We are well into the second Virtual Wednesday of our Guild year and our infamous ABC Team of Anni, Bonnie and Catherine have taken us on another adventure. We have wondered down the “rabbit holes” of tapestries, pockets, and this time into the weeds. Yes we will be researching botanicals in embroidery, but rather than exotic flowers we will be researching and developing stitchery related to weeds. Yes you heard correctly…WEEDS!!!
Botanicals, of which weeds are a part, have been included in embroidery for centuries. Early Chinese embroidery done in silk was inspired by the natural world with some dating back to the 7th century. The floral motifs used often had meaning such as Peony for wealth, Lotus for purity, and Chrysanthemums for longevity, etc.
Embroidery soon reached Europe through the trade of Italian merchants travelling the Silk Road. As it spread throughout early Europe, you can see the influence of Chinese embroideries in the work of the Tudors and Elizabethans. French embroideries were more formal. The influence of botanicals in embroidery occurred throughout the world and were created using a variety of threads such as wool, silk or gold, on fabrics such as linen, silk, canvas, etc. One such example is The Garden of Eden depicting fruits, flower and leaves done in a tent stitch on canvas.
The Tree of Life pattern which is a well recognized pattern in one form or another, often depicted flora and fauna of the time. Articles of clothing such as this men’s cap (shown at right) incorporated stylized flowers in scrolling patterns, some with metallic thread.
After the presentation our ABC Team, challenged us to pick a weed, and do some research. Pick a plant and draw it. OBSERVE!!! The variety of weeds chosen can be seen here.
The question now became, “What next?” Anni, Bonnie and Catherine demonstrated several methods to record information and images of our chosen weed:
- Drawing (capture the proportion of your object) – using the weed place it on paper and trace along one side, move the weed out of the way and finish the drawing by mirroring the one side drawn. Trace one side; trace opposite side; cut out the drawing and tape them together to create a whole. Once the proportion is where you like it, enlarge it using – photocopier, grid, etc. to maintain the correct portions.
- Shadow drawing – doesn’t have to be accurate; proportion is the important aspect.
- Tracing – trace from a copywrite free photograph. Start thinking about developing your design.
- Make cardboard cutouts of your design; create stamps of portions of your design.
Having drawn your chosen weed, enlarged, manipulated, and stylized it, now it was time to get it to fabric and stitch. But how to get onto fabric? Try these methods:
- Saral Transfer Paper® – Make your fabric taut by taping it to a hard surface. Layer your design and Saral Transfer Paper to your fabric and transfer design using a sharp object like a toothpick or “dead” ballpoint pen. Not all lines need to be traced. Light box will work if fabric is sheer enough to see through.
- Using tracing paper that has your design on it, baste it to the fabric with large stitches. Stitch your pattern and carefully remove the tissue paper.
- Paper Solvy® – print your design, baste the Solvy to your fabric and stitch your design. The Solvy is water soluble and will disappear when soaked.
- Joan Moshimer Pattern Pencil – trace your design onto the rough side of inexpensive tissue paper IN REVERSE. Turn the paper upside down onto your fabric, press with hot dry iron.
Numerous book titles were provided for further study and those can be found on our Resources page here.