Noble & White – Pictures of the Exhibition

By on 31. May 2014   /   Exhibitions, blog   /   4 Comments

Now all is well prepared for the upcoming exhibition; on Tuesday, 03. June, visitors will be able to see for themselves.
Please, allow me to give you a little virtual tour.
Ausstellung/Exhibition 2014 (1)In the three adjacent “crown-halls”, one will find many impressive pieces of contemporary whitework along with a unique variety of antique and reproduced embroideries featuring Schwalm crowns.
Ausstellung/Exhibition 2014 (2)Along the walls of each room, rows of framed and meticulously hung embroidered crowns set the theme of the exhibition. The interested viewer will be able to see, draped on tables, window seats, and walls, many skillfully worked fine cloths, nice doilies, noble table runners and picturesque pillowcases.
Ausstellung/Exhibition 2014 (3)An abundance of very elaborate embroideries (antique, vintage, and contemporary), as well as less elaborate versions, will be on display.
Ausstellung/Exhibition 2014 (4)In every room you will find places to sit, rest, and be inspired. From very old, antique exhibits a lot can be learned and then applied to contemporary whitework. The “blue corner”, the “Christmas corner” and, of course, the “costume corner” offer individual specialities.
Ausstellung/Exhibition 2014 (5)The “aviary” hosts all the gorgeous bird motifs. The “Schwalm Bird Tree”, the “Bird Wedding Sampler”, the “Bird Wedding Cloth” will make you marvel. An array of designs (borders, wreath, corner, and center motifs) featuring the charming Schwalm birds rounds off the amazing collection. Of course, crowns with integrated bird motifs should not be overlooked.
Ausstellung/Exhibition 2014 (6)The round table has been placed so to offer the opportunity to rummage through books, design drawings and design prints, to chat, to discuss and to learn. On most days, Mrs. Mengel, an experienced teacher, will be present beside me.

Everything is ready for you … all except ONE picture which I am withholding from you for a little while. Please look forward to it!

Here you can download a flyer with all pertinent information regarding the exhibition “noble & WHITE”.

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Filling Pattern – No. 449

By on 24. May 2014   /   blog, filling patterns, Limet pattern   /   Leave a comment

No. 449
category: Limet-Filling pattern
stitches used: Rose stitches and Four-Sided stitches
longitudinal axis: group of three threads

First, in the established Limet grid, work a square of 4 X 4 Rose stitches. Position the square of Rose stitches at the bottom-middle of the shape. Please note that when working Rose stitches in straight rows parts of neighboring stitches will overlap.
Quadrat aus 4x4 Kästchenstichen | Rose stitch squareWork one Four-Sided stitch in the center of the square.

To keep the empty holes around the Four-Sided stitches clear and open, please slide the working thread, moving from one stitch to the next, through the backs of the previously worked stitches so that the traveling thread is invisible from the front.
Kästchenstichmitte | Four-Sided stitch centerOne side of the established Rose stitch square is the first side of the next Rose stitch square.
Continue working the next square of Rose stitches and again work one Four-Sided stitch into the center.
aneinander grenzende Quadrate | adjacent squaresWork Rose stitch squares with Four-Sided stitch centers all over the shape.
fertiges Muster 449 | finished pattern 449Washed, starched and ironed the pattern gets its full charm.
This example was worked on 17/cm thread-count old handwoven linen with Coton à broder No. 20.

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Schwalm Hems – The Arch Border (4)

By on 17. May 2014   /   blog, small projects, Schwalm designs   /   Leave a comment

After the preparations the filling patterns can now be worked.
Bogen mit Muster 447 | arch border with pattern 447
Here I have chosen pattern “447”.
When some of the arch-grids have been embroidered, one can continue the Peahole hem.
Rückseite bestickter Boegen | back of embroidered arch es
Therefore, withdraw the Running stitches, lay the withdrawn-thread ends to the right – between the two withdrawn-thread lines – and secure them with Four-Sided stitches. The Four-Sided stitches of the first row and those of this row must be perfectly aligned.
Fadenenden | thread tails
To keep it constant, one must look to the front of the fabric every few stitches to ascertain the two rows of Four-Sided stitches are aligned correctly. This is a little bit tedious. In the end, the secured fabric threads are barely visible.
Kästchenstiche | Four-Sided stitches
From the front it looks like this:
Vorderansicht | front side
When one has completed a section of 2 parallel Four-Sided stitch rows,
durchgehende Kaestchenstichreihe | continued row
one can withdraw the threads for the Peahole hem
Fadenauszug | thread withdrawing
and can work the Peaholes. For exact and very detailed and illustrated step-by-step instructions, please look to my books “Basic Principles of Schwalm Whitework” and “Openwork Pattern Samplers”.
Erbsloecher Rueckseite | back of the Peahole hem
Vorderseite Zischenraummarkierung | front leaf design
From the front, mark – by hand or using a small stencil – small pointed leaves between the arches and embroider them with densely worked Satin stitches.
fertiger Bogenrandabschnitt | finished part of the arch border
Once the desired number of arches have been worked along one side, the opposite is worked mirrored. The description will be the subject of a later post.

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Tablecloth for all Seasons – May: Leaves

By on 10. May 2014   /   blog, small projects, Tablecloth for all Seasons   /   Leave a comment

„Der Mai ist gekommen, die Bäume schlagen aus…“ (-May is here, the trees bud)
this German folk song sings about the freshness and the catharic effect of the awakening nature.
Although the shoot took place earlier this year, so it’s usually in May, in which the first green leaves are visible on the trees. Therefore, I have chosen for this month a fresh “green” leaf.
2014-05-10_pdf
The original measures 10 cm wide and 17 cm in the high.

On Weddigen linen, 13.5/cm thread count, I used the following threads:
Coton à broder No. 16 for the Coral Knot stitches
Coton à broder No. 20 for the Chain stitches worked as underlay for the Blanket stiotches
Coton à broder No. 20 for the Blanket stitches
Coton à broder No. 30 for the Chain stitches worked around all the areas to be filled with drawn thread patterns.
Coton à broder No. 25 for the filling pattern
As simple drawn thread pattern „Wave stitch“ was chosen (Basic Principles of Schwalm Whitework, pages 34-36), because of its even and unspectacular appearance.
gesticktes Blatt | embroidered leaf
After finishing, the embroidered piece was washed (boiled), starched and ironed. Then, the Easter egg was cut. If needed, such closely trimmed embroidery can be washed and ironed – quick and easy – at any time, but never spun in a washing machine!
fertige Arbeit | finished work
The soberly leaves are perfect alone, however one can combine them very well with flowers. This possibility I will show in August.

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New Exhibition: Noble & White

By on 3. May 2014   /   Exhibitions, blog   /   1 Comment

Noble & WHITE
Embroidery at its best
In this new exhibition, one will be able to marvel at a wide range of beautiful and impressive embroideries. Many talented hands have created true masterpieces of embroidery art – especially Schwalm whitework. Well-known designers have accomplished a small miracle by creating many new and expert designs.

Such a vast display of “Schwalm Crowns” has never been assembled before! Our ancestors have left us a treasure trove of the most beautiful and most interesting ornamentation. The Schwalm Crown designs that will be on display were reproduced, through diligence and hard work, from an extensive collection of traditional embroidery. More than 100 of these Schwalm-typical additions to gorgeous white embroidery are shown. Other elegant crowns – made suitable for the whitework in a modified form – find their way onto various exhibition pieces.
Trachtenzubehoer | Schwalm corstume accessoires
Also on display will be embroidery unique to the Schwalm costume of bygone eras. You will be able to see “cap-top” designs, “apron-square” designs, and garter designs!

The exhibition will also include a focus on the quaint variety of embroidered bird shapes. The “Schwalm Bird Tree” is only one example of the wide range of different designs. The surviving bird motifs, integrated into modern designs, keep alive an inimitable charm. The embroidered “Bird Wedding ” will surely appeal to you! Many samplers anticipate the almost unlimited design possibilities of this fascinating embroidery technique.
Vogelbaumbild | Framed Schwalm Bird Tree
In addition to very old embroideries (some several hundreds of years old), there will be traditional embroidery with a new modern look without frills. Please look forward to a spring-fresh tulip wreath as well as an impressive leaves square, and much, much more. It will not be easy to find your “favorite”. I invite you to embark on the hunt!

This exhibition is shown on the second floor of the building “Boyneburger Tor 3” in 37269 Eschwege, Germany. It is an additional exhibition to my permanent exhibition on the third floor.

The exhibitions will be open from 03. June through 30. August; every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11-15
Entrance Fee: €4 (includes access to both exhibitions)
Special circumstances will be considered; if you are unable to visit on posted days, please email your request.

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