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Month: March 2015

3 1/2" wide pastor or priest stole sewing pattern paper pattern with sewing instructions

What Vestments Does a Priest or Pastor Need?

Ecclesiastical vestments are essential for clergy in both the Catholic and Lutheran traditions. Basic items include stoles in liturgical colors, cassock, alb, and surplice. A cincture is worn around the waist, while the amice is optional for Lutherans but essential in the Catholic faith. The chasuble, recommended for Lutheran pastors, matches basic stole colors. In LCMS, a tippet, a black stole variation, is used for prayer office in choir dress.

Books from past Exhibits at the Museum of the Visitation

Books from Musée de la Visitation

Visiting the Photo Galleries available on the Museum website offers a glimpse at many beautiful pieces of Ecclesiastical Embroider and Ecclesiastical Sewing. The orphrey on the cope in the above photo has some wonderful figure embroidery.  The top figures are Mary (Mater Dei) and Joseph. St. Francis is on the lower right, but the watermark blocks the name of the final figure.  The work is a very beautiful example of figure embroidery.

Rose Vestments Chalice Veil

Rose Chalice Veil Construction

Chalice veils are very simple to construct. The beauty of the finished piece lies in excellent workmanship construction techniques and appropriate design placement. The design of a chalice veil can be as simple or elaborate as the imagination allows.  Although the chalice veils do not have any trim around the edge, it is appropriate to use a cord as a decorative finish at the seam. Chalice veils often have a cross motif placed on the front edge too.

Ecclesiastical Machine Embroidery Palm and Cross Design on Silk Dupioni

A Fun Experiment with Machine Embroidery

Using modern techniques to complete an Ecclesiastical Vestment set can be a lifesaver.  The designs can often be modified in size to fit specific needs. The colors can often be selected to suit a particular occasion or color scheme.  Selecting someone who is well versed in the Ecclesiastical Arts, as well as fluent with modern machine embroidery can be a delightful way to expand design possibilities for enhancing Ecclesiastical Vestments…

Rose Vestments for Laetare and Gaudete Sunday

Laetare Sunday or Rose Vestments

Using Rose Vestments during Advent and Lent varies among differing church bodies.  The New Liturgical Movement has some information on the historical use of Rose Vestments within the Catholic Church.  The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod’s view on Rose Vestments is slightly different. If a Rose Vestment Set is desired or planned for your church, be sure to check with your pastor or bishop concerning appropriate use and guidelines for liturgical colors.

Black Vestments used for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday at Prince of Peace

Planning – First Steps for Altar Frontal

For this altar frontal, the plan is to use two 7″ orphrey bands on either side of the center front. There will be a solid space of white that will be about 9″ wide left between the orphrey bands. This band or space that was left would be adorned with a host of hand-embroidery designs.  The project will have to be content with plain bands of white between the rows of orphreys.

Ecclesiastical Hand Embroidery Pattern Cross Design

The Process of Making Vintage Embroidery Patterns Usable

Vintage ecclesiastical embroidery patterns, mostly 100+ years old, delicate on aged paper. Fragile and creased, the paper poses challenges for fabric transfer; the slightest touch risks damage. Despite their impracticality in original condition, efforts are made to add new life. The best solution involves creating clean versions through scanning the original design, though it’s a challenging process.

Embroidery Design of Archangel

Ecclesiastical Pattern Cataloging

Collection of vintage Ecclesiastical Embroidery Designs, Drawings, and Patterns.
– The collection dates from the 1870s, and includes a wide variety of items, both in terms of content and quality, as well as size. The process of identifying the designs in the collection will take months. So, let us wait for the entire collection of Ecclesiastical Hand Embroidery Patterns to be cataloged.

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