blog Archive - Page 2 of 142

Schwalm-Style Pocket Square (2)

By Luzine Happel on 4. September 2026 / blog, small projects, embroideries / Leave a comment

Pocket squares aren’t just for men. I’ve seen women wearing these accessories lately, too to style clothing in a more striking and individual way. So, I went through my wardrobe and immediately identified three garments with suitable breast pockets.

In the post Schwalm-Style Pocket Squares (1), I showed a small square cloth featuring a corner motif. Further design possibilities can be found in the small Schwalm borders—originally intended for bodice sleeves or apron ties.

They look completely different depending on the jacket, blazer, blouse, or dress.

You can let wider borders

stick out a long way

or just a little bit.

You can give particularly rustic fabrics that “special something” with it.

You can find many such small edgings—naturally without needle-lace—in my publication “Schwalm Curved Lines, Narrow Borders, and Ornamental Stitches”.

In my next blog post, I will show a Schwalm pocket square that is approximately 90 years old.

Schwalm-Style Pocket Square (1)

By Luzine Happel on 21. August 2026 / blog, small projects, embroideries / Leave a comment

To embroider a pocket square with Schwalm whitework, you need fine linen and a small pattern.
The design should include a heart, a tulip, and a small bird. The motifs are arranged here so that the handkerchief is worn with a corner showing.

20/cm-count linen provides space for small filling patterns within the rather tiny shapes.
Cut to a preliminary size of 30 cm x 30 cm—to allow the embroidery to be mounted in the hoop—the design is ironed onto the linen diagonally to the grain, positioned so that approximately 7 cm of empty space remains towards the edges.

The design (9.5 cm high and 7 cm wide) is embroidered.

Next, the threads are withdrawn.
The peahole hemstitch begins 1 cm away from the motif, followed by a 1.5 cm wide open space for the hem and a 0.3 cm wide strip for the hem allowance. The fabric will later be cut along the outer withdrawn thread line.

The peahole hem should be worked only on the two sides adjacent to the motif. The remaining two sides are secured with simple hemstitches.

Admittedly, hemming is a bit tricky, but manageable with some patience. The cloth now measures 19.5 cm x 19.5 cm and shrank to 19 cm x 19 cm after boiling.

This results in an attractive, distinctive pocket square that reflects the local style.

With the right suit, it can be worn sticking out prominently

or tucked in a little lower.

Even without starch, the linen holds its shape firmly, making the pocket square a real eye-catcher!

Pocket squares featuring Schwalm whitework, designed to be worn flat, will be shown in the next blog post.

Pocket Square Fashion Trend

By Luzine Happel on 14. August 2026 / blog, small projects / Leave a comment

Out here in the countryside, we aren’t always on the cutting edge of fashion. So, I hadn’t realized until now that pocket squares are making a comeback.

A gentleman recently contacted me asking for assistance. He grew up in the Schwalm region, attended a village school there, and has since become a professional who wears suits. He recalled the traditional Schwalm whiteworky and asked for an individually, hand-embroidered pocket square that reflected his former home.

Shortly thereafter, the Inspirations newsletter appeared, featuring a stylish pocket square (scroll down about halfway) accompanied by the comment that there were signs of a comeback.

I began to observe men in jackets in the media more closely and noticed that many were once again wearing pocket squares.

Many possibilities spontaneously came to mind for individually embroidering such accessories and using them to outfit local politicians, for example. This would give them the opportunity to draw attention to the intangible cultural heritage of their region.

To try it out right away, I looked at my small projects that were already embroidered. My first choice was the doily with a wide hem and a folded peahole edging.

This design can be worn either with the tip sticking out or lying flat.

Another idea—completely different and more typical of the Schwalm region—will be put into practice in the next blog post.

Exhibition in Holzburg

By Luzine Happel on 7. August 2026 / Exhibitions, blog / Leave a comment

On Sunday, August 9, 2026, an exhibition featuring works by Holzburg embroidery artist Annemarie Korell will open at the Schwälm Village Museum in Holzburg under the title “Stich für Stich Spitze” (Stitch by Stitch: Lace/great).

The announcement suggests that this is a fine, small exhibition that is certainly worth seeing.

The exhibition is open every Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. until September 13, 2026. Admission is free. Donations are welcome!

Further details can be found on the museum’s website.

Embroidered Poppy Wreath (2)

By Luzine Happel on 24. July 2026 / blog, Konturenmuster, new download products, embroideries / 4 Comments

As promised, here are more pictures of the lovely, extraordinary, and striking poppy wreath.

To explain the details, all the blossoms are shown moving clockwise around the circle.

From right to left
1. without thread withdrawing; Wave stitches over 4 threads in height and 6 threads in width
2. Limet thread withdrawing 3:1; filling pattern No. 543
3. Bud: simple thread withdrawing 3:1 ; Wave stitches over 4 threads in width
4. Openwork thread withdrawing 2:2; Diagonal Cross stitch

from bottom to top
5. Limet thread withdrawing 4:1; filling pattern No. 571
6. Bud: simple thread withdrawing 3:1; Wave stitches over a width of 4 threads
7. Limet thread withdrawing 3:1; Rose stitch
8. simple thread withdrawimg 3:1; Honeycomb Darning stitches over a width of 4 threads

from left to right
9. Limet thread withdrawing 3:1; “Diagonal step over one plot” pattern using Satin stitches (Wickelstiche: page 22)
10. Bud: simple thread withdrawing 3:1; Wave stitches over 4 threads in width
11. Openwork thread withdrawing 2:2; alternating rows of Diagonal Cross stitch and Cable stitch
12. Bud: simple thread withdrawing 3:1; Wave stitches over 4 threads in width

from left to right:
13. Limet thread withdrawing 3:1; Satin stitch “Two-Pattern” (Wickelstiche, page 16)
14. Openwork thread withdrawing 2:2; double Diagonal Cross stitch (Openwork Pattern Samplers)
15. Simple thread withdrawing 3:1; alternating rows of Satin stitch bars and Wave stitches
16. Limet thread withdrawing 3:1; filling pattern No. 572

from left to right:
17. Openwork thread withdrawing 2:2; French stitch – half-stitch with gap (Openwork Pattern Samplers)
18. Bud: simple thread withdrawing 3:1; Wave stitches over a width of 2 threads
19. Limet thread withdrawing 3:1; filling pattern No. 549

from left to right:
20. Limet thread withdrawing 3:1; Rose stitch variation
21. Simple thread withdrawing 4:2; filling pattern No. 567
22. Limet thread withdrawing 3:1; Diagonal Cross stitches
23. Bud: simple thread withdrawing 3:1; Wave stitches over 2 threads in width
24. Openwork thread withdrawing 2:2; alternating rows of double Diagonal Cross stitch and Singe Faggot stitch

from right to left
25. Bud: simple thread withdrawing 3:1; Wave stitches over a width of 2 threads
26. Limet thread withdrawing 3:1; “Grid” Satin stitch pattern (Wickelstiche, page 37)
27. Openwork thread withdrawing 2:2; Rose stitches without a Cable stitch grid