Teaching is everywhere.

On Sunday I participated in a demo at the Philadelphia German Society as part of their German Heritage festival.  Various members of the SCA presented different aspects of Medieval and Renaissance German arts.  I had a slide show of period German embroideries, some recreations done by myself and my good friend Cathy Bent, and some books with more examples bookmarked.  I also had some kits available if anyone wanted to try their hands at the brick stitch. (I had no takers for that part, which just means that I have a teaching box for brick stitch all set up!)

The embroidery "station"

Although there were less people than I though we would be getting, everyone I spoke with was interested and engaged.  They asked very good questions -- and I was generally able to answer them.

We were not the only ones providing information... a group of Hessians joined us, showed us some drills and circulated and talked with attendees.  I had a lovely discussion of garb making with one of the gentlemen -- and reinforced how glad I am we do 12th Century!

Early Irish Tygers

 I was requested to prepare Tygers for the backs of the coronation cloaks for the East Kingdom Fall Coronation (October 4, 2015).  The "garb of the day" for their incoming Majesties was to be early Irish, and a design was provided, evoking the East Kingdom Tyger in a Celtic style.

It was decided that for His Majesty the Tygers should stand approximately 10 inches and for Her Majesty 8 inches.  I prepared blow ups of these designs using my copier.  I also used the copier to prepare mirror images so that on each cloak there will be two Tygers, facing each other. [In period, all of this work would have been done for me by an artist, since I do not have artistic talent myself...I need to give the copier a nice medieval artist name.]

The first plan was to prepare the Tygers in Applique.  Pre-washed wool was ordered from the same source that the cloak fabric itself was to come from.  Unfortunately, the wool did not arrive in time for my comfort in completing the project.  I quickly developed a fall back position -- Bayeux style embroidery.

Bottom left, yes that's all white linen

I selected some nice firmly yellow linen from my stash (remember those shelves full of linen?). New plan involved stitching the Tygers on the linen, cutting them out and appliqueing that to the backs of the cloaks when they're ready.

So glad Medici is available again!

I then selected some DMC Medici wools in three blues and a yellow nearly matching the fabric, burgundy for outlining and red and black for the finishing touches.

All ready to go. 

Since I had already prepared my designs, transfer was quick. Again, I opted for completely modern techniques for this.

First, I prepared the fabric by ironing freezer paper to the back (shiny side to the fabric). This trick, which I learned while working on the Plymouth Jacket keeps the fabric nice and steady while drawing on it.

No more sticky residue

Next, I taped the design down on the glass of my light box. I use painter's tape for this, having learned my lesson to not use packing tape (some day I'll get the rest of that residue off).  The use of a light box has roots in period methods, it's just a lot safer than supporting the fabric in a frame over a candle.

Ready to trace

Next, the fabric was taped down over the design.  I used a Pigma Micron pen. These are available in various sizes, quite fine pointed, and archival ink.  A period embroiderer would have used a pen and ink.

Not quite done.... 

The light box I have has a nice rocker switch with which I can reduce the level of light, so I can check progress.

All ready. 

I marked in each section a letter code to remind myself which thread I want to use in each.

Next I mounted the fabric on stretcher bars to be nice and firm. Time to stitch.

Not *quite* a stitch by numbers kit.

First, I used stem stitch for all the lines, using the burgundy thread I had chosen. The Bayeux Stitch portions were next -- body, face, legs, paws and mane.  Finally, the yellow detail and the tail were filled in with stem stitch, resulting in the first of the Tygers for Her Majesty,  Then I did it all again for the first Tyger for His Majesty.  Time was not on my side and only two (one each) Tygers were done -- and still late -- to be handed off for application to the cloaks. 

Photo by Brendan Crane

Photo by Brendan Crane

Temporary application was made by neatening up the yellow fabric and applying the Tygers on their fields of yellow.  Two more Tygers will be made, and all four will receive a different, more time intensive, application process -- but that, as they say, is a post for another day.

Photo by Brendan Crane

Below are some close ups of portions of the finished Tygers.  

Wait, something's missing

What a difference a tongue makes
(Yes, that's two different Tygers, at different resolutions, because I'm dumb and didn't take before and after shots)

A couple more close ups:

A bit of body in Bayeux and detail in stem stitch

A bit of everything

Round and round and round the tail we go.

Thursday again!

Last night for A&S I started putting together my exhibit (ok, ok, a Power Point) on German embroidery for a demo on Sunday.  I even managed to stay mostly out of the rabbit hole. I'm freely borrowing images from museums and other sources (all credited of course), so I won't be posting the "slide show" but I think this will become the foundation of a new class for my rotation.

Current project list/status (SCA/Historic):

• Medallion for a coronation mantle -- Soon, soon I will be able to unleash the post about this.
• Motifs for coronation cloaks (different coronation) -- Two were finished and have been handed off.  I *think* they will be Monday's post, but they might wait depending on if I get photos of "in situ."  I will also be doing the remaining two and plan to take the cloaks and put all four in place according to the original vision and my plan.
• Planning for teaching.  On Sunday I'll be talking about German embroidery at a demo at the Philadelphia German Society.  I've started the slide show of photos and will be making up kits for those who want to try some hands on.  The kits will be squares of canvas and threads to do a motif in brick stitch.  This may well develop into a regular rotation class. 

• Marshall Hanging -- the very large Bayeux inspired piece that I've been working on (on and off) for just about forever.  Deadline, June 2016. I expect there will be an update post shortly. No additional work this week.

• Hem stitched square -- Now 3 sides are done.  Currently my travel piece.  With no deadline, and just for me just for fun, I'm ok with slow progress on this one.

• Additional couching & laid work pieces. The June 2016 deadline is for a very special presentation to the East Kingdom embroidery guild, Keepers of Athena's Thimble.  In addition to the master work of the Marshall Hanging, I need supporting pieces in other forms of laid and couched work.  There will be posts as these are done. Some research and Pinteresting have been done.  One of the pieces has been determined in plan, but won't be presented until February so no posts.  I promise, that's the last "it's secret, no posts until given" item for a while.

Current project list/status (Modern): (oh, look, no progress here.... working on a deadline will do that).

• Knitted Salto fingerless gloves from Craftsy kit using Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend.  I'm so close to done on this one.  It was a lovely kit, which unfortunately didn't have enough of the yarn.  I got another skein and have to wind it off and finish. 

• Knitted vest for Joe.  Knitting is done.  Just have to do blocking, weave in the ends and sew on the buttons.  Really need to get on this so he can wear it to Rhinebeck this year.

• Skirts for work.  One skirt that had been languishing in my studio has had some work done, and now just needs a hem.  I also have some lovely blue and white fabric waiting to be the next skirt. 

• Alpaca stole.  Beautiful yellow alpaca yarn purchased at Rhinebeck last year has been wound.  This is my next knitting project, and should be cast on in time to be what I'm working on at this year's Rhinebeck. I'm going to be using a pattern found on Ravelry, the Bay of Fundy Scarf. I think it will be lovely in the yellow. I'm pretty sure this will be my reward for finishing the current deadline item.