An unexpected museum visit in Frankfurt

detail of shoe

St. Veronica, attributed to the workshop of Roger
Campin, circa 1428-30

Recently I went on vacation to the Canal du Midi in the south of France, finishing up with a weekend in Germany.  As it turned out I was there for Frankfurt's "Night at the Museum", a celebration of all the wonderful museums that are within walking distance of each other in Frankfurt. Admission was only 12 Euro for all of the museums, less that the 14 Euro for the State museum alone, home of some lovely Medieval and Renaissance artwork. My boyfriend and his friend were very patient with me and my long gazing at some of these fabulous paintings. There really is nothing to replace seeing something in person. 

For example, I had pored over the above image many times and never really took notice of the lovely little shoe St. Veronica is wearing. The painting is nearly life size, so there was a lot of detail to take in.

Since the museum trip was a surprise I hadn't done any research and didn't know what to expect. I was so happy to be able to take close up pictures of some embroidery details:

Portrait of Simon George of Cornwall by Hans Holbein
circa 1535-40

blackwork embroidery detail

And another Holbein, this time the Portrait of a Member of the Weiss Family of Augsburg, circa 1522. It looks to me like an embroidered band was stitched on to a smocked or gathered neckline with matching woven ties:

Blackwork cat... on a needlecase!

I first remember seeing this cat depicted in a needlework sampler a while back before I ever thought of doing any blackwork myself, so I didn't make any effort to remember it. Then I saw the picture again in Liadain's Practical Blackwork blog and I knew I had to make it. The picture can be found on the V & A website; it is museum number T.326-1921, a sampler found in a burial ground in Egypt dated to 14th to 16th century in silk on linen. The little cats were missing some stitches so I had to do a little reconstruction but I think it came out pretty well. I took more liberties with the tree because it had to fit into my design area.

It didn't come out perfect; I made a mistake on a couple of the leaves and the flower things at the end of the two branches are not identical because I wasn't sure which way I wanted to do it. I liked the one on the right better. Still, it came out pretty good and I just had to make it into another needlecase. My friend Renee likes cats and I have been wanting to give her a needlebook but didn't think the others I've made so far would be right for her; this one is perfect.

I make the other side of the book red linen and lined it and made the "pages" of the book out of red wool. The ties and seam edging are black and white silk four bobbin kumihimo cord.

Materials: 28 count evenweave linen, single strand Soie d'Alger silk floss in "Noir".

I love the little cats with their crowns so much I will probably embroider them on something else but I'm not sure what.

Good photo of Vyncent, bad photo of blackwork

I swear I am such a dunce sometimes. I think because I have seen it with my eyes that I got it in the picture. Here is a lovely photo of Master Vyncent after his Laurel ceremony. Congratulations, Vyncent! He looks wonderful in slashed silk satin and in the photo you can see the collar and cuffs of the blackwork shirt I made but not the fancy part, aargh! So I still have no photo of the finished piece.

A&S was fun with many great classes. I learned about beading so maybe that will be an upcoming project. I had planned to finish my dress for A&S but was sidetracked making the shirt, however I did get the hem sewn on for real. Last time I wore it I had tacked the hem down with one inch stitches!

Blackwork shirt is finished!

Last night some of the people who are making Vyncent's Laurel outfit got together to work on their various projects. I managed to finish the blackwork shirt I was working on - thanks Crystal for hemming it and Cin for making the rest of the ties. It looks great with the rest of the outfit. His doublet is amazing! Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures after it was finished so this weekend at A&S I will be sure to bring my camera and take some photos.

Progress on blackwork shirt

Work on the blackwork shirt for Vyncent continues. I finished the embroidery for one side of the collar and have sewn it to the ruff. It came out even better than I anticipated and I am very pleased. It looks like I got a spot of blood on it so I will have to take hydrogen peroxide to it. I am working on the embroidery for the inside of the collar now.

Making a blackwork shirt for Vyncent

Vyncent is going to be a Laurel! Hooray! Of course he needs a new outfit. But wait, it is next month! How can he get everything together by then? Of course, by enlisting friends to help. So I started out volunteering blackwork embroidery for collar and cuffs. Of course, the ties would look better in the same thread so why don't I make those, too? And because I am such a control freak, why don't I just do the whole shirt as well? So, other projects are now on hold for the most part so I can put all my effort into finishing this. So far I have done buttonhole edging for 60 inches of collar ruff and 16 inches of collar embroidery out of 36 inches total needed.

Pattern: from da Sera, Domenico. Opera Noua composta per Domenico da Sera detto il Francoisino. Venice, 1546. As charted in The New Carolingian Modelbook by Ianthe d'Averoigne.

Material: single strand Soie d'Alger "Noir" silk thread on lightweight non-evenweave linen.

Of course, this qualifies as an A&S 50 Challenge project for depth in embroidery.

Blackwork - complete!

Here is my first finished blackwork project. It is intended as a set of cuffs and collar for a shirt. I made it with the thought that I would give it away. My back side is not as perfect as I would like it to be; ultimately I would like my work to be indistinguishable front from back. I have already chosen the pattern for my next project, a set of cuffs. It is a little more complicated. I think if each project gradually increases in difficulty I will improve without being overwhelmed.

*Fabric: Zweigart linen "Belfast" 32ct. in Antique White

*Thread: Soie d'Alger "NOIR" single strand

EDIT: This blackwork sold for $35 at an auction to benefit the Shire of Crosston.