customers inside the EU.

Shipping up to 1000 g with a tracking number is €11,35 for customers outside the EU and €11,13 (which includes 19% VAT) for customers inside the EU.

I do not add on any PayPal fees or handling charges. So you pay only the price of the printed linen and the shipping costs.

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Washing Out Persistent Outlines

By on 26. February 2021   /   blog, tips and tricks   /   2 Comments

Washing Out Persistent Outlines

Along the recommendation of my advisor, I dissolved curtains-full detergent in lukewarm water for my washing test

and submerged the prepared embroidery for a pre-wash.

The pencil traces can be clearly seen in the moistened fabric.

The embroidery remained in the soapy water for two days. From time to time I agitated it slightly with a wooden tool.

Then the wash started. It would be a lie to say that all colour disappeared without any intervention.
I first kept the embroidery under a jet of water. As a result, the colour gave way only minimally. I had to rub the coloured areas between my thumbs – but really only lightly and for a short time.

The lines that were not embroidered over disappeared immediately, the others dissolved after a very short time.

Dried and ironed the embroidery turned out bright white.

Encouraged by this success, I looked for a piece of linen with a design transferred in a particular way and with a particularly permanent colour

and embroidered it.

The finished embroidered piece was submerged into the soapy water, the blue colouration appears very clearly due to the outlines.

After two days of soaking, the soapy water was slightly heated, and the embroidery in it was agitated for a short time.

Then the wash started.
I had to rub the coloured areas between my thumbs. The blue colour dissolved very soon by continuing to rub. Nevertheless, I briefly boiled the embroidery in the soapy water to make the linen shrink.

What was left was impeccably pure embroidery, which radiates simple elegance after ironing.

In Germany we have a couple of different curtain detergents. So far I could not test all, but I know that DATO and Hoffmann´s Gardinenwaschmittel work.

Which special curtain detergents are available in your country? Have you performed any experiments in washing out design outlines? Please share your knowledge by leaving a comment.

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An Old Traditional Method for Transferring Designs onto Linen

By on 19. February 2021   /   blog, Konturenmuster, tips and tricks   /   2 Comments

An Old Traditional Method for Transferring Designs onto Linen

Some time ago, an embroiderer enthusiastically told me that she accidentally discovered a detergent that easily removes pencil marks from white embroidered linen without leaving any residue.

She uses an old method for transferring the design outlines of her embroidery projects: using a #2 pencil, the design paper is blackened on the back side in the area of the outlines. With the blackened side positioned on the linen, the outlines are traced using a pen with a strong point (old pen or embossing pen), and thus it is transferred to the fabric.

This method has been in disuse more and more because the pencil lines have been very difficult to remove. Could there now be a remedy with a special detergent?

This method of design transfer sounded interesting. And since one only needs things that are normally close at hand anyway, I decided to test it.

At first I approached the matter a little tentatively and perhaps a little light-handedly. On the back of the tracing paper on which the pattern was printed, I slightly blackened the line areas with an #2 pencil.

With the blackened side down and using removable adhesive strips, the pattern is attached to the linen in the desired position. The outlines are transferred by tracing them firmly with an embossing tool or old pen (with no ink).

After removing the template, one can see that the outlines are recognizable but very weak.

But you can now easily trace over them with a #2 pencil.

If there are any flaws, you can simply erase those lines with a soft eraser.

Any eraser “crumbs” can be removed with a toothbrush.

I embroidered the pattern, even worked the filling pattern first, to see how long the outlines would last. They were easily recognizable to the end.

Nevertheless, I retraced the remaining lines so that I could better see whether they were actually being removed during the wash. It can also be clearly seen that the Coral knot stitches have absorbed the pencil marks quite a bit.

In the next post I will report how the pencil marks can be removed.

Since not everyone has the desired design outline on tracing paper, I did another test. This time it was printed on regular printer paper. With the design lying on a white background, one can see the lines on the back.

One can also hold the paper against a window or light box ­– then the lines can be seen much better.

The paper is blackened on the back side in the area of the outline. This time I wasn’t so tentative.

With the paper correctly positioned with the blackened side against the linen, the transfer begins with a pen – here with an old ballpoint pen empty of ink. I transferred the left side of the semicircle on a hard surface, the rest of the pattern on a slightly softer surface. Work was more pleasant on the latter.

After removing the template, one can see that there were hardly any differences in the intensity of the lines – all of them are clearly visible. The lines transferred on the soft surface are, however, more rounded.

The lines do not have to be redrawn – at least for the time being. One can start embroidering right away. This time, however, some lines had to be touched up during the work because they threatened to fade too much.

However, there is still a lot of pencil residue – especially under the Coral knot stitches – as can be clearly seen in the picture of the embroidery lying in the washing water.

Then I put pencil lines on various types of linen – unwashed industrial linen and washed old linen

and some of the lines are embroidered with Coral knot stitches.

Will they be easy to remove?

You will see the results in next week’s article.

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Global Schwalm Sampler – Update (40)

By on 12. February 2021   /   blog, Globales Schwälmer Mustertuch   /   22 Comments

Global Schwalm Sampler – Update (40)

Now the sampler is ready. Its final a size is 3.40 m X 2.22 m!

A superlative cloth was created not only because of these dimensions but also because 74 embroiderers from 14 nations with great creativity and a lot of work contributed a total of 92 very individual pieces.

Beginners were just as enthusiastic as seasoned embroiderers. Occasional embroiderers had good reason to pick up the needle again. Teachers participated in the project together with their students. Complete embroidery circles actively committed themselves.

