Would you believe that the first type of embroidery that was ever created was……….wait for it………….Needle Weaving!!  It happened many centuries or even thousands of years BC.   Spinning and weaving had already been established of course.

And this is how it happened.

The weaver, having set up his/her loom with warp threads, then wove in the crosswise threads – called the weft.  The weft threads were pushed close to each other forming what we know as – fabric.  The weaver would leave a space between the rows of weft threads at the point where a hem would be stitched.  I think that the next development was the creation of hemstitching which you can see in the top line of stitching in the above photo.

Coloured wool  threads were woven into that space between the lines of weft threads forming the first step in needle weaving and the first step in decorating fabric.

This is the needle weaving sampler I made while a student at the Royal School of Needlework.  We now remove both the weft and warp threads to form a hemstitched border around a piece of fabric.  I do not know when mitering corners was developed.

Many lines of weft threads can be removed leaving space for more complex  needle woven designs.  Many of these designs are part of the traditional embroidery techniques of eastern Europe.

I remember working on this sampler while travelling from home to RSN on the London Underground.  I was weaving in the weft threads at the ends of the design bars.  A young lady was strap hanging just in front of me and attentively watching what I was doing.  After awhile, she said, “so that is how that is done.  I have always wondered and now I know!”

That is a very long term memory!  Because, it was truly, a very long time ago!

November 11, 2018 is the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War l.  Every Remembrance Day is special to all those who cherish their freedom. It is the day when we remember and thank those who have gave their lives  to keep the freedoms formulated in the Magna Carta alive for us and for future generations.  It is the day when we pray that peace will prevail and that war will be abandoned.

The Globe and Mail Newspaper of  Toronto  published an article on November 9, 2018 written by Paul Waldie.  The Threads of History tells us about the First World War Tapestry that is the Remembrance Day Altar Frontal in St Paul’s Cathedral.

Sir Arthur Stanley, governor general of Canada 1888 – 1893, (of Stanley Cup fame) commissioned the frontal as a  rehabilitation project for wounded soldiers.  138 Allied soldiers from many countries, most of whom had never used a needle and thread before, created this tribute to their comrades.  Designed by the Royal School of Needlework, the individual motifs were embroidered by the soldiers and then appliquéd on to the silk damask background.  The black outlining conceals the stitching that attaches the motifs. The stitching techniques are mostly Long and Short and Laid Work.  Long straight stitches are secured by a line of couching.  Shading in this technique is a challenge. It can be gradual or it can be sudden. Both are technically and historically correct.   The black outlining conceals the stitching that attaches the motifs gives it drama and enhances its visibility. This is a handsome piece of Embroidery that Records History.

The tapestry/embroidery was put away for safety in 1941 and was forgotten.  Researchers found it rolled up in a wooden chest.  It has been restored and is mounted on the altar during Remembrance week.

If you are able to access the article Special threads reconnect descendants of Canadian First World War soldiers this week at the St. Paul’s Cathedral altar, it is full of colour and information, is not too long, and well worth reading.

Sir Arthur Stanley started something that has been proven to be beneficial.  The use of activity as a therapy was used during and after both world wars.  It became the profession of Occupational Therapy. Many types of activity were used therapeutically in rehabilitation and in long term care.  It was not until the 1960/70’s that it broadened to include the development of equipment that is known as ‘Aids to Make You Able’.   From this came the development of wheelchairs, walkers, grab bars, accessibility considerations and building modifications.

This, my friends, is my chosen profession, Occupational Therapy.

“The Making of the Bayeux Tapestry” is an extensive article on History Extra, the website for BBC History Magazine and BBC World Histories Magazine.

The article, which is written in a question & answer format interviewing Alexandra Lester-Makin, PhD Medieval Embroidery and professional embroiderer, answers all kinds of questions about the tapestry, from how it was made and who made it to what the future holds for the tapestry

It’s a thoroughly insightful article, more so than the brief glimpses that have surfaced in the news over the proposed visit of the tapestry to the UK.

Mary Corbet of Needle N’ Thread posted information on this  article a few days ago.  I thought that you would be interested in hearing the latest research.  There are answers to questions in the article that have never crossed my mind.

It is easier for you to connect with the original article than for me to reprint it here.  It is fascinating reading being full of information about and explanations on what really happened in Europe and England in the centuries after the Romans left and William invaded in 1066.  There was definitely lots of action.

Of interest to those who make large, and even larger embroideries, creating it in sections and joining them is as old as the Bayeux Tapestry. (Maybe even older!)  Section joins are specifically located so that they are concealed by action which detracts the eye from a fabric seam. It requires planning and organization for this to happen.  This article postulates that the Bayeux Tapestry was designed and planned by professionals and stitched in a workshop environment for this to happen.

The Stamford Bridge Embroidery is using this method.  It was used in the making of the Toronto Historical Embroidery.  This large embroidery is at least 40 years old and is in impeccable condition.

The Magna Carta Quilts are a series of eight quilts made to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta at Runnymede in 1215 A.D.  They celebrate the establishment of Human Rights and celebrate the birthplace of Democracy, worldwide.

They were made in 2014/15 by the Magna Carta Quilters. There are four Medieval Quilts and four Legacy Quilts, which stand together in a display that measures 30 feet long x 5 feet wide x 7 feet high.

Medieval Quilts

The four Medieval Quilts tell the story of the Magna Carta in a graphic novel style based on 13th century illuminated manuscripts. The panels are done with a combination of appliqué and embroidery using rich coloured fabrics and threads.

Legacy Quilts

The four Legacy Quilts show four oak trees appliquéd onto a background of hexagons. The hexagons represent traditional English patchwork as well as paying homage to the fact that the meadow of Runnymede has been cultivated for bee keeping since Neolithic times, around 3000 BC.  Note the bees on this panel.

Each oak leaf features a person in history or current times who has been active in the establishment of democracy.

Thames Mosaic

The reverse side of the quilts is the Thames Mosaic, which shows a pixilated outline of the the stretch of the River Thames between Windsor and Staines, which is where the meadow of Runnymede is located. (indicated by the orange/red rectangle).

You will find and enjoy a more meaningful visit and see the details of these quilts by going to;

The Magna Carta Quilts at Guildford Cathedral

The Magna Carta Quilt Association Group

This Blog  Stitching Idyllic blog;

The Magna Carta Panels

MAGNA CARTA (AN EMBROIDERY) with thanks to information on Wikipedia

There are three embroideries/tapestries that record the events in England  in 1066.  The first was the Battle of Fulford Gate which was won by the invading Vikings.  The second was the Battle of Stamford Bridge which the Saxons won and which ended the Viking’s career of invading and marauding communities in the northern hemisphere.  These two battles affected the outcome of the Battle of Hastings and changed the course of medieval history.

The Stamford Bridge Tapestry Project is progressing well as