Liturgical brocades like St. Aidan and Cloister. These fabrics, ideal for both church vestments and academic wear, offer a subtle yet elegant design. St. Aidan comes in various colors corresponding to church seasons and academic degrees, while Cloister features a thistle and rose motif. These piece-dyed brocades are suitable for pastoral stoles and chasubles, allowing for creative design details like lightweight embroidery or orphrey bands.
During Advent, we see candles in wreaths. As children, we opened little Advent Calendars with goodies. At night, we hear the O Antiphons. And yet another symbol and image that is associated with Advent is the Tau Cross–the Anticipatory cross of the Old Testament.
November 10th–15th, in Canton, Mississippi, there will be a conference dedicated solely to liturgical arts. Carrie will be teaching a class on Church Vestment Making. So probably has something to do with stole-making and pulpit fall-making! That alone is worth the trip. Carrie is beyond excited to reach many people and share her love of making beautiful vestments to glorify the church. Another class that will be incredibly valuable will be the class on Keeping the Art of Needlepoint Alive
The gift of a stole is always something to be appreciated. To help with that, we have developed a variety of stole patterns. There is a 3 1/2-inch stole as well as a 4 1/2-inch stole. The lines of these stoles are identical. It is the width that is different. The stoles have a gently shaped neckline that fits well and then falls from the shoulder. The stoles are adjustable in length. The short length is 51 inches, and the longest length is 55 inches. The tapered stole has the same neckline curve as our other stoles. It then falls to a wider width at the lower end. The stole is available in a short length that works with a full surplice or a longer length. And the V-neck stole a wider stole that uses the same width down the length of the entire stole.
Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, is known as the “other” rose Sunday. While Advent is a preparatory, penitential, and contemplative season, Gaudete Sunday provides a reprieve from solemnity with lighter readings and the joyous sight of rose-colored vestments, a break from the usual dark blue, purple/violet, or black.
Glastonbury Brocade, originally designed by William Perkins around 1890 A.D., features a Rose and a Crown of Thorns. Legend has it that Joseph of Arimathea visited Glastonbury, England, in the first century and planted a thorn tree on Wearyall Hill. Clippings from the original tree, cut down during the English Civil War, were used to replant a new tree in 1951. This thorn tree is a symbol of interest for both Pagans and Christians, flowering around Easter and Christmas. With a small pattern repeat, Glastonbury Brocade carries a rich heritage and has been widely used for many years.
When creating vestments for the House of the Lord, one should always begin with the advice of a pastor. A good place to start is with meaningful symbols that can be used to teach the faith. Things like the Cross, Holy Communion, the Creeds, Prayer, Baptism, Confession, Key to the Kingdom, Holy Monograms, and so forth are appropriate symbols to start with. The symbols can be simple, and in many places that creates a comfort zone. The symbols can also be a bit more elaborate. That sometimes gets beyond the comfort zone of some and into unfamiliar territory for others.
The third special post in July recounts summer travels to Montana, It reflects on the beauty of old, weathered stumps in various locations, contemplating the possibility of life lingering within them. The lush greenery and surviving stump found on the Lohn’s Lake Trail inspire hope and reflection on promises from days of old. As a reference to the O Antiphon “O Root of Jesse,” connecting the natural surroundings with deeper reflections.
The slate frame, available in various sizes, creates a secure foundation for embroidery, with fabric tightly stretched using twill tape and lacing. To make the embroidery process more comfortable, trestle stands hold the slate frame at an adjustable height, allowing for hands-free stitching.
Advent is the first season in the liturgical calendar and it is a season of preparation for celebrating Christ’s birth. It also reminds us to look ahead to the promised return of our Saviour. And as we look forward to this wonderful time, we also look inward at our own personal state, which leads to repentance. This is where the color purple, perhaps a lovely violet shade, is most appropriate.
Ecclesiastical Sewing’s newest release of the “Stole Style #3 in the Luther Rose Brocade” is a good example. It is not simply gorgeous – it is confessional. The embroidery is not a random collection of pretty designs. In this case, they are symbolic of the Six Chief Parts.
The Great Antiphons of Advent or The O Antiphons of Advent. An antiphon’s purpose is to summarize the main point of the psalm which helps make the connection between the psalm and the service on which it is chanted or sung. These Great Antiphons point the way toward Christmas and Christ. They talk about the Old and New Testaments and summarize the ties that bind everything together. They are a final push and lead us directly to our Lord’s birth, but more importantly, they shed light on the rest of the story and the greater picture.
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