In this way, such an outstanding work was able to develop from a spontaneous idea that was initially poorly thought out. This worldwide effort was also made possible by translating the idea into many different languages. Thanks to everyone involved for their invaluable help and selfless commitment.

Unfortunately, all of its impressive beauty only unfolds in detailed photos or with backlighting. Only when viewing the entire ensemble in real life can the human eye perceives the imposing sublimity of the fine embroidery.

To everyone who contributed, I thank you from the bottom of my heart

  • for accepting the food for thought
  • for developing your own ideas
  • for implementation in attractive designs
  • for the generous provision of the required materials
  • for many hours of fine embroidery
  • for washing and ironing
  • for safe packaging
  • for the attached personal statements
  • for the loving words / comments
  • for delivery to the post office
  • for the generous acceptance of part of the significant shipping costs, and not least
  • for your commitment to show the world the beauty and the exceedingly interesting, varied, and specific techniques of Schwalm whitework.

If one recalls my definition of Schwalm whitework “Large areas of stylized motifs are surrounded with Coral Knot and Chain stitches, in the early form of Schwalm whitework also with Stem stitches. The inner surfaces are embroidered in different ways with simple, Limet and openwork patterns, in circular motifs also with needle lace and in the early form of Schwalm whitework with surface patterns. Decorative stitches complete the designs. The spaces between the motifs or around the motifs are filled with tendrils, small leaves and flowers.” Critics could point out that not all embroideries are based on the Schwalm technique. However, most of the participants followed this definition as can be seen in the following statistics. Approximately 11,129 cm Coral Knot stitches and approx. 7,734 cm Chain stitches were embroidered. (I laid a thread along the respective stitches and measured the length of the thread at the end, so the distances – including those of spirals for example – were relatively easy to calculate.) Nineteen embroiderers also chose stem stitches for working stems.

A total of 577 areas were filled with patterns from all five categories, with the Limet filling patterns being the most popular. I counted 96 different patterns – there are some that were unknown to me until then. The embroiderers were not only very creative in terms of design, but also in the execution of the embroidery.
280 Blanket stitched eyelets and 1058 Blanket stitch half-eyelet scallops were made.
683 small leaves, 123 satin stitch points and 420 tendrils adorn the embroidery.
Herringbone stitches, Lazy Daisy stitches, Eyelash stitches, Bouillon knots, and Bouillon stitches were often used. Many other decorative stitches completed the range.

Fabrics totaling nearly 69,950 cm² were sent to me, and, in order to be able to put everything together properly, these were cut back to a final size of 58,520 cm².

It would also be interesting to know how much thread has been used. Of course, the thread consumption depends on many factors and cannot be precisely calculated. But since I know that many of my blog readers would love to get an idea of it, I made a very rough calculation based on mean values. Years ago, when I was only doing embroidery for my own enjoyment, I kept detailed records of, among other things, thread consumption. So I can now draw on a wealth of experience.

With one meter of thread (divided into two halves) I can embroider an average of 19 cm Coral knot stitches. That would be a thread consumption of approx. 586 m or approx. 20 skeins (11129 cm: 19 cm = 585.74 cm; 586 m: 30 m = 19.53 skeins of 30 m).

With one meter of thread I can embroider an average of 20 cm Chain stitches. That would be a thread consumption of approx. 387 m or approx. 13 skeins (7734 cm: 20 cm = 386.70 cm; 387 m: 30 m = 12.9 skeins of 30 m).

With one meter of thread I can embroider about 5 Blanket stitch eyelets. That would be a thread consumption of approx. 2 skeins (280: 5 = 56 m; 56 m: 30 m = 1.87 skeins).

With one meter of thread I can embroider around 8 Blanket stitch half-eyelet scallops. That would be a yarn consumption of 132 m or 4 skeins (1058: 8 = 132.25 m; 132: 30 m = 4.40 skeins).

With one meter of thread I can embroider about 10 small leaves. That would be a thread consumption of 30 m or one skein (300: 10 = 30 m; 30 m: 30 m = 1 skein).

With one meter of thread I can embroider about 5 slightly larger leaves. That would be a thread consumption of 77 m or 3 skeins (383: 5 = 76.6 m; 77 m: 30 m = 2.57 skeins).

Of the 58,520 cm² of linen on the sampler, roughly 5,033 cm² (that’s a little more than 70 cm x 70 cm) are embroidered with filling patterns. For a filling pattern with little thread consumption (Rose stitch, etc.) one needs about 30 cm thread / cm², but for a dense Satin stitch pattern one can easily calculate about three times and for a densely embroidered Limet pattern easily six times as much. After looking through all the patterns used from this point of view, I decided to assume an average thread consumption of 60 cm thread / cm². With 5,033 cm² of embroidered area that would be 301,980 cm of thread, i.e. around 3,020 m and thus approx. 100 skeins of embroidery thread just for the filling patterns, including the Satin stitch fillings.

In all that would be:

  • 20 skeins for the Coral knot stitches
  • 13 skeins for the Chain stitches
  • 2 skeins for the Blanket stitch eyelets
  • 4 skeins for the Blanket stitch half-eyelet scallops
  • 4 skeins for the leaves
  • 100 skeins for area fill patterns and in addition
  • 2 skeins for all remaining stitches

So the consumption adds up to approx. 145 skeins of 30 m of embroidery threads.

Before the Global Schwalm Sampler can be viewed in reality, the pandemic barriers must be removed. Until then we must be content with the pictures shown here. If you want to enjoy all the beautiful embroideries again in detail, it is best to start here (up from Update 25. The concentrated load of interesting details is impressive.

Previous Update
A documentation about the Gloabl Schwalm Sampler is found here.

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