Schwalm Whitework – Sunflowers

By on 9. September 2017   /   blog, Konturenmuster, embroideries   /   Leave a comment

The impressive sunflower is old and prevalent. So it is no wonder that it shows up as a popular motif in Schwalm whitework. (The sunflower motif should not be confused with one of the main Schwalm whitework motifs – the sun. The sun, also a circle motif, is commonly outlined with scallops or 2 short-2 long.)

Sunflower fields are currently in full bloom; these inspired me to take a closer look at sunflowers in Schwalm whitework.

The images I include here are arranged chronologically. The oldest traditional embroidery in my collection that includes a sunflower motif is from about 1770. It is early Schwalm whitework without any withdrawal of threads. Others date from the beginning of the 19th century. Embroideries from the 20th century and contemporary examples follow.

The circle center of the sunflower motif can be filled with a variety of different patterns allowing for an incredible number of creative possibilities.

The focus here is the arrangement of the petals. It is of particular interest because the embroiderers were also eminently creative in this point. From the very abstract design, which is identifiable as sunflower only upon second consideration, up to the nearly realistic rendering, many interpretations and nuances are found. This applies also to the sizes; there are some small, but also some very large examples.

Please take a look for yourself!






























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Hare Circle Dance

By on 13. April 2017   /   blog, Konturenmuster, embroideries   /   7 Comments

In Germany, the Easter rabbit places the Easter eggs into hidden nests. And so it is not surprising that my Easter projects feature not only Easter egg shapes but also hare motifs. I asked my graphic designer for a design, and she came up with several wreaths. I decided on a circle dance with crouching hares – all running in the same direction.
1_14-2017Crouching hare shapes are easy and fun to embroider. The ears and legs can be worked with Satin stitches, and the head-body section – with no small or pointed areas – can be easily and creatively embellished with various filling patterns.
2_14-2017I decided to alternate openwork filling patterns with Limet filling patterns. When working openwork, I withdrew threads and worked filling patterns in the entire head-body area.
3_14-2017Whereas when working the Limet filling patterns, the head area remained unembroidered.
4_14-2017Each of the sixteen hares got a different filling pattern. Many well-suited small openwork filling patterns can be found in my book “Openwork Pattern Samplers.”
5_14-2017For the Limet filling patterns, I exclusively used small square eyelet patterns that can be found in my Limetrosen I and Limetrosen II books. Alternating the more prominent square eyelet patterns with the more flat and open openwork patterns makes for an interesting contrast.

By the way, the eggs shown in the above pictures (except the first image) are blown out chicken eggs that have been coloured and etched. The outline designs can be found in my booklet Easter Eggs – decorated with motifs of Schwalm Whitework made by a scratch technique. The wreath I embroidered has an internal diameter of 26 cm. The tea cloth measures 52 cm X 52 cm. The linen used has a 16/cm thread count. It is possible to enlarge the design a little bit.

Here is one more nice and easy project that – because of the many possible variations – you’ll really enjoy embroidering.
6_14-2017The design is available as a download for €8. The document includes the entire design reduced (to be enlarged at your local copy shop) and as a quarter design in the original size. Please email leuchtbergverlag@aol.com me with your request.

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An Easter Egg Border

By on 1. April 2017   /   blog, Konturenmuster, printed designs, Easter eggs, embroideries   /   10 Comments

Easter eggs are especially suited for trying out different patterns. Because of the rounded shape without small or pointed areas, the arrangement of the pattern at the edges is easy to work. I wanted a border design, but there were so many issues to consider: Which sizes of eggs create a nice balance? Which shapes are best? How tall should they be? How should they be angled? I preferred to ask an artist; Artist Gudrun Hartwig designed this special Easter border.

