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Category: Sewing Tips and Techniques

Sewing enthusiasts, both beginners and experienced seamstresses, sewing tips and techniques are necessary to learn to create beautiful and long-lasting pieces. Choosing the right fabric is a key part of sewing that can influence the outcome of any project. Therefore, sewers must consider durability, weight, texture, and color when selecting fabrics. Furthermore, accurately interpreting sewing patterns is also essential to ensure proper sizing and fit.

Anyone in the sewing industry should acquire sewing techniques.  Another thing to consider when sewing is to learn sewing tips and techniques. Also in measuring and cutting, pressing, and finishing seams to take their sewing skills to the next level. Basic stitches such as the straight stitch, zigzag stitch, and buttonhole stitch are also essential to learn.

In addition, having the right tools and equipment is very important for learning sewing techniques. A good sewing machine, quality scissors, a variety of needles, and thread are necessary for achieving the best results. Staying organized and keeping a clean workspace can be very helpful to the sewing process and make it more enjoyable.

Explore the possibility of Ecclesiastical Sewing if you enjoy sewing and are seeking a way to use your abilities to make lovely and meaningful liturgical projects. Making altar hangings, paraments, altar cloths, liturgical vestments, and other items for use in churches and other religious organizations. With dedication and a passion for sewing, you can able to create stunning pieces that not only showcase your skills but also add beauty and meaning to religious services.

Thus, sewing is really an enjoyable and fulfilling activity that can result in beautiful and durable objects. To create something special, it’s important to choose the right fabric, learn how to sew, have the necessary tools, and maintain order. By learning these aspects, anyone can create amazing and unique pieces that reflect their creativity and skill.

Urn pall for funerals

In Remembrance: Urn Palls for use at Funerals

The tradition within the church is to use a Pall to cover the coffin for funerals. At the time of Pugin (early to mid-1800s), Palls were elaborate items, often embellished with extensive embroidery and gold work. Palls are still used today to cover a coffin during a funeral service. They are frequently white in color with a cross or other appropriate design applied. While churches may own a Pall for covering a coffin, they may not have a pall for covering an urn. The use of urns to replace large coffins is becoming more common.

Liturgical Fabric for Vestment

April’s Goals

April Goal – To sew a Gothic Chasuble. there are two Gothic Chasuble patterns, each is a slight variation. Constructing one of the variations of the Gothic Chasuble. The chasuble marked by its long sleeves. An oval or circular in shape if it were to be spread out flat on the floor. Draping over the priest or pastor, almost poncho-like in resemblance.

Vestments made by a reader for his church

A Reader’s Labor of Love: Making Liturgical Vestments

David, a dedicated reader, has been creating beautiful liturgical vestments for his priest and parish. He recently shared photos of his work, showcasing an All Souls Day chasuble and stole. The orphrey features silver lamé with two different ribbons topstitched on. David’s creativity is evident in his material choices, and he even incorporated a Dogwood Flower design in the lace of the surplice, paying tribute to North Carolina’s official state flower.

Ambrose in violet lent stole fairford brocade large

Exciting News! Pastoral Stoles

Ecclesiastical Sewing Pastoral Stole Collection. The styles include St. Gregory Silk Dupioni, St. Ambrose, St. Michael, St. Jerome, and St. Augustine. Each stole featuring unique orphrey bands, a gold cross at the neckline, and tassels along the bottom edges. Additionally, there is an Alpha-Omega stole in ivory. These pastoral stoles are now ready for purchase on our website, and we’re working on creating seasonally colored stoles for each style.

Aragon Red Lurex Liturgical Tapestry Fabric

Dainty Liturgical Fabrics? How Will They Look!

These fabrics often showcase medium to large patterns, like the Aragon Tapestry with its Jardinière design or Brocatelles such as Wakefield and Evesham. They are versatile for creating entire vestments or using cut pieces as accents. The size and scale offer endless possibilities, and shimmering threads woven into intricate designs enhance the beauty of the final vestments.

St. Margaret Liturgical Brocade used for Historical Costume

Liturgical Brocades Used for Church Vestments and Historical Costumes

Our Liturgical Brocade Fabrics have been designed and woven by the same company in the United Kingdom for over 140 years.  The patterns used in many of the Liturgical Brocade and damask fabrics come from historic sources such as paintings, frescoes, or paintings of vintage textiles. The top designers of the late 1800s, such as Sir Ninian Comper, created several fabric patterns that are still in production today.

Pastoral Stoles kits and ready made

Pastoral Stoles for Advent, Lent, and Good Friday

A collection of stoles is being prepared for purchase, with finishing touches such as tassels and neckline chains. Hand-made stoles will also be available for purchase, created using traditional techniques and high-quality standards. All stoles will be made in the USA by partnering with ecclesiastical tailors and seamstresses.

Silk Dupioni with Evesham closeup

Silk Dupioni Liturgical Stole Kit with Evesham Orphrey

Our new 4 1/2″ pastoral stole has a guideline for cutting stole orphreys for use at the lower edge, as well as for use on the upper chest. The orphrey size and guideline placement have been developed based on the design rule of thirds and by years of practice. Now, these placement and cutting sizes are “guidelines” and are not meant to take the place of checking to verify that the placement works for each and every situation. They are intended to help create a sense of balance and proportion when making a pastoral stole, by providing a starting point for the placement of orphrey bands or appliques.

Two Toned Violet Gold Fairford on Silk Dupioni

4 1/2 Inch Wide Pastoral Stole Pattern

The 4 1/2″ pastoral or priest stole is designed to accommodate a variety of heights. It has cutting lines for a 51″, 53″, and 55″ finished length. The length can easily be changed to allow for a hem that is plain with no trim or a hem trimmed with fringe or tassels. While I find the 53″ stole works well for a wide variety of needs, with or without a fringe or tassel lower edge. It was important to offer the option of a pastoral stole pattern with different lengths to more readily accommodate those who need a longer or shorter stole. In addition, the stole pattern also has a lengthened and shortened line to allow for further customization.

Ely Crown Red Stole

October 11th–Philip the Deacon

In the early days of the church, seven deacons were chosen to serve as helpers. Philip was one of these men. After the deacon Steven was killed and persecution of the Christians began in Jerusalem, Philip left Jerusalem for Samaria. There he spread the good news of the Gospel. Philip is also the man who preached to the Ethiopian eunuch and then baptized him.