The Episcopal Church, into which I was born, is known to be a stickler for details. And here I pause to wonder if that's why I find it attractive, or if it is in part the cause of my own fascination with details. In any case, after some 10,000+ stitches and 30+ hours of work, the 100" x 26" fair linen was completed the day before Maunday Thursday. On deadline, in other words.
I did take some process photos along the way, as I haven't done this kind of embroidery for a while and want to remember what and how I did it this time so that I can refer back. The linen is a mid-weight Belgian linen from Almy (60 threads per inch) and the thread is 80/3 linen from Burnley and Trowbridge, which turned out to be a bit too slubby, so I'll be switching to 100/3 linen threads from Londonderry in the future.
 |
| Outline drawn in heat-erasable pen using a light box borrowed from my grandkiddos |
 |
| Outline backstitched with two threads, then whipped with a single thread |
 |
| Close-up of finished stitching after ironing erasable pen |
 |
| Finished size 3" |
And while I didn't think to get a close-up photo of the fair linen once it was ironed and on the altar, you can see it draped over the end of the altar in this photo taken the day before Easter ...
One final note: I emailed my iPhone photos to my laptop thinking it would be easier to compose this way ... it wasn't (sigh).
Beautiful!!!!
ReplyDeletethank you
DeleteOh, Liz, the linen for the altar turned out wonderful. You have a beautiful, simple sanctuary. I like it very much. I congratulate you and send you my best wishes. Best, Katja
ReplyDeleteMy most important church day is Thanksgiving. Gratitude for my life here.
I quite agree that Thanksgiving is a most important day ... and yes, the sanctuary is wonderfully simple, even in its most festive appearance
DeleteI love the way that stitch lifts the line so a shadow is cast. Beautiful work. ~debL
ReplyDeleteyour own wrapped stitching was an inspiration ... and I love that this iteration is quite resistant to any shifting during ironing
DeleteLA - all I can say is that is an amazing task. Go gently B
ReplyDeletethank you ... I believe we share in a love for simple repetitions that cumulatively create things of wonder
DeleteI love the detail of the stitches...they are beautifully done. Church linens are so compelling for their austerity and subtlety. The quality of the needlework is paramount.
ReplyDeleteDana - thank you for reminding me of one subtle detail I neglected to note ... the first part of each hemstitch was taken over three threads, then bound into one with a second stitch ... a form of meditation especially apt for church linens
DeleteWell done Liz! “Austerity and subtlety” captured the aesthetic well! So beautiful. Will you do another do you think? ~Dee
ReplyDeleteFunny you should ask … I have the other half of the cloth in my lap, pulling threads to make the next fair linen
DeleteSo beautiful. I am thinking about how a project like this carries so much meaning... Deb G
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteSuch a simple beauty and peace-filled cloth...
ReplyDeletebeautiful, love the ton-sur-ton
ReplyDelete