Violet is a favorite color that is used once or twice during the church year. The seasons of violet are Advent and Lent, the Penitential Seasons. Many other colors fall under the “umbrella” of the Penitential color Violet. These include Roman purple, rose, and blue. Black and scarlet may also be included in the group of colors. Violet has been used for a long time as a color for church vestments.
A stole kit, by definition, is a pre-cut length of the face fabric, canvas interfacing, and lining. The necessary items include but are not limited to patterns, instructions, sewing pins, scissors, a sewing machine, a needle for hand sewing, and appropriate thread colors.
Our stole kits are available in both silk dupioni and various brocades. So there is a wide selection of materials and within those material options, there are many color shades.
Ecclesiastical Sewing was centered around materials for sewing Ecclesiastical items. We have since been blessed with the ability to make finished vestments and paraments for sale. But we want to make sure we encourage inspiring seamstresses and tailors to use their talents for their churches and clergy. This art form must continue to be passed on and be available for future generations. The best way to begin the journey of ecclesiastical sewing is to make a stole. Instead of buying fabric, canvas, and lining separately, we offer the right amount of all three to create a stole.
Ecclesiastical Sewing, offering a nice range of assorted fabrics in a wide range of price points for use in making church vestments and altar hangings. Our liturgical Brocade, Damask, Lurex brocades, and Tapestry Church vestment fabrics are imported from the United Kingdom. The designs and patterns used in the fabrics come from a wide range of sources, which include historical paintings, fabrics, and Frescoes. Other fabric designs are patterns that were created by well-known church designers in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Finishing stole ends can be done in various ways, but let’s focus on mitered corners. After folding and pressing the sides and bottoms, create a little triangle at the corner. Pin the edges at the miter and start lacing. Anchor the thread with small stitches and then take staggered stitches along the fold, ensuring edges won’t separate. Continue lacing to the end, then stitch back up. Though mitered corners can be challenging, practicing can lead to beautiful finishes.
We have a brocade-on-brocade product line and a product line featuring our new embroideries. The brocades we chose are Fairford and Fairford Two-Toned. These have an uncomplicated design paring. The simplicity of design matching is needed when you see the color! The colors, these are eye-catching and mouth-dropping.
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.
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