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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!

Applied or Applique Work for Church Embroidery

Changing Plans?

Changed plans for Advent Set due to lost time and supply delays.
A quick review from “Church Needlework” by Hinda Hands for ideas and now focusing on appliqué and outline work, balancing harsh designs with scroll accents. Using modern fusible web instead of paste for appliqué. Applying Alpha and Omega symbols directly to blue Silk Dupioni, so cutting fabric and adapting plans. Ecclesiastical Sewing project takes unexpected turns!

Evertite Stretcher Bar Frame

Framing Steps Part 2 Advent

In the process of preparing for the Advent set, Evertite Stretcher Bars were selected for framing linen. Two sizes, 16″ and 23″, were chosen for the frame, ensuring its squareness before the lightweight linen was prepared. The linen, cut by thread and folded with creases for reference points, was then stretched over the frame, with alternating pinning and tacking along the width and length. Tension was adjusted for a tight finish. Despite challenges with tacks from a local store, the framed-up linen is now ready for design transfer.

Evertite Frame in use, framing steps

Framing Steps

In preparation for the Advent Ecclesiastical Sewing project, the focus is on framing steps using the Evertite Tension Adjusting Stretcher Bars. These bars offer an adjustable feature with tiny screws, ensuring the embroidery project stays taunt. The bars, available in various sizes, are easily assembled with a straightforward tightening process using an Allen Wrench. The cost-effective Evertite frames are practical, functional, and adaptable, providing a range of adjustments to keep the work in good shape. Needle in a Haystack and Stitchville USA are recommended places to find Evertite frames.

Framing and Tracing Altar Frontal Star

Advent Star Stitching Underway

Starting a new Advent project for the church with a Star design. Quickly framed the Altar Frontal design and now onto the fun part – stitching with shiny Silver Metallic Threads. Exploring different options like Smooth Passing, Silver Twists, Check Thread, and Rococo to outline the Advent Star. The aim is to make it shimmer and shine with various textures and to create a beautiful Altar Frontal, Chalice Veil, and Pulpit Fall for Advent season.

Church Hand Embroidery Pattern for Advent, Advent Altar Hanging and Pulpit Fall Ideas

Advent Altar Hanging and Pulpit Fall Ideas

Ecclesiastical Sewing takes a break from finishing the Monk’s Habit to brainstorm Advent Altar Hanging and Pulpit Fall Ideas. Current hangings are deemed unsatisfactory, prompting a plan for an interim Advent Set using machine embroidery on Silk Dupioni fabric. The proposed design includes stars, Alpha and Omega, and Chi-Rho symbols. Time constraints pose a challenge, but the aim is to complete the project using a beautiful blue Silk Dupioni fabric and possibly incorporating Silver Elizabethan Twist thread for added shimmer.

Silk Floss for Easter Set Pulpit Fall

Testing Colors on the Pulpit Fall

Testing colors for the Easter Set Pulpit Fall involves a rich and vibrant palette to convey the Glory of the Resurrection. The initial focus is on the color green, stitched with Au Ver A Soie- Soie D’Alger, Soie Paris, and Gilt Silk Twist. The lily leaves are satin stitched, with stem stitching using two strands for a textured effect.

Iron on Ecclesiastical Embroidery Transfers, religious machine embroidery designs

Vintage Ecclesiastical Embroidery Transfer Treasures

Discovering hidden treasures in vintage Ecclesiastical Embroidery transfers is always exciting. While exploring a worn book, unexpected finds emerged, including a small iron-on transfer suitable for stole ends or whitework on Church Linens. Moreover, a larger transfer sheet with four designs, and another long and narrow design, provided valuable resources for enhancing Ecclesiastical Embroidery projects.

Adding the first strand of Gold Thread

IHS Embroidery Update

IHS Goldwork Embroidery for the Rose Vestment Set Altar Frontal. Inspired by a detailed Fleur end in a design notebook, Silk Wrapped Purl was used for the cross. The technique involves a central line splitting into two at the Fleur ends. Adding a second gold thread using the “turn one, cut one method” from the A to Z Goldwork Book by Inspirations

Silk Wrapped Purl and Silk Gimp

Inspirations for Silk Wrapped Purl

Silk Wrapped Purl and Silk Gimp from Thistle Threads offer exciting possibilities for Ecclesiastical Embroidery projects. Despite their unique qualities, figuring out how to use these threads can be a challenge. Tricia’s blog from The Embroiderer’s Story highlighted the difficulties faced by manufacturers of these specialized threads. To support their survival, an order was placed for Silk Wrapped Purl and Silk Gimp. The Silk Wrapped Purl, neatly packaged in one-yard lengths, possesses a playful, flexible nature. The Silk Gimp, a versatile thread, can be used for outlines, fillings, or couching, providing endless creative options for Ecclesiastical Embroidery projects.

Simple Green Chasuble with Goldwork Embroidery

Simple Details

Ecclesiastical Sewing and embroidery elevate pieces through simple details. Inspiration comes from various sources, such as photos, sketches, and notes. For instance, a plain green chasuble with goldwork embroidery gains visual appeal with a flowing gold scroll twist along the galloon trim. This detail softens the transition between the large floral motif and the clean galloon line, enhancing the overall design.

Stitches come up on the outside of the threads

Goldwork Progress

Tips and techniques that can make goldwork progress
– IHS Ecclesiastical Embroidery Design for a Rose Vestment Set. Using the couching technique, she starts with horizontal and vertical rows, opting for a turn-one, plunge-one method to manage thread ends. The needle is placed between gold threads, angled under the previous row, and pulled tight. The chosen couching style creates a brick pattern with alternating stitch placement…

goldwork embroidery

Challenges with Goldwork Embroidery

At the start of the goldwork embroidery project, there were some issues. The gold threads got stuck and wouldn’t go through as planned. Despite trying different things, they just wouldn’t cooperate. The problem was found—it was the muslin backing causing entanglement between layers. So, the decision was made to start over. The silk dupioni was securely attached to the Alba Maxima Linen, allowing for corrections. This time, the plan is to stitch from the center outward, hoping for a smoother process.