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Category: Embroidery

Welcome to the world of embroidery! This beautiful art has fascinated people for centuries. In embroidery, you use a needle and thread to stitch patterns onto fabric, creating a variety of decorative items like clothing and home decorations. The great thing about embroidery is that anyone can learn it, regardless of skill level. All you need is a needle, thread, and some fabric, and you’re ready to start! It’s a fun and relaxing activity that you can do alone or with others, and you’ll always have something to be proud of.

Furthermore, if you’re looking for embroidery designs for religious use, Ecclesiastical Sewing is the perfect place to find them. We offer motifs ideal for churches, including crosses, chi-rho symbols, vines, and other religious designs. Whether you’re decorating a church altar or making vestments for a clergy member, Ecclesiastical Sewing has the collection designs for you.

Using embroidery for religious purposes can be fulfilling and essential. People appreciate well-made religious items, so turning your embroidery hobby into a meaningful contribution to religious ceremonies is an excellent idea. You can create religious items that people appreciate and that contribute to religious ceremonies.

Indeed, embroidery is a beautiful and rewarding art form that anyone can learn. Whether you’re looking to create religious items or just want to embroider for fun, Ecclesiastical Sewing has the embroidery designs you need to get started. So grab your needle and thread, and let’s get stitching!

Goud, zilver and zijde by Marike Van Roon, , Holiday Break

Holiday Break

Book written by Marike van Roon, Head Curator at Amsterdam University as her dissertation was added to my library last summer and has become a favorite.  Beginning at around the 1800s, the book lays out the history of European Ecclesiastical History through the 1960s.  There is a nice mix of primary source material in the form of sketches and illustrations from texts and authors of the period, while stunning black and white, and color photography of actual vestments pieces

Elizabeth – Watts and Co

Elizabeth Hoare, the owner of Watts and Co., played a unique role in preserving Ecclesiastical Vestment history. During her ownership, she safeguarded hand-embroidered works from the late 19th to mid-20th century, ensuring their survival when they were undervalued. Her efforts created a lasting legacy, and today, her collection is displayed at Liverpool Cathedral’s Cathedral Gallery.

Vestment History from Around the Web

The Flickr photo stream might give a clue on how Ecclesiastical vestments are prepared for large events when hundreds of chasuble, mitres, dalmatics, and tunics are needed.  The Stadelmaier photo stream shows the background of a vestment manufacturer making Ecclesiastical Vestments: from the Vestment Design process to final construction, the photos tell an unknown tale. The photo stream also gives a clue as to how church vestments were made in the past by including a collection of old black-and-white photos.

Couching threads: Japan Thread in size 1 on two shades of gold and silver, and black cord

Outlining: Finishing Touch or Distraction

Ecclesiastical Embroidery and Vestment Projects,
– Improving faraway visibility in church embroidery can be tricky. Delicate silver thread on Angel Wings looks nice up close but might fade from a distance. Adding a black outline helps, but it raises concerns about muting the shimmer and blending with the blue background. Deciding between keeping the black for definition or adding more silver threads is a right choice in Ecclesiastical Embroidery.

Dice Trim used on Vestments and Altar Hangings

Something to Share

Sharing a vintage church embroidery design from the 1800s, still in the “rough draft” phase and the possibilities for church embroidery design are endless. On option is this versatile design could be used for whitework on altar linens or adapted for silk and gold threads on stole ends or maniples. Placing it in a quatrefoil frame makes it suitable for chasubles or burses. Stretching and elongating for a double oval ring offers options for stoles or chasubles. The design, enhanced with Dice Trim, can also adorn chasubles and dalmatics. The journey of creating ecclesiastical designs is ongoing, offering endless opportunities to learn and explore.

Simple Hand Embroidered Cross Design

Ecclesiastical Embroidery Designs A Starting Point

Entering the world of Ecclesiastical Sewing may seem challenging, with fears of intricate designs and historic techniques. However, beauty lies in simplicity, like a humble 1930s hand-embroidered cross. Draw inspiration from vintage patterns, such as Thomas Brown’s Church Embroideries, offering a variety of ideas. For machine embroidery enthusiasts, Windstar Embroidery digitizes Thomas Brown’s designs, providing creativity suggestions for hand embroiderers. Those with artistic talent can create personalized designs, adding a unique touch. To start, consider creating a stole, a beginner-friendly Ecclesiastical Sewing project.

Silver Check Thread

Time is Ticking Away

The ongoing Advent Vestment Set faces challenges in couching stitches. The Silver Check Thread, with its non-tarnish finish, offers a sparkle and shine in following curves, holding edges, and concealing stitches. Despite awaiting additional thread supplies, the emphasis remains on completion rather than rushing, with the Ecclesiastical Embroidery project.

Couching threads: Japan Thread in size 1 on two shades of gold and silver, and black cord,Art of Ecclesiastical Embroidery

Metallic Threads

Metallic threads, like Passing Threads and Kreinik Japan Threads, bring shimmer to Ecclesiastical Embroidery. While Passing Threads require careful handling due to their delicate finish, Kreinik Japan Threads offer a shiny, flexible, and affordable option. Despite challenges, the warm copper passing thread adds a contrasting touch. Thoughtful stitching and understanding each thread’s traits enhance the embroidery experience.

Color guide on a hand embroidery pattern

Rare Find Part II

The Monastery’s Ecclesiastical Embroidery Designs are truly amazing. What stands out is that many of these beautiful designs originated from understanding of geometry, design, scale and proportion. The Sisters, who created these designs, studied theology, understood the history and meaning behind symbols, and skillfully combined all this knowledge to create stunning Ecclesiastical Designs.

Some Drawings of Ancient Embroidery by Mary Barber

A Rare Find

Passionate about Ecclesiastical Embroidery, I’ve collected rare books and found a rare to find book by Mary Barber entitled  Some Drawings of Ancient Embroidery and received three sample designs from a closing monastery’s Art Needlework Department. The designs, featuring a Rose and Thorn, IHC, and Sword and Keys, offer a glimpse into the artistry of Ecclesiastical Embroidery.