Laurel Cloak for Asa

My husband's apprentice sister, Asa in Svarta, was recently honored by being elevated to the Order of the Laurel.  (For those not in the SCA, this means that a very good friend was honored with a very special award).

I was pleased to be able to step forward to do the embroidery on a cloak for her. A simple "blanket" style cloak was chosen.  Mutual friend Rainillt provided the wool fabric -- and being a better artist than I she also drew on the simple laurel leaf vine design, modified from extant Viking era embroidery examples. 

I began by outlining the entire design, using DMC Medici wool in stem stitch.  The small blue nodules were also done in DMC Medici.

The outlining, and the start of the leaves

Hand dyed (using natural, period dyes) Persian weight embroidery wool was provided by Thora Sharptooth in two greens and a lovely yellow.  At first I was concerned about using the heavier weight thread with the lighter crewel weight of the red and blue, but ultimately they seem to have worked well together.  The larger laurel leaves were done with the darker green using "Bayeux" style laid and couched work.  The smaller leaves were done in stem stitch using the lighter green and the yellow was used to fill in the stem (again with stem stitch).

Stem stitch outline and fill

One of the laid and couched large leaves

Recently, I got together with Asa and we determined where she wants to have the pin go. When she has lived with it there for a little while and decides it is right, I'll make eyelet holes (or, if it needs to move, we'll do that).

Asa prefers not to be photographed, so the model here is Asa and John's Laurel's husband Reijnier Verplanck (with help from puppy Hoshi).

Next week -- the unveiling of my work room studio.