Needle-Weaving Cushion D

By on 19. May 2023   /   blog, embroideries   /   Leave a comment

Similar to the needle-weaving cushion C, the woven stripe runs in the middle between the needle-weving bands.

This time, however, three needle-weving bands of different widths were worked mirrored on both sides of the stripe. The distance between the single needle-weaving bands is approx. 2 centimetres.

They are 2-unit, 3-unit and 5-unit patterns.

The 2-unit is a needle-weaving hem with wrapped bundles and has a segment of five bundles.

This is followed by two-piece block patterns with spiders, once worked over 3 and once over 5 units.
The 3-unit pattern has a segment of 8 bundles, the 5-unit one of 14 bundles.

Similar to the needle-waeving band of pillow B, the needle-weaving bands on this pillow only run across the front. The ends were secured with Blanket stitches and decorated with half-eyelet scallops. The needle-waeving was tied to the remaining fabric at the level of every one and a half unit.

In my documentation Schwalm Needle-Weaving Bands I have already shown 193 (!) different patterns .

Information on the individual categories and detailed descriptions of the working methods can be found in Lesson #4 – Needle-Weaving Band Sampler.

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Judith’s First Schwalm Whitework

By on 12. May 2023   /   blog, embroideries, Stickereien der Blogleser   /   4 Comments

Almost exactly a year ago, Judith Ebsworth from Australia contacted me with the words:
„I have hot iron pencil transferred my design from your book ‘Basic Principles of Schwalm Whitework’. The problem is that two areas haven’t transferred very clearly“.

She asked me for advice, which I was happy to give.

She let me know: „I have had the book for about 3 years and have just started as I have been gathering courage!„

Then she set out all by herself on the long journey, embroidered countless Coral Knots, the many Blanket stitch half-eyelet scallops

all the leaves and the Chain stitches.

Every few months she sent a picture to confirm the accuracy of her stitches.

When one looks at the embroidery, one don’t get the idea that it could be done by a beginner.
All her stitches are very well done – the Coral Knots, the Chain stitches, the half-eyelet scallops. Also the Satin stitches turned out well, even it is not easy to work them on a not soo densly woven linen. (Densly woven linen is better for all outline stitches, more loosely woven linen is better for thread withdrawing. So to start with Schwalm embroidery I recommend to use more loosely woven linen.)

Amazed at the speed of her progress, I asked if this wasn’t too big a project for a beginner. She answered: „The repetition of the stitches on four sides of the cloth is such a good way to practice and consolidate the learning. Sometimes I did feel as though I would never finish!

I will do more Schwalm as I love the finished effect and enjoy the stitching – but then smaller projects first.“

The peahole hem is also excellently worked.

In mid-February – only about 10 months after the start – the finished cloth lay washed and perfectly ironed on her table.

Doesn’t it look gorgeous?

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Needle-Weaving Cushion C

By on 5. May 2023   /   blog, embroideries   /   Leave a comment

In this pillow, the woven-in stripe runs down the middle between two needle-weaving bands.

These are 9-unit bands with mirrored patterns

and a pattern segment of 18 bundles.

The centers of the segments are formed by two wrapped bundles joined in the middle.

The two needle-weaving bands were bordered on both sides by peahole hemstitches, which makes them appear more airy. Also, the “X’s” of the Peaholes match very well with the x-shaped wrapped bundles in the centers of the segments.

Similar to the needle-waeving band of pillow B, the needle-weaving bands on this pillow only run across the front. The ends were secured with Blanket stitches and decorated with half-eyelet scallops. The needle-waeving was tied to the remaining fabric at the level of every one and a half unit.

In my documentation Schwalm Needle-Weaving Bands I have already shown 193 (!) different patterns .

Information on the individual categories and detailed descriptions of the working methods can be found in Lesson #4 – Needle-Weaving Band Sampler.

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Carol´s Schwalm Masterpiece

By on 28. April 2023   /   blog, embroideries, Stickereien der Blogleser   /   1 Comment

Carol Stacey from Australia has made a table runner embroidered with blue and white using the Schwalm whitework techniques as part of her contribution to a self-directed learning course at her guild. She submitted three works in total, two of them embroidered in white. To add some variety, she chose blue embroidery threads for the third project.

The runner looks particularly gorgeous. The blue tones used are subtle, but still very effective. The arrangement of dark and light blue motifs is outstandingly successful – the dark areas form the focal point, the light ones cleverly lead to the border decoration. This leads to a harmonious overall impression.

The distribution of very pale blue (nearly white) and blue filling patterns is very balanced.

The ovals in the central parts of the tulips are similarly repeated in the buds.
The selected filling patterns fit perfectly to the respective areas. The decorative stitches used support the brilliant overall impression.

The 9-unit needle-weaving band with the two-piece block pattern is a great success – it was worked perfectly. I had to search for a long time to discover the places where she regulated the placement of the dense blocks both in the middle of the sides and in the corners. A masterpiece!

Carol wrote: Halfway through I had my doubts and wished it was white but now I think the colours accentuate aspects of the design. Couldn’t believe how long it took to finish the woven band around the edge!!
But it was definitely worth it.

Congratulations, Carol, on this all-round successful work.

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Needle-Weaving Cushion B

By on 21. April 2023   /   blog, embroideries   /   Leave a comment

A slightly differently woven striped linen as used for the needle-weaving band of cushion A served as the basic material for a pillow with a wide needle-weaving band in the middle.

It is a 17-unit (!) band with a mirrored pattern

and a pattern segment of 18 bundles.

The centers stand out due to their very special spider constructions with two spider bodies.

In contrast to the needle-weaving band of cushion A, the needle-weaving on this cushion only runs across the front of the pillow.

The end was secured with Blanket stitches and decorated with half-eyelet scallops. At the level of every second unit, the needle-weaving was tied to the remaining fabric.

Information on the individual categories and detailed descriptions of the working methods can be found in Lesson #4 – Needle-Weaving Band Sampler.

In my documentation Schwalm Needle-Weaving Bands are shown 193 (!) different patterns .

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