This is a kit with book, linen cloth, and silk floss dyed with 16th century dyes and techniques.
Book (Signed Copy): Meticulously researched and annotated, The Second Carolingian Modelbook is a pattern collection for stitchers fascinated by the counted embroidery styles of the 1500s and 1600s (such as blackwork and voided work). Oh, and three of the patterns within are from museum objects personally documented by the Golden Schelle's dyer and researcher! ;)
Its 75 plates of over 250 individual band, border, strapwork, and field designs are clearly depicted for ease of working, and are accompanied by observations on pattern "families", full source documentation, and descriptions of some of the many techniques that were used to stitch them. It contains linear designs appropriate for double-running or back stitch embroidery; and block unit designs can be used for long armed cross stitch and darned whitework. Block unit designs can also be used in modern context for cross stitch, filet crochet, and knitting. Designs appropriate for reserva or voided work (the ancestor of modern Assisi stitching) are also included. Additionally, all orders come with an errata sheet and bonus pattern from the upcoming Third Carolingian Modelbook. Please note that this is a reference work for stitchers creating their own works for private use, and not a book of fully composed projects and the step by step directions for creating them.
Linen cloth: This kit comes with a single piece of unhemmed, high quality, pre-shrunk fine Belgian linen (100% flax fiber) measuring approx. 18x18". There are few, if any, slubs. This is large enough for a decently sized handkerchief (perhaps the Shakespeare-inspired "strawberry-spotted handkerchief" on pages 40-41?) or to use to sample many of the designs in the book. Most historical artifacts embroidered in the styles shown did not use even-weave fabric, and so ours isn't either. Approx. thread count is 40 per inch along the warp and 34-36 along the weft. Tips are included in the book for working on non-even-weave fabric, and because this linen is fine, plan to execute each stitch over multiple threads.
Silk floss: This spun silk floss has 4 strands or plies that you may separate from each other. Each strand is notably finer than one ply of DMC cotton stranded floss. You may choose a kit that comes with 50 yards or 100 yards, and you may choose black, red, or pink. All colors are naturally dyed with techniques and ingredients found in the Plictho, a dyer's manual published in 1548 in Venice, Italy. Black is dyed with oak galls and iron. Red and pink are dyed with madder root and alum. All three colors have been found on artifacts embroidered in similar styles to those in this book.
This item can be gift wrapped and drop shipped! Please contact us if you would like this service : thegoldenschelle@gmail.com