my latest enthusiasm

[mrsbrown]

I started doing some research on making a venetian dress. I like these ones.



Notice the blackwork sleeves? I like them. There are a couple of sites around where people have made blackwork sleeves, but they all seem kind of stiff from the heavy embroidery. The sleeves in the pictures I like seem softer and more flowing. I don't think they have much embroidery (wishful thinking?) or at least they're done on a softer linen than people seem to be using these days.

So I've had a go with some fabric and embroidery I had around the house. What do you think? You need to squint and think black thread on white fabric.



The left on is my first, with the full thickness of embroidery thread and big stitches. The other is half the thickness of thread, with a mix of big (5mm) and small (2mm) stitches.
I prefer the half thickness thread, with the big stitches (wishful thinking again?) as shown on the bell

And this one is both of them, showing the sort of spacing I'm imagining.


It will end up with about 20 motifs on each sleeve, each taking 20min or 7 hours per sleeve. I guess I could add more stuff once I had the basics done - after I've worn the dress. Of course that would probably mean it just wouldn't happen.
Tomorrow, I'm going to buy an embroidery hoop and black thread and maybe some hanky linen. Or I might wait until I've consulted with doushkasmum first.

Comments

[hometime.livejournal.com]

Have you seen bella's site? Lots of good pics. http://realmofvenus.renaissancewoman.net/

Or Oonagh's site. http://oonagh.actewagl.net.au/index.html

[mrsbrown.livejournal.com]

Yes, I had found those sites - neither of them seem to have done blackwork sleeves though.

I found two details of the sleeves I like though:



They both have more blackwork, in more detail than I thought...

another thought

[mrsbrown.livejournal.com]

I don't care about embroidery, I just care about blackwork sleeves.

Sewing machine stitch is very similar to the classic blackwork stitch.

I want this chemise NOW!!

I might sew a more complicated design, using my sewing maching, or doushkasmum's, if she'll let me - it has a better freeform function.

I'm off to spotlight to investigate thicker machine threads.

[doushkasmum.livejournal.com]

Yes you can use my sewing machine. It will look machine done. It takes a realy top line machine to do blackwork that is even a little convincing but you will probably pass the 10' rule.