Resources and Weblinks

Resources & Web Links
Surface Embroidery

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 Sojourner 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.


Surface Embroidery

(a.) basic embroidery

(b.) laid work

(c.) beadwork

(d.) split stitch (including shading)

(e.) raised work


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

Surface Embroidery -- basic embroidery

How-To Stitch Sources

backstich
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/Back-stitch.html
and
http://www.classicstitches.com/know_how/know_how.cfm?how_to_id=28&how_to_cat=Stitch%20Glossary&let=B

buttonhole stitch
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/Buttonhole.html
and
http://www.classicstitches.com/main/knowHow.aspx?htID=36

chain stitch
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/Chain.html
and
http://www.classicstitches.com/main/knowHow.aspx?htID=46

couching stitch
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/couching.html

herringbone stitch
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/herringbone.html
and
http://www.classicstitches.com/main/knowHow.aspx?htID=222

outline stitch
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/outline.html
and
http://www.classicstitches.com/main/knowHow.aspx?htID=124

satin stitch
http://www.classicstitches.com/know_how/know_how.cfm?how_to_id=156&how_to_cat=Stitch%20Glossary&let=S

seed stitch / seeding
http://www.classicstitches.com/know_how/know_how.cfm?how_to_id=157&how_to_cat=Stitch%20Glossary&let=S

stem stitch
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/stem.html

Information on Historical Techniques

chain stitch, stem stitch/outline stitch,buttonhole stitch, satin stitch

Embroidery from the Tenth Century Viking Grave at Mammen Denmark
Tangwystl
http://heatherrosejones.com/mammen/index.html

The Minister of Arts and Sciences Newsletter for the Kingdom of Atenveldt
July 2003 C.E., Issue 28
Early Medieval Embroidery by Ealasaid nic Suibhne, OL
Barony of Atenveldt, Kingdom of Atenveldt
http://arts.atenveldt.com/Portals/arts/Newsletters/jul2003.pdf
7th Century Frankish – “Queen Bathilde’s Shirt”
Rough sketches of embroidery design, no photos of actual items/stitches

herringbone stitch
Viking Embroidery Stitches and Motifs
Carolyn Priest-Dorman.
http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~capriest/vikembroid.html
Anglo-Saxon and Viking Works of the Needle: Some Artistic Currents in Cross-Cultural Exchange
http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~capriest/asvembroid.html
a few brief mentions of use of herringbone, no photos

WCoB Competition Documentation – Scandinavian
Materials & Techniques section
http://needleprayse.webcon.net.au/research/documentation_jane_stockton_scandinavian_laid_couched.pdf
brief mention of how herringbone was used, no photos

The Minister of Arts and Sciences Newsletter for the Kingdom of Atenveldt
July 2003 C.E., Issue 28
Early Medieval Embroidery by Ealasaid nic Suibhne, OL
Barony of Atenveldt, Kingdom of Atenveldt
http://arts.atenveldt.com/Portals/arts/Newsletters/jul2003.pdf
brief mention of how/when herringbone was used
10th Century Denmark – “Mammen grave site”
Rough sketches of embroidery design, no photos of actual items/stitches
backstich

this is such a simple & basic stitch, it’s difficult to locate specific examples of this one

Actual Historical Textiles and Patterns

Embroidery from the Tenth Century Viking Grave at Mammen Denmark
Tangwystl
http://heatherrosejones.com/mammen/index.html

Frankish Costume: Queen Bathilde, 7th century
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6948/bathilde.html
Several photos of a shirt – difficult to see details, but embroidery is chain stitch

Historically Inspired Patterns and Pieces

Know of a web site with patterns for period basic embroidery?
Please, send it to me, Felicia.

 

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Surface Embroidery -- laid work

How-To Stitch Sources

Perhaps the best known example of historic embroidery using this stitch is the Bayeaux tapestry.
http://www.regia.org/embroid.htm

Medieval & Renaissance Embroidery
http://www.advancenet.net/jscole/bayeux.html
hints on how to do laid work with results similar to Bayeux Tapestry

Regia Anglorum - Anglo-Saxon Embroidery Techniques
http://www.regia.org/embroid.htm
simple explanation of how to do this technique

Bayeux stitch, Ancient & Modern
Stitch Magazine, Embroiderer’s Guild
http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch/pdfs/bayeux.pdf
a modern pattern/example, but good illustrations of how to do the stitch & accommodate curves

Information on Historical Techniques 

Anglo Saxon Embroidery Techniques at the Regia Anglorum website
http://www.regia.org/embroid.htm
how to do laid-and-couched work.

The Bayeux Tapestry -- Description and History
By Sine ni Dheaghaidh, CP
http://home.triad.rr.com/oshi/sine/bayeux.pdf
good drawings of technique

Actual Historical Textiles and Patterns

The Bayeux Tapestry
http://hastings1066.com/
Photos of all the panels, with translation of Latin text. Also the history of the piece & explanation of what some of the images mean. 

Osprey Books
http://www.essentialnormanconquest.com/osehnctapestry.html
you to view the tapestry as a continuous roll; also has translation, history, glossary & explanation of images

Embroidered Turcoman fragment
Late 15th century
Photo of extant piece that from the Newberry Collection at the Ashmolean museum
http://www.bellomarisco.com/rondel.php

Historically Inspired Patterns and Pieces

Know of a web site with patterns for period basic embroidery?
Please, send it to me, Felicia.

