Finished at Last! Ash Wednesday Vestments
Ash Wednesday Altar Frontal and Chalice Veil Ecclesiastical Sewing Project.
Ash Wednesday Altar Frontal and Chalice Veil Ecclesiastical Sewing Project.
The IHS Lenten Design, taken from a detailed border pattern, offers versatility. The stylized floral elements converted into letters make an interesting stand-alone element. It can be stitched with subdued threads for Lent or with goldwork threads and silk floss for a shimmering effect, symbolizing the glory of the Resurrection. With two available sizes, this design is suitable for stoles, linens, pulpit falls, or even an altar frontal.
The stitching on hand embroidery project is not overly difficult. This would make a great beginner’s project with a few modifications, such as using floss padding, and a single strand of embroidery floss for the laid stitching.
The Passion Cross has black felt padding, over which Au Ver A Soie, Soie Ovale is being stitched. A base of silk threads would be laid to create a padded surface, and then begin the stitching over thread padding.
Fair linens, the top linen placed on the altar, are crucial liturgical items. According to Percy Dearmer, a renowned liturgical furnishing author, fair linens should be the exact width of the altar and extend within six inches from the ground on the sides. The linen should be good quality, hemmed, and bear one, four, or five devices in white, red, or blue. Modern recommendations suggest the fair linen’s length should match the superfrontal’s, often 9 to 12 inches. Working with 100% linen, mitering corners, and adding crosses can create a durable, elegant fair linen for the altar.
This treasure comes from a rare copy of a German book that arrived over the Christmas Holidays. The original design is very small. When it is enlarged on a copier, the design loses definition and the pixels become an issue. This seemed appropriate as a first challenge with the graphics program. Lots of straight lines, a circle, and a few wavy lines for rocks.
Creating Chalice Veil Cross in 20 minutes.
– The Design for the Chalice Veil Passion Cross is small. There was a tiny scrap of linen, washed and pressed, and with the right size, along with a piece of Kona Cotton to use as a backing. This was the perfect project for a small round hoop.
Trash or Treasure?
– These beautiful Ecclesiastical Designs are in tatters, are torn, and have none of their original beauty or glory. But they represent the hard work and artistic talent of a designer from years ago, creating ideas on paper to be transferred via Needle and Thread to fabric. They represent hours of selfless giving of time and talent to create objects of beauty for use in the Church.
Two of those unusual things are the Seraphim and the Cherubim. Artisans of the past have grappled with these creatures and provided some interesting interpretations. The powdering designs, dating from the glory days of Opus Anglicanum, give us some wonderful examples of these delightful interpretations of Seraphim and Cherubim.
The Two Agnus Die projects for the Easter Set, the gold thread used for couching the blue silk sky is a Gilt Smooth Passing Thread size 4 with a silk core. The thread is imported from Access Commodities here in the States and is available from Hedgehog Handworks. The Gilt threads have 1/2% gold and are very nice to work with. The silk core makes the thread very pliable and so nice to plunge thread tails – an excellent goldwork thread.
There is a color calendar based on LCMS 2014-2015 One Year Series Color Chart or the LCMS 2014-2015 Three Year Series B Color Chart. The color calendar is updated annually to coincide with the church year calendar and the readings for the day or season.
“The Embroideries at Liverpool” book talks about how people made beautiful embroideries for Liverpool Cathedral. A group of ladies had the idea to use one designer for all the embroideries, making them match the building. The book shares the story of these women who not only created amazing embroideries but also helped with the money for the projects.
The Passion Cross – Church Symbolism by F.R. Webber
– This is a cross whose ends are cut to points. It is also known as the Cross Urdee, and the Cross Champain, sometimes the Cross Pointed. It represents the sufferings of our Lord and has been called by some authorities the Cross of Suffering. If pictured as rising out of a chalice, it represents our Lord’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. It may be used as a symbol of Maundy Thursday, or of Good Friday.
Learning about chasubles, important church garments, and their historical use. Some find it challenging to reintroduce them, but resources explain their history and Lutheran significance, promoting understanding and appreciation.
Exciting Ecclesiastical Embroidery event at Ely Cathedral in the UK! The Royal School of Needlework presents over 60 stunning displays, including rare pieces like the Litany of Loreto panels. showcasing exquisite needlework and historical artifacts from Ely Cathedral. Workshops on goldwork and silk shading add to the charm of this event.
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