365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Blackwork
Day 306: Forgive the hasty post today. It comes through a small hole in a busy agenda. Some days are like that, hard to find a moment to write, let alone take a photograph, but I haven't missed a one in almost five years and don't intend to let that record fall.
Closely akin to counted cross-stitch, modern blackwork embroidery is generally done on canvas or scrim (fabric to be removed after the stitching is complete). In mediaeval times, counted-thread canvas was not available, and thus the needleworker spaced the stitches by eye, and skill was measured by the uniformity of the work. The blackwork was often quite elaborate and extensive, covering large areas of a garment with tiny, delicate stitchery, the detail of which could only be seen close up. Such fine work is seldom seen today, as most embroidery is done on 14-22 count canvas, huge by comparison to the weave of the linens of yesteryear.
Labels:
blackwork,
embroidery,
needlework
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment