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Filling Pattern – No. 448

By Luzine Happel on 26. April 2014 / blog, filling patterns, Limet pattern / Leave a comment

No. 448
category: Limet-Filling pattern
stitches used: Rose stitches and Satin stitches over 1 square in the width and 2 squares in the height as well as over 2 squares in the width and 4 squares in the height – changing the direction
longitudinal axis: withdrawn thread line

It is expedient to begin thread withdrawal for the Limet grid in the prepared tulip design here :
First, in the established Limet grid, work a Rose stitch grid. The diagonal Rose stitch rows are worked at a distance of 6 empty squares (counted horizontally or vertically).
In the remaining spaces Satin stitch blocks are worked. The work proceeds diagonally by always alternating the direction of the blocks from horizontal to vertical and back.
Moving from one block to the next, please slide the working thread through the backs of the previously worked stitches so that the traveling thread is invisible from the front.
Washed, starched and ironed the pattern gets its full charm. This example was worked on 13.5/cm thread-count linen with Coton à broder No. 20.

Tablecloth for all Seasons – April: Easter Egss

By Luzine Happel on 19. April 2014 / blog, small projects, Easter eggs, Tablecloth for all Seasons / 8 Comments

In Germany the Easter Rabbit lays the eggs for Easter into the hidden nests. Easter eggs are coloured boiled hen´s eggs and also nicely wrapped chocolate eggs. To decorate the tablecloth for Easter, I chose a striped and beribboned Easter egg.

The original measures 15 cm wide and 15,5 cm in the high.

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.

The Easter egg has stripes of the Limet filling pattern “Kleines Ochsenaugenraster” (Limetrosen I, page 15). The stripes in between were decorated with “Schlängchen” (curved lines – wrapped Herringbone stitch). In the bow, the openwork pattern “Diagonal Cross Filling stitch” (Openwork Pattern Samplers, pages 24, 25) was embroidered.
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!

This nice decoration for Easter is perfect alone, however one can make it more elaborate with some smaller eggs, of differing sizes, that are each embellished with only one filling pattern. Many especially suitable and attractive filling patterns can be found in my book “Limetrosen I”.

Happy Easter!

Schwalm Costume – The Garters

By Luzine Happel on 12. April 2014 / blog, Schwalm Costume / 2 Comments

Originally garters simply held up stockings, but as the skirts became shorter the garters became more and more ornate. The result was a wide variety of decorated garters.

Garters are approximately 85 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. The colour of the garter bands matches the colour of the costume worn. All bands have decorated plates at both ends.

To hold up the stockings, garters were placed around the leg above the knee and were tied so that the plates peeked out below the skirt hem at the side of the leg.

The embellishment of the garters varied greatly. Simple garters had plates of colourful, silk jacquard ribbons.
More elaborate examples had an additional decoration of needlelace at the bottom of the plate, or had sequins, or were trimmed with fine metal Purls.

Older pieces often were decorated with “Tritzern”. These are rosettes made from silk ribbons. They were attached to the plates with beads, little blooms of coloured metal or sequins.
More expensive examples were richly decorated with Purls and sequins. The red costume would have gold accents, while the green costume would have silver accents.
The most impressive garters were those worked in the finest colour embroidery using silk threads.

Only the wealthiest women could afford garters worked in the finest colour embroidery using silk threads, additionally decorated with sequins and Purls of gold and silver. Of course, these examples are so rare that I, unfortunately, was not able to get an example to show here.

Looking Forward to a New Exhibition

By Luzine Happel on 5. April 2014 / blog / 7 Comments

Yet the nice light rooms are empty, but very soon they will be filled with gorgeous whitework. A large exhibition – in addition to the permanent exhibition – is planned. Many talented hands have produced masterpieces of embroidery art – specifically Schwalm whitework. From the beginning of June through August 2014, visitors will be able to admire the many magnificent pieces of this old needle art that originated nearby.

Perhaps your summer schedule can include a trip to Eschwege, Germany; I think it would be worth your efforts!

Although Eschwege is “off the beaten path”, it is always worth the side trip and easily reached by train or car! Eschwege offers something for everyone. Very close to my museum is the popular tin figures museum (Zinnfigurenmuseum) ; many men find it very interesting. Eschwege also has a beautiful and prize-winning camping park at our Werra Valley Lake.
Here one can find many different activities: bike riding, sailing, boat tours, walking paths, playgrounds. Should you choose to spend some days in Eschwege, you will find lodgings to accommodate all tastes and needs.

I would love to welcome you to my hometown.

Please anticipate more information on this new and expanded exhibition!

Filling Pattern – No. 447

By Luzine Happel on 5. April 2014 / blog, filling patterns, Limet pattern / 5 Comments

No. 447
category: Limet-Filling pattern
stitches used: Satin stitches over one square in the width and 6 squares in the height as well as Rose stitches
longitudinal axis: withdrawn thread line

First, in the established Limet grid, work Satin stitches as “Wickerwork of double bars with gaps”.
Therefore work pairs of bars consisting of 18 Satin stitches (6 squares) over one square (3 threads).
In each row always alternate the direction of the double bars from vertical to horizontal.

And in subsequent rows, work the double bars opposite from how they were worked in the previous row.

Work one Rose stitch in each of the remaining squares. Moving from one stitch to the next, please slide the working thread through the backs of the previously worked stitches so that the traveling thread is invisible from the front.

Washed, 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.

Such a pattern is also attractive utilizing more space. In the example below it was worked on 13.5/cm thread-count linen with Coton à broder No. 25.