Winter has settled on us in Northern Minnesota with a vengeance. It is too cold for man or beast to venture outside beyond what is absolutely needed. Thankfully, the work week is at an end and it is the perfect time to stay home and be close to the warmth and coziness of the fireside. With a long winter weekend stretching ahead, and the Holiday hustle and bustle wrapping up, it’s time to start thinking about new projects and using a few new tools in the Ecclesiastical Sewing workroom.

This is one of the new tools I am looking forward to using in the coming weeks and months. Now you may be thinking – what is this, and what bearing does it have on Ecclesiastical Sewing?

This is a trestle stand – or at least one half of a Trestle stand. Trestle stands are used in pairs – kind of like saw horses – to hold an embroidery slate frame. Using Trestle Stands allows for both hands to be free to work hand embroidery. Slate frames are used to hoop or frame the fabric that is to be embroidered and being made of wood, they can be a bit bulky and heavy to maneuver around. They are too large and heavy most of the time to hold with one hand while embroidering with the other. So, what is one to do?

To the rescue comes the Trestle Stand!

This is an embroiderer’s knight in shining armor – a true work horse and fatigue saver. The trestles are set up usually just about wide enough to have a chair positioned between each stand. Then the dressed slate frame is placed over the rails of the trestle stand. And then the fun of embroidery can begin.

As projects begin over the next few weeks and months, we’ll be sure to show more photos of the Trestle Stands and Slate Frames in the works. These are an embroiderer’s dream come true. The trestle stands and slate frames are handmade in Montana for Ecclesiastical Sewing.

For now, it’s time to cozy up next to the fireplace and work on planning that next embroidery project. So, what are your winter embroidery or sewing projects? We’d love to have you share your plans!

Soli Deo Gloria