Well, of course, embroidery has been done on silk grounds for a few
thousand years. And Westerners used chenille threads on silk - which
are a lot heftier than wool.

Many of the patterns which we associate with "crewel" or "Jacobian"
embroidery are used on lots of other embroideries, in lots of other
fibers. It's just that Western embroidery, with typical "Jacobian"
embroidery was crewel on twill. My mother did a beautiful, typical
Jacobian-style embroidery on normal closely woven linen, not twill. And
I do wool on blanketing.

You can do shaded embroideries with wool, too. But the typical way you
think of this is: silk on silk.

I didn't know Tanja was selling silk as a ground for "Jacobian". I'll
have to check her out again. :-)

This has been a fun thread to read. Thanks for the silk link.
Dianne

Ellice wrote:
On 12/19/03 2:53 PM,"Dianne Lewandowski" posted:


This conversation is confusing me. Wasn't crewel embroidery a process
of "crewel wool" on linen (usually linen twill) grounds.


I'm sure that is true. And indeed, the traditional pieces I'm ordering are
on Linen Twill - done with Appleton crewel wool.


Now, that doesn't mean you can't use other threads or other grounds.
But I keep reading about silk ground, and this is a new "revelation" to
me to think of crewel embroidery and silk cloth in the same breath.


I guess in this modern adaptation it's the same technique, using crewel
stitches, or type stitches - in this modern Jacobean embroidery - but
instead the work is done on a silk background, using silk or cotton threads
or metallic threads - not wool. It's a finer version. I think that's what I
like. But the stitches are the "crewel work" stitches. Hey - way back when
those ladies sitting around doing fancy work did this kind of embroidery on
silks and fine cloths - not always on wool or heavy twill for draperies,
etc.

Speaking of which - did you catch the embroidery on the bustiers featured in
November's Threads? I love that magazine.

What will be interesting about my adventure is that I'm going to have to do
these pieces to stay ahead of the crazy aunt.

ellice

Dianne

Hexe wrote:

snipped to post

i haven't read the whole thread as i should be cooking dinner '-) i
also love the Jacobean style of embroidery, but living where i do in
Germany, i am limited as to readily available threads. i would
suggest you get your aunt "The Anchor Book of Crewelwork Embroidery
Stitches". this book is written for beginners and has patterns
relevant to each stitch used. (i think these Anchor books are great,
i have several.) the pieces are done with a variety of threads not
just wool on silk.

i'm beginning a tote bag with a sampler square of 4 patterns done as
an (lined) outside pocket.

--
Hexe
http//ikutec.com