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Tag: Linen Embroidery Designs

Linen embroidery artists decorate linen fabric with intricate designs and patterns to create a beautiful art form. It has been popular for centuries and is still in demand today due to its elegance and beauty. Liturgical settings, such as churches, chapels, and other religious spaces, frequently use linen embroidery. Altar cloths, vestments, and decorative pieces like banners and wall hangings are some of the most common uses of linen embroidery in these settings.

The designs and patterns of the embroidery can enhance the religious spaces of the church. Additionally, it often creates pieces that are both functional and decorative, such as altar cloths and vestments. These pieces help the overall settings, creating a meaningful and memorable worship experience

Small IHC Hand Embroidery Design for Altar Linens

Altar Linen Projects – Beginnings

This vintage Ecclesiastical Hand Embroidery Design, originating from a Boston monastery over 100 years ago, still bears the pounce powder from its original use. The intricately perforated design on thin tracing vellum paper is tiny—merely 2 to 3 inches in size. The IHC hand embroidery is elegantly simple and clean, sparking ideas for stitching options. Considerations include a trailing stitch for the outline with a seed stitch filling or even a straightforward split stitch outline.

Baptismal towel with tiny hand-embroidered cross

Vintage Baptismal Cloth

Baptismal Towels or Baptismal Napkins may be as simple or elaborate as one desires to make them.  The size of this Baptismal Cloth is approximately 19″ x 21″ as the finished size. The embroidery may be a very simple hand-embroidered cross. The hems should be narrow.  Now, there may be more specific instructions available in some older Church Vestment Books

Ecclesiastical Machine Embroidery Palm and Cross Design on Silk Dupioni

A Fun Experiment with Machine Embroidery

Using modern techniques to complete an Ecclesiastical Vestment set can be a lifesaver.  The designs can often be modified in size to fit specific needs. The colors can often be selected to suit a particular occasion or color scheme.  Selecting someone who is well versed in the Ecclesiastical Arts, as well as fluent with modern machine embroidery can be a delightful way to expand design possibilities for enhancing Ecclesiastical Vestments…

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.

Museum Ursuline Center, Summer Travels

More Surprises on Summer Travels

Visiting the museum, display revealed a whitework embroidery fragments, including one with the words “Happy Feast!” and the date “1895.” The remnants were cut from a larger hand-embroidered linen tablecloth used by the Sisters, showcasing beautiful craftsmanship. Intrigued by the search for Ecclesiastical Embroidery, we were directed to Father, to know the promising revelations in the chapel.

White Garment for Holy Baptism

White Garment for Holy Baptism

Creating a special garment for Holy Baptism—a simple, symbolic white piece to signify putting on the Holiness of Christ. This keepsake, though used briefly, holds significance as part of the Order of Holy Baptism. An easy project with a tiny neckline, a cross or shell design, and simple edges, making it a meaningful and quick creation for a memorable occasion. Perfect for families who wish to cherish the remembrance of their infant’s baptism.