Resources and Weblinks

Resources & Web Links
Counted Thread

If there are any links you would like to see added to this page, please contact the Guild Web Minister.

The stitches below are of just a few of those which were used during the period covered by the SCA. The stitches are organized according to the categories on the Guild Programs page.

The West Kingdom Needleworkers Guild is only suggesting these sites for your information. We do not endorse these sites, nor is the Guild in any way responsible for the content of these pages. It is better whenever possible to consult books on historic needlework and a Guild Mentor.

Counted Thread

(a.) cross stitch

(b.) Assisi work

(c.) counted-thread blackwork

(d.) pattern darning

(e.) other

We haven't exhausted the search for web sites with useful information, this is just a start...

If you know of any additional websites with information on SCA-period stitches, please let Felicia know.

Index News Events Guild Programs Mentors Guild Projects Membors' Projects Articles Book List Resource Links



Counted Thread -- cross stitch

How-To Stitch Sources

Cross Stitches and variations at
http://www.designwest.com/Johanna/webstitch/stitch04.html
and
http://www.designwest.com/Johanna/webstitch/stitch05.html

long arm cross stitch
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/cross-longarm.html
and
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/98-09.htm

equal armed cross stitch (modern)
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/cross.html
and
http://www.anniesattic.com/cross-stitch/content.html?content_id=95
has a QuickTime movie of basic cross stitch on aida cloth

upright cross stitch
http://www.classicstitches.com/know_how/know_how.cfm?how_to_id=182&how_to_cat=Stitch%20Glossary&let=U

double-sided cross stitch
http://www.classicstitches.com/know_how/know_how.cfm?how_to_id=75&how_to_cat=Stitch%20Glossary&let=D

Information on Historical Techniques

"Cross Stitch Embroidery in the Middle Ages and Renaissance" by Karen Larsdatter http://www.florilegium.org/files/TEXTILES/p-x-stitch-art.html
a good overview of Cross Stitch, written in 1998 and housed at Stefan's Florilegium.It was published in Tournaments Illuminated #127 (Summer 1998.)

Cross: Cultural
by Christian de Holacombe
http://www.bayrose.org/wkneedle/Articles/cross_stitch.html

Actual Historical Textiles and Patterns

Medieval & Renaissance Embroidery
http://www.advancenet.net/jscole/counted.html
the page discusses cross stitch, blackwork & assisi work in general; look for five links to a 15th century German long-armed cross stitch piece, photo & charts

Historically Inspired Patterns and Pieces

WKNG Member's Work
http://www.bayrose.org/wkneedle/member/member_crossed.html
The patterns for the first 2 items were taken from a long arm cross stitched purse, from the Cathedral Treasury at Sens, near Paris. The third item was inspired by part of a long arm cross stitched stole found in The Royal School of Needlework's Book of Needlework and Embroidery.

 
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Counted Thread -- Assisi work

How-To Stitch Sources

http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/do%20it%20yourself.htm
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/working-method.htm
http://www.crossstitch.about.com/hobbies/crossstitch/cs/styleassisi/

And don't miss the page on Assisi Work in our own Articles section.

Information on Historical Techniques

 Unclear how many are historical examples.
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/about%20the%20style.htm
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/history.htm

Actual Historical Textiles and Patterns

Assisi Embroidery page – in Spanish
http://viversan.com/material/avila.htm#Inicio
photos of some historical pieces?
(note from Web Minister -- if anybody can help translate this, it would be appreciated!)

Historically Inspired Patterns and Pieces

Clare's Historical Embroidery Pages
http://insanehobby.150m.com/Clares%20Pages/index.htm
http://insanehobby.150m.com/Clares%20Pages/voided.html
Examples worked by the author, also a handout & bibliography of sources

Assisi Embroidery
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/designs%20small.htm
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/designs%20bigger.htm
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/designs%20big.htm
Patterns worked by the author.

http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/pieces%20of%20work%20small.htm
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/pieces%20of%20work%20bigger.htm
http://www.stitchstitch.info/english/menupages/pieces%20of%20work%20big.htm
Photos of work by the author

WCoB Competition Documentation – Voided Work
http://needleprayse.webcon.net.au/research/documentation_jane_stockton_voided_work.pdf
Jane Stockton from Lochac
Documentation to accompany her entry in a competition – includes photo of her piece

replica of Assisi sampler
#5000 - Assisi Work Sampler
http://www.needleworkantiques.com/sampler_gallery_-_page_9.html
sampler was stitched in 1807, but it is an exact reproduction of a sampler stitched in 1657. “Samplers” weren’t done in our time period, but the stitching is still useful to look at.

 
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Counted Thread -- Blackwork

How-To Stitch Sources

Not all blackwork is black. Not all blackwork is reversible. Not all blackwork uses counted thread stitches.

Reversible counted thread blackwork utilizes double running stitch, also called called Holbein stitch.
http://www.designwest.com/Johanna/webstitch/stitch02.html#doubrun1

Non-reversible counted thread blackwork utilizes double running stitch and back stitch.
http://www.designwest.com/Johanna/webstitch/stitch02.html#back1

Non-reversible non-counted thread blackwork utilizes basics stitches such as back stitch, stem stitch, split stitch, and other surface stiches.

Blackwork Embroidery Archives - Besides information on stitches, this site includes patterns created by the site owner, not necessarily period in style.
http://www.blackworkarchives.com/

Blackwork Gallery - has links to art and objects
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Crete/1581/bwgallery/

Medieval Egyptian "Blackwork" Embroidery
by Heather Rose Jones (Tangwystyl)
http://heatherrosejones.com/egyptianblackwork/index.html
discussion, patterns, & step-by-step instructions for technique

Information on Historical Techniques

Blackwork
http://www.geocities.com/monstonitrus/a_and_s/blackwork/blackwork.html
an overview

Blackwork http://web.archive.org/web/20041010120437/http://www.needlearts.com/articles/article_13/article_13.htm
An article written by Michelle Palmer and published in "Fancywork" magazine in 1984, presents an overview of blackwork with line-art illustrations.

