Ribbonwork Embroidery E-Book

Sophie Long

• Herausgeber: Crowood
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Ribbon embroidery is a simple, beautiful and versatile technique that dates back to the seventeenth century. This book brings it up to date with fresh instruction on floral classics, as well as stunning contemporary designs. With over 400 colour step-by-step photographs to guide the reader through each stitch, Ribbonwork Embroidery demonstrates the speed and simplicity of ribbonwork, and explains how it can be combined with other techniques to add detail and depth to a piece of embroidery.

Leseprobe

RIBBONWORKEMBROIDERY

Techniques and projects

Sophie Long

CROWOOD

First published in 2017 by

The Crowood Press Ltd

Ramsbury, Marlborough

Wiltshire SN8 2HR

www.crowood.com

This e-book first published in 2017

© Sophie Long 2017

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 1 78500 253 3

CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction

CHAPTER 1 Materials and Equipment

CHAPTER 2 How to Design for Ribbon Embroidery

CHAPTER 3 Working with Ribbons

CHAPTER 4 Stitches Worked in Ribbon and Stranded Cotton

CHAPTER 5 Stitches Worked in Ribbon

CHAPTER 6 Further Techniques

CHAPTER 7 Projects

CHAPTER 8 Advanced Projects

CHAPTER 9 Designing Your Own Projects

CHAPTER 10 Finishing Your Pieces

CHAPTER 11 Moving Forward

Glossary

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Further Reading

Suppliers

Index

Square brooches, mixed silk ribbons and leather flowers worked onto linen.

PREFACE

Embroidery has been a huge part of my life for over a decade now. Rarely a day passes that does not involve a needle, thread, a piece of fabric and a cup of tea. I am one of the few who have been fortunate and disciplined enough to expand this passion into a career. Bearing in mind I hadn’t stitched so much as a button back on prior to starting my threeyear apprenticeship at the Royal School of Needlework, it has been quite a journey. For me, embroidery began as more of an interest than a true love. Fast-forward several years and now any ‘free time’ that presents itself is more often than not spent in my studio. I truly hope this love of stitching stays with me indefinitely.

The vast majority of my work now revolves around teaching – I feel it essential that I pass on the substantial array of techniques I was able to master while studying full time over those three years. Embroidery at times has been referred to as a ‘dying art’; however, the recession seems to have brought an increased level of interest and many eager-to-learn students into my world. More people than ever are excited to learn these skills. Teaching not only allows me to pass on these skills, but also keeps me on my toes with what’s going on in the current embroidery world. With that in mind, I ensure my work uses traditional skills in contemporary ways – allowing this art form to be as relevant today as it has been in days gone by.

This book will take you on a creative journey through ribbon embroidery stitches, surface stitches used in ribbon embroidery, stumpwork (raised embroidery) and goldwork (metal thread embroidery) techniques that utilize silk ribbons. Each technique will be displayed with clear illustrations and text, allowing you to follow every stitch step by step. A wide variety of photos from my own work demonstrating these techniques are included, hopefully to inspire readers to create their own beautiful pieces. Often a stitch will be learned from a book, but the key is knowing when and how to apply that stitch to achieve maximum effect. This book also includes projects for readers to undertake, ensuring the content absorbed is realized in the best way possible – by putting it into practice. The projects will begin with the simple techniques, and progress in difficulty and effectiveness as readers work their way through them. Wherever possible, I will provide specialist hints and tips, aiding skill level acquisition and workflow. Vital insider information on suppliers, materials and equipment is also included.

I hope this book will start you on a long and rewarding affair with ribbon embroidery, where you will be entranced by the beauty and delicacy of this enduring art.

4mm silk ribbon and stranded cotton worked onto linen.

INTRODUCTION

Ribbon embroidery is a form of embroidery that uses ribbon either in the needle, which is then stitched into the fabric, or ribbon that is worked away from the fabric using a different thread and then applied to the work. Traditionally these ribbons were made of high-quality silk, which made them very luxurious; today people use a wider range of ribbons, but synthetic ribbons do not create such richness. Ribbons made of one hundred per cent silk are still the preferred medium.

Silk ribbon embroidery dates back to the seventeenth century, and originated in France. Ribbons were embroidered to embellish clothing, huge rosettes were worked onto men’s coats and often floral sprigs were embroidered onto the elegant clothing of royalty. These items would have been worked by professionals in workrooms. They were very time-consuming to make – silk ribbon-embroidered gowns in the 1700s were very ornate and would have taken hundreds of hours to create. This, combined with the cost of the materials, meant that these items of clothing were very expensive to buy. Silk ribbon embroidery then flourished on the European continent and also travelled to America, where it grew in popularity.

In the Victorian era silk ribbon embroidery was more accessible and was commonly used on items such as quilts and clothing. This meant more people were able to own an item that had some ribbon embroidery on it, making it a more recognized embroidery technique. Ribbon embroidery was used by ladies to show off their embroidery skills on household items. These pieces were often worked in dusky pinks and sage greens, and therefore this is the image that people often have when you initially mention ribbon embroidery.

