Category: Stitchery

Essays I have written on mostly Asian-centric textile history and embellishment technique, available via pdf download.

Tools of the Textile Trades

A selection of textile tools from museums I visited in Colorado.

The Traveler’s Shirtwaist…

After I finished the skirt (as detailed in my previous post), I turned my attention to an Edwardian blouse called a shirtwaist.

The Traveler’s New Clothes…

The Maker makes new traveling clothes, since “Dressing the Part, is Half the Fun…”

The Glastonbury Gowns…

I had crafted a set of clothing for her daughter, and her husband. Now it is time to complete the circle with a set of gowns for Kate…

The Making of Raven Steals The Sun…

A Gothic retelling of an Alaskan tale,

The making of Crow King…

My King Crow Cap is made from rescued textiles and inspired by a manuscript housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is my entry into the “Met 150 Design Contest” which runs through August 12, 2019. Send me luck, and perhaps your vote !

Stitchery Part V: Applique…

Appliqué can be as simple as applying a leaf to a surface, or as complex as the ‘tablion’ in Byzantium.

Stitchery Part IV: Chinese Symbolism…

The invention of the draw loom and the development of brocades allowed patterns to be woven into the cloth, which was often over-embroidered to augment the woven patterns (a technique I now employ on my hats…) 

Stitchery Part III: The Stitches…

There are somewhere around 100 – 150 identifiable embroidery stitches used worldwide. I have only captured here those that are the oldest and most recognizable…

Stitchery Part II: Tools and Techniques…

Bronze needles are the best for embroidery as they have a smooth surface and are more pliable than steel, which reduces finger fatigue…