Black and White...

..work!

A very wet morning but I wasn't walking as I was invited to a meeting of the Embroiderers Guild for a talk on black and whitework. At our church sewing group a couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I had always fancied doing some black work hence the invitation.

The lady speaking was Cluny Chapman the fifth generation of her family to take up embroidery.

She had an interesting slide show on the history of these types of embroidery and some amazing samples from her mother's historic collection and items made by herself and members of her family.

Blackwork (simply black or occasionally red stitches on white cloth) started with the Elizabethans. It was used to embellish cuffs and front inserts on garments. It was then revised in the 1920's when everything Elizabethan became fashionable eg 'mock Tudor' houses. Interest in this continues to this day where it is used for more pictorial purposes and the example above was worked in the 1960's by the lady's grandmother. Few old examples remain as the black dye in the yarn actually rotted it. Though I know have seen some at East Riddlesden Hall where my interest was first awoken.

There are lots more examples of whitework; white stitches on white cloth or lace made from stiches as this didn't have the same issue with rotting yarn. There were some amazing examples of this from early waistcoats and fichets to Christening robes and baby bonnets as well as more modern pieces of art work. Again this started with the Elizabethans but she had examples from each century since then. Too much to describe here but there was a four foot by four foot piece of cloth from the 16 th century hand embroidered all over like a piece of Broderie Anglais but much fancier. I can't imagine how long that would have taken and she didn't know it's purpose.

In the extras is a self portrait she did for her A level art. It shows how well blackwork can be used for shading. Also a piece of modern whitework she had done combining her professional interest in archeology!

A fascinating morning but I felt quite inadequate by the end of it, still would quite like to have a go some day.