Sadly, ribbon embroidery went out of fashion towards the end of the eighteenth century and other embroidery techniques replaced ribbons. Ribbon embroidery was reintroduced to the fashion industry by the French couturier Charles Worth (1826–1985). As industry developed the processes involved in producing ribbons and the number of countries producing them increased, ribbons were more accessible and therefore cheaper to get hold of. This meant that, again, ribbons were more widely seen and recognized as an embroidery technique.

In the nineteenth century amateur embroiderers started working with ribbons again; stitching ribbon onto clothes came back into fashion, with ribbon embroidery used on handbags and gloves. Plain items such as shawls were embellished with floral designs to liven them up.

Today ribbon work is still a relatively unexplored embroidery technique, as it is rarely taught and practised; but once people have tried it, they are often hooked. The speed and simplicity of ribbon embroidery is always a pleasant surprise and the delicacy of the ribbons means that really stunning pieces can be created. Silk ribbon is now a thread that is mass-produced, so in theory it should be easy to source. However, with the decrease in the number of haberdashery shops in the UK, the availability of silk ribbon is mostly restricted to online shops. When you do find a supplier, the range of colours available is huge; you can really get carried away! Online you are really spoilt for choice with the range of colours, widths and whether the ribbon is plain or patterned. The only downside is not being able to touch the fabric or see the colours in real life. Therefore, some purchases may not be quite right when they arrive, but can always be used for another project.

WHY RIBBON?

From the moment I saw the range of silk ribbons available and then started to learn and experiment with the technique – I fell in love. It is a beautiful technique and some of the simplest embroidery stitches really come to life when stitched with ribbons. Ribbons are a little unpredictable; they crease and fold, and this movement gives them a life you do not get with other threads. A lot of the stitches used are simple – something you can pick up quickly and put to many uses, which is hugely important to me. Our lives are so busy now, having twenty minutes to sit and stitch for most people is a huge luxury. In ribbon embroidery, after a little practice, twenty minutes is enough time to produce something that is effective and very pretty.

When first viewed from the eyes of a beginner in ribbonwork, stitches look complicated, but when they are broken down, most are very simple. These simple stitches are very versatile. Ribbon embroidery can be added to other techniques; as the result is often slightly raised, it is very effective in adding dimension to a piece of work. It is rarely worked completely on its own, as you get a better effect when additional surface stitches are added. This helps to add details that you are not always able to achieve with ribbons due to the size of the ribbon. Traditionally, ribbon embroidery designs are floral, as ribbons lend themselves to portraying petals/leaves and flowers. Floral designs are still very popular, but more contemporary designs are now appearing. I like to experiment with other techniques, and use them in places where you would not expect to see ribbon.

Ribbon embroidery really is a simple technique. Having said that, some stitches and techniques are simpler than others. If you are struggling to master a stitch, use a wider ribbon as it is often the fiddly nature of a narrow ribbon rather than technical difficulty of a stitch that is causing the problem. It really is that simple. Ribbon embroidery is a very forgiving technique. With floral designs in particular, you also have the advantage of using ‘nature’ as the perfect excuse as to why not all of the petals are the same shape or size.

Designs can vary from the majority being worked in ribbons to those that have just an accent of ribbon. There are very few rules, making it a fun technique to explore. It is also worth bearing in mind that a little ribbon can go a long way. By adding a few simple ribbonwork stitches, pieces can really come to life. So think small to start with – less is sometimes more. But just to warn you: ribbon embroidery, like all embroidery, is very addictive and once you have started, it is very hard to know when to stop.

This book will take you through a large number of ribbon embroidery techniques and stitches. It will also guide you through some additional stitches and techniques that I feel work well with ribbon embroidery. This is from my own experience and I hope that you feel free to try out different things as you go. I hope this book inspires you to think ‘oh what about…’ as that is my job – to inspire you to pick up a piece of ribbon and play. See what happens. Ribbon embroidery is very free, and there are very few rules.

4mm and 7mm ribbons worked in a heart shape onto linen and then made into a wedding ring cushion.

Mixed fancy threads.

CHAPTER 1

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Many embroiderers have a range of equipment; this chapter aims to take you through what you need for ribbon embroidery. The list is relatively small and you will probably have most of these things already. At the back of the book is a list of suppliers – so you can buy any missing items before you start to embroider, or as and when you require them.

RIBBONS

The most common question regarding ribbon embroidery is whether the ribbons have to be silk. For most of the techniques in this book, the answer is yes. Silk ribbons are so delicate that they behave in a certain way that allows you to create folds. If you choose to use a stiffer ribbon, it would not behave in this way, so the end result would be different. That does not mean you cannot try – of course you should experiment – but when following the instructions in my book, using silk ribbons will produce the effects that I have demonstrated.

Organza ribbons are the next best thing – organza is very delicate so you are able to manipulate it. However, organza is a sheer fabric, so its appearance is quite different to opaque silk.

RIBBON WIDTH

The width of the ribbon you work with will depend on the effect you would like to produce and the size of the design. The most commonly used ribbon width is 4mm, and unless otherwise stated, the majority of pieces in this book use 4mm ribbon. If you are planning on working a larger piece, you may wish to use wider ribbons, as this will enable you to cover areas more quickly. Silk ribbon for ribbon embroidery is also available in 2mm, 7mm and 13mm widths.