Goldwork embroidery is so much fun! I find it very relaxing and enjoyable. Goldwork couching is one of the first techniques I learned. It is rather simple. There are certainly little tips and techniques that can make it go better.
The project above is the IHS Ecclesiastical Embroidery Design to be used on the altar Frontal for a Set of Rose Vestments. I hope to have the complete set of Vestments ready for the third week in Advent. This Ecclesiastical Embroidery Design was selected because of its simplicity. Yet it is an elegant design that will not detract from the Rose brocade or the tapestry fabric orphreys.
This is take two on this goldwork project. Rather than starting on an end, this time I decided to begin in the middle on the cross. The first row of stitching was horizontal on the inside of the “H” legs using two strand of K1 Gold thread. The second row of stitching was two strand of gold thread on the vertical cross bar, going from the top inside of the “H” to the bottom of the cross. There are several techniques when it comes to working rows of goldwork stitching. One method has all of the ends turn with no plunging. Another method is to plunge every thread at the end of every row. The third method is to run two thread side by side. One thread turns, the other end plunges.
The original plan was to plunge every end. But given the problems that occurred on the first start of this project, it might be a good idea to try the third method of turn one, plunge one. One other tip would be to keep rows of threads close, come up with the needle on the outside of the rows of gold threads.
When taking the stitch down, place the needle between the two rows of goldthread and angle it under the previous row and the thread is pulled through. This pulls the gold threads up tight to the previous row of stitching.
There are a variety of couching stitch options that can range from simple to complex. For this project, I chose a simple stitch. The couching style being used is a brick pattern. The stitches alternate placement between the stitches of the previous rows.
The corners are stitched on thread at a time to pull them in close to the corner. The goal is to create the visual appearance of diagonal lines at the corner of the cross. So far so good on this part. There will be some challenges with the Fleur ends of the Cross.
The next task is plunging gold threads. Until then, thanks for reading along.
Solo Dei Gloria
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Filed under: Ecclesiastical Embroidery, Ecclesiastical Sewing Tagged: Couching Threads, Ecclesiastical Embroidery, Ecclesiastical Sewing, goldwork embroidery, IHS Ecclesiastical Embroidery Design
