Embroidery

Silk Embroidery has been around since the 15th Century when eyed needles were invented. Blackwork, or Spanish blackwork, uses black thread. Historically, blackwork was used on shirts and chemises or smocks in England from the time of Henry VIII. The common name "Spanish work" was based on the belief that Catherine of Aragon brought many blackwork garments with her from Spain. Historic blackwork embroidery is rare to find well-preserved, as the iron-based dye used was corrosive to the thread, and there are currently no conservation techniques that can stop the decay. Blackwork lost its popularity by the 17th century.

The stitches used for counted thread blackwork are double running or Holbein stitch, back stitch, and sometimes stem stitch. In the earliest blackwork, counted stitches are worked to make a geometric or small floral pattern. Later blackwork featured large designs of flowers, fruit, and other patterns connected by curvilinear stems. In the third style of blackwork, the outlined patterns are "shaded" with seed stitches. This style of blackwork imitates etchings or woodcuts.

In the 1870's iron on transfers were developed. Beginning in the 1880's women had been willing to pay extra for Turkey Red thread because unlike most colors it was colorfast. It wasn't until the turn of the century that women began to use redwork embroidery for bed coverings. Pre-printed squares ready to embroider were sold. Because they originally cost only about a penny apiece, they were commonly called penny squares. The blocks used for redwork quilts ranged from six to ten inches. They were usually embroidered then sewn together without any sashing between the blocks. Often a feather or cross-stitch was used to cover the seam line. Later, a red or red print sashing was sometimes used. Some of these bed coverings were quilted while others were simply lined without batting and then tied at the corners of each block.

A colorfast blue thread was popular from about 1910 to 1930. In the 1920s, embroidered pieces were done with a variety of colors as methods were found to make all colors colorfast.

Cross Stitch is another type of embroidery. There is also Huck embroidery which uses knitting yarn and Monk's cloth.

Embroidery Needles $2.39
Embroidery Floss $0.79/skein
DMC Needle Threader $2.49
Embroidery Scissors $6.69
Embroidery Hoop (wood) $10.74

Transfer Options

Sulky Iron-On Transfer Pens and printer paper $18.94
Aunt Martha's Iron-On Transfers $3.99-9.99