The border shows Easter eggs lying in the grass. Some Easter eggs lie on the straight of grain and some on the bias. I decided to decorate the edges of a square tea cloth with the border. It measures 75 cm X 75 cm.
1_12-2017To simulate grass, I used “Trachtenstitch” (see Fancy Hems pages 14–16).
2_12-2017Each of the fifty-four eggs got its own special pattern. This was a real pleasure to stitch. I used exclusively square eyelet patterns, most can be found in my Limetrosen I book. The patterns in Limetrosen I are perfect for the egg shapes. And the variety of patterns in the book is vast – there are patterns for small shapes and big shapes, patterns appropriate for working on the straight of grain and on the bias. There are even some patterns for slanting shapes.
3_12-2017The Easter eggs can be decorated with striped patterns
4_12-2017or with dots.
5_12-2017The Limetrosen patterns use more thread than many other stitches. But the effect of the threads, dense and lying in different directions on top of the fabric, is very pleasant indeed. Chiaroscuro – the interplay of light and shadow – makes the border beautiful, although is is unadorned. My tea cloth is eye catching. The whitework is timeless; it complements all kinds of crockery, flowers, and contemporary decorations.
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Advent Calendar 2016 – No. 22

By on 22. December 2016   /   Advent Calendar, blog, small projects, Konturenmuster, embroideries   /   1 Comment

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The outline pattern for this wreath can be found in 12 Delicate Wreath Designs – Set 2.

The picture in the bottom shows an other project. The artist Gudrun Hartwig made the design for the intriguing embroidery „hellebores and star“. The not symmetrical design measures approximately 28 cm X 32.5 cm. The hand line drawing has a price of 12.50 €. If you are interested in purchasing, please email me with your request.

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Lovely Delicate Wreath Designs

By on 26. November 2016   /   blog, Konturenmuster, new download products   /   Leave a comment

Asking my design artist for small patterns for practicing leaves, tendrils, eyelets, and other small shapes used in Schwalm whitework, she came up with a couple of delicate wreath designs. While embroidering some of them, and since I know that many embroiderers share my love of these delicate wreath designs, I got the idea to offer them to you. I have decided to show the designs in a way appropriate to the season – via an Advent calendar!

Advent calendars are a traditional German custom established in the middle of the 19th century, and they are now common in most Christian communities. They help to shorten the long wait for Christmas and to increase the anticipation. Advent calendars were at first simply twenty-four lines drawn on the wall, one for each day from December first to the twenty-fourth, and the children could delete one every day. Later the Advent calendar evolved into many other forms – pictures, small chocolate pieces, candies, little tales, and many others.

I will help to mark your days and to increase your anticipation by showing you my embroidered delicate wreaths – one every day, beginning on 01 December. Please look forward to them!

And if you want to work them yourself, I offer here the twenty-four different designs, some with winter or Christmas motifs, and some with motifs appropriate for anytime of the year.

Not everybody is interested in all the designs. So, I made two downloadable documents – one with a collection of somewhat simpler and easy-to-work examples and one with a collection of more elaborate designs.

All designs come in different sizes. Set 1 shows each design in diameters of approximately 5 cm, 8 cm and 10 cm, and six of the designs additionally in diameter of 12 cm. Set 2 shows each design in diameters of approximately 5 cm, 8 cm, 10 cm and 12 cm, and one design additionally in diameter of 19 cm. The smallest ones are for people who love to do tiny work. They have to be embroidered on very fine and densely woven linen. The examples shown in the December posts have mostly been embroidered using one of the middle sizes. I used 19/21/cm thread count handwoven linen and coton à broder No. 20 and No. 25. Stitching the somewhat larger – but still delicate – sizes is more comfortable. For the larger design size, 16/cm or 40/inch thread count linen should be used.
In the documents one can also find some helpful tips, that offer brief explanations of how to embroider the different shapes. One will also find detailed images of embroidered examples that illustrate the tips.

titel_12_delicate_wreath_designs_set_1

12 Delicate Wreath Designs
Set 1
15 pages in all
12 pages with 42 line drawings
3 pages with illustrated tips
2.52 MB file size
text: English
12.00 EUR
download here

titel_12_delicate_wreath_designs_set_2

12 Delicate Wreath Designs
Set 2
22 pages in all
17 pages with 49 line drawings
5 pages with illustrated tips
5.93 MB file size
text: English
18.00 EUR
download here

Of course it is also possible to get this publication as a printed booklet for the same price plus shipping charges. This option is not shown in my online shop, so please email leuchtbergverlag@aol.com me with your request.

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