 

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Surface Embroidery -- beadwork

How-To Stitch Sources

The Medieval Beadwork Page
http://www.medievalbeads.com/

A Clothing How-To for Garments of the Byzantine Empire
Author: Black Tauna (1995)
http://members.tripod.com/BlackTauna/byzantineclothinginfo.html
some discussion of how to decorate with beads/jewels

Information on Historical Techniques

The Medieval Beadwork Page
http://www.medievalbeads.com/

Medieval/Renaissance Embroidery - Beadwork
http://www.advancenet.net/jscole/beadwork.html
brief discussion of medieval beadwork & some links

16th Century Embellishments, Part 2: Twenty-first Century Strategies for Achieving the Sixteenth Century "Look"
http://www.lynnmcmasters.com/embellishment.html
brief discussion of medieval beadwork & a few photos

Stefan's Florilegium
http://www.florilegium.org/files/TEXTILES/beadwork-msg.html
Medieval beadwork on clothing. Bead types. Bead sources

Actual Historical Textiles and Patterns

Know of a web site with photos of or other information on period style beadwork?
Please, send it to me, Felicia.

Historically Inspired Patterns and Pieces

Beaded Embroidery
Giuliana di Benedetto Falconieri
http://www.northernneedle.net/beadedembroidery.html
overview of her research, plus photos/descriptions of projects

Bead Embroidery: Italian and German Beaded Embellishments
By Roxelana Bramante
http://www.roxelana.com/bead_embroidery.html
description of beadwork author did on 2 pieces of garb, 1 photo each, no closeup of beadwork

 

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Surface Embroidery -- split stitch (including shading)

How-To Stitch Sources

http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/split.html

Opus Anglicanum (English Work or how to paint with a needle)
Lady Acacia d'Navarre, Lochac
http://www.sca.org.au/st_florians/artisan/embroidery/opus.htm
nice overview of Opus, includes discussion of choosing & planning a design

Information on Historical Techniques

Opus Anglicanum (English Work or how to paint with a needle)
Lady Acacia d'Navarre, Lochac
http://www.sca.org.au/st_florians/artisan/embroidery/opus.htm
nice overview of Opus, includes discussion of choosing & planning a design

Actual Historical Textiles and Patterns

Historical Needlework Resources
Opus Anglicanum
http://medieval.webcon.net.au/technique_opus_anglicanum.html
lots of links to extant examples

Metropolitan Museum of Art
Works of Art: Antonio Ratti Textile Center 
The Flagellation, Panel, Altar Frontal, mid-14th century
Italian; Made in Florence
Silk and metallic threads on linen;
http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/viewOne.asp?dep=20&viewmode=0&item=64.27.18
could be Opus Anglicanum, hard to tell w/ blurry closeups

Australian National University ArtServe
V&A Museum photos
http://rubens.anu.edu.au/new/england/london/museums/victoria_and_albert/textiles/western_mediaeval/
Part of an English cope, 1310-40.  Silk twill embr. w/ metal threads & silk in underside couching, split stitch, some raised work
*some photos are blurry, others are excellent closeups, can really see the stitches

Historically Inspired Patterns and Pieces

Almoner's Purse, French, circa 1340
by Joyce Miller
http://www.doctorbeer.com/joyce/emb/almpouch/almpouch.htm
photos of author’s completed pouch, based on historical illustrations, plus photos of extant pieces

Embroidered Partlet 16th C Florence
La Signora Onorata Katerina da Brescia, Lochac
http://katerina.purplefiles.net/DOCO/Kat%20Partlet%20DOCO.htm
author documents her process of making a partlet, including use of split stitch

 

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Surface Embroidery -- raised work

How-To Stitch Sources

Know of a web site with directions on how to do period style raised work?
Please, send it to me, Felicia.

Information on Historical Techniques

Elizabethan Raised Embroidery
by Branwen Madyn Wallis
http://moas.atlantia.sca.org/oak/15/eliz.htm
an overview article

Raised Work - Stump Work : A Confusion of Terms
Dianne E. Lewandowski – 2002
http://www.heritageshoppe.com/heritage/essays/raisedwork.html
descriptions of Elizabethan embroidery, Stumpwork, and raised work from different sources

Email list discussion on Elizabethan Raised Work/Stumpwork,
7th box down, Dianne Lewandowski
http://www.craftbanter.com/showthread.php?t=20713
a short discussion from a usenet group

Actual Historical Textiles and Patterns

Purse, last quarter of 16th century
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/08/euwb/hob_1986.300.1.htm
Photo and description of an English sweetbag made towards the end of the 16th century, in the collection of the Metropolit an Museum of Art.

Small square drawstring bag at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
http://www.mfa.org/collections/search_art.asp?recview=true&id=119729
Motif of flowers with coiling gold wire stems; insect and small bird. Linen canvas ground completely covered in embroidery . Silver metallic threads make ground in slanted satin stitch. Three-dimensional flower petals and leaves of silver-wrapped color silk threads in detached buttonhole stitch. Polychrome silk embroidery in tent stitch. Also plaited braid stitch, couching, bullion knots, raised work, metal purl, flattened coiled wire. Braided silk cords, two wood-core drawstring pulls, three tassels at bottom.

Historically Inspired Patterns and Pieces

Elizabethan Sweet Bag (present day)
Mathilde's Medieval and Renaissance Embroidery Page
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mathilde/embroidery/mygall/sweetbag.htm
detailed description of how the bag was designed & constructed, includes photos & bibliography

 

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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 on November 17 2007.