Orphrey trims are decorative bands or borders that people use to embellish liturgical vestments, such as chasubles, stoles, and copes. These trims are used in various materials, including silk, gold or silver metallic threads, and ornate embroidery. Orphrey trims enhance the beauty of the vestments in religious worship.
Moreover, these trims feature intricate designs and religious motifs that represent various aspects of the Christian faith. It also makes them hold symbolic value. Apart from the aesthetic value these trims play a crucial role in preserving historical and cultural significance. Using these trims in liturgical pieces, churches, and religious institutions can continue to honor and celebrate the rich history and traditions of every Christians
Chasubles are typically made of a lightweight, flowing fabric that features a large orphrey (decorative band) around the neck and down the front. There are a variety of fabric options that may be used for making chasubles, each with its own unique characteristics and benefits. Let’s take a few moments to explore some of the fabrics that might be used to create our Gothic Chasuble Sewing Pattern.
The white lilies and blue forget-me-nots held symbolic meaning. The dainty blue flowers asked the viewer not to forget God’s promises, while the white bursting blooms proclaimed the resurrection. They were attached to a bed of greens and a cross adorned the center of the stole.
Creating perfect chasuble orphrey bands is easier with these 5 tips. Choose precise marking tools, finish edges to prevent unraveling, mark lines accurately, and pin perpendicular. Use the edge foot for even stitching, spot-check for consistency, and adjust as needed. These simple steps ensure polished and professionally sewn chasuble orphrey bands.
Ecclesiastical Sewing offers custom-sized church vestments for clergy members who require special fits. While standard sizes work for most, bespoke vestments cater to unique sizing needs, ensuring proper length and width adjustments for a comfortable and graceful fit. The example of a petite white chasuble illustrates the customization available, making it suitable for Easter celebrations.
To test a pattern for a Chalice Veil at Ecclesiastical Sewing, red silk dupioni was used for the face fabric, satin for the lining, and Evesham brocade for the orphrey band, trimmed with Saint Benet trim. The process involved measuring, cutting, and adding the orphrey band and trim. Basting the trim before sewing helped ensure it stayed straight. After completing the orphrey band, it was stitched to the silk, a cross was applied with an iron, and the lining was hand-stitched. The final result is a beautiful Chalice Veil in the Saint Gregory Collection of Vestments.
Ely Crown is a fabric design that has been around for a long period, yet this pattern is classic enough in its simplicity and beauty to be loved still today. There are two design motifs of the floras and crown, surrounded by an intertwining vine pattern. The above image is a copy that dates to the late 1800s or early 1900s which is made from Ely Crown. The cope is still in excellent condition and is still in use in the cathedral, although there are some signs of wear in the silk fibers in a few spots.
The Chi Rho symbol is the large “P” combined with the “X” to create a monogram that depicts the first two letters of the Greek word KHRistos. The Chi Rho is a chrismon, or christogram. This lovely monogram can take many shapes and forms. The “P” in this version is embroidered using a very deep red color, outlined with a dark gray to set it off against the black background. The “X” is embroidered using a slightly lighter red color, outlined with the same deep gray thread.
Evesham, which is made from silk fibers, comes in two different pattern scales: a large size pattern, and a small pattern. With two sizes of scales of patterns to select from, The project will combine the use of both the large and small patterns of Evesham.
Dice Trim,” has tiny alternating squares woven in a solid color and a gold thread. This trim, although narrow at 1/2″, is a powerhouse of a trim, it gives a clean, tailored look. It sews very nicely. It comes in a nice assortment of liturgical colors: black, red, green, blue, gold, white, and purple. Dice Braid offers a very clean, tailored, crisp finish to vestments. It can be used to edge the long sides of stoles or as an end finish to a stole. It can be used as a finish on the edge of a chalice veil, as well as being used on any other type of vestment where trim is needed.
Chalice veils are very simple to construct. The beauty of the finished piece lies in excellent workmanship construction techniques and appropriate design placement. The design of a chalice veil can be as simple or elaborate as the imagination allows. Although the chalice veils do not have any trim around the edge, it is appropriate to use a cord as a decorative finish at the seam. Chalice veils often have a cross motif placed on the front edge too.
The orphrey trim for the chalice veil had been planned and cut to size and position based on the use of the black Passion Cross. The idea was to place the black motif on a gold motif so it would be more visible. The center of the orphrey was located and matched to the center of the design on the black Fairford Fabric.
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