Medieval Egyptian "Blackwork" Embroidery
by Heather Rose Jones (Tangwystyl)
http://heatherrosejones.com/egyptianblackwork/index.html
discussion, patterns, & step-by-step instructions for technique

Double-running Stitch -- Spanish Stitch, Reversible Blackwork, And Islamic Embroidery
by Mathilde Eschenbach
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mathilde/embroidery/blackwrk.htm
a historical background of the 3 types, includes bibliography & some on-line sources

Actual Historical Textiles and Patterns

Fill-In Patterns from 16th C. Blackwork Embroideries
http://aeg.atlantia.sca.org/projects/howto/blackwork/index.htm

Blackwork Designs from 16th Century Sources
http://web.archive.org/web/20040411213908/http://infotrope.net/sca/textiles/embroidery/blackwork-sources/
Three charts by Kirrily Robert (SCA: Katherine Rowberd) are based on 16th c. paintings.

Elizabethan Practical Companion: Blackwork Gallery
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Crete/1581/bwgallery/
Links to a wide range of garments on-line, on the website of Lady Roxanne Greenstreet.

Jane Seymour's Blackworked Cuff
http://costume.dm.net/blackwork/seymour.html
A chart for the design by Lorraine Behrens, based on a portrait painting.

16th Century Embroidery & Blackwork Resources
http://costume.dm.net/content.html#detail
on the website of Costume Laurel Dréa Leed. A list of books and web page resources.

Medieval Egyptian "Blackwork" Embroidery
by Heather Rose Jones (Tangwystyl)
http://heatherrosejones.com/egyptianblackwork/index.html
re-creation of patterns based on historical pieces

Historically Inspired Patterns and Pieces

The Blackwork Embroidery Archives http://www.blackworkarchives.com/
patterns for blackwork by Paula Katherine Marmor. She says, "These patterns are inspired by historical needlework of sixteenth and seventeenth century England, but they are all original designs." They are not historical recreations.

Leon Conrad Designs http://www.leonconraddesigns.freeserve.co.uk/blackwor.htm
Blackwork pattern charts/kits from Leon Conrad Designs

Rainbow Gallery-Blackwork http://www.rainbowgallery.com/freechartdownloads.cfm?ID=14

Clare's Historical Embroidery Pages
http://insanehobby.150m.com/Clares%20Pages/blackwork.html
Photo of author’s first competition piece; general description of blackwork & a bibliography

16th Century Blackwork Embroidery
Written by Kateryn de Develyn
http://www.kateryndedevelyn.org/blckwrk.htm
photos of author’s blackwork sampler; done in multiple colors, but patterns are good;
author writes about what she learned during the process
English, Spanish, and German samplers

Medieval Middle Eastern Counted-Thread Embroidery
Double-running stitch
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mathilde/embroidery/chrtindx.htm#doublerunning
charted patterns from various sources

 
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Counted Thread -- Pattern darning

How-To Stitch Sources

Pattern Darning
by Sally Simon
http://www.needlepoint.org/Archives/00-02/darning.htm
Originally published in Needle Pointers, Volume X, Number 1, Spring 1982
a how-to for the technique & a few basic patterns, not medieval-focused

Information on Historical Techniques

http://aeg.atlantia.sca.org/classes/50308.htm
 Handout from class taught in Atlantia, June 2000 by Karen Larsdatter
Unfortunately no pictures in this online version, but does have bibliography & some links

Actual Historical Textiles and Patterns

MEDIEVAL EGYPTIAN COUNTED-THREAD EMBROIDERY:
Mathilde's Medieval and Renaissance Embroidery
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mathilde/embroidery/mamsamp.htm
Mamluk-style pattern-darning sampler, charted the patterns from photographs of original pieces in Baker, Humphrey, and Rhodes

Icelandic Altar Hanging
Joyce Miller
http://www.drbeer.com/joyce/emb/icealt/icealt.htm
charted a piece based on an altar hanging & created a cushion

Mamluk Embroidered Tunic Yoke and Detail
By Urtatim (Anahita)
http://home.earthlink.net/~lilinah/Textiles/mamluk_tunic-front.html
photos of pattern darning on the collar of a tunic

Historically Inspired Patterns and Pieces

Pattern-darned Tablecloth
By Mathilde Eschenbach
Reprinted from the Fall, 2005, issue of Arts and Sciences, a special issue of the Pikestaff, the official newsletter of the Kingdom of the East
http://www.eastkingdom.org/artsci/articles/pattern_darned_tablecloth.html
description of a tablecloth worked by the author.

Medieval Middle Eastern Counted-Thread Embroidery
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mathilde/embroidery/chrtindx.htm#patterndarning
charted patterns from various sources

 

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Other Counted Thread Sources

Dragon Bear Designs
http://www.dragonbear.com/dp.html
A Book of Medieval, Renaissance, and Heraldic Patterns for Needlework,
with Many Charted from Original Embroidery Pieces of the Period.

 
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This is not an official web site of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
and nothing on this web site represents any offical policy of the SCA.

The official SCA web site is at http://www.sca.org

The website of Kingdom of the West of the SCA is at http://www.westkingdom.org



Guild Webminister: Felicia Margerye Amondesham
Please notify of any problems or errors.


This web page last updated onNovember 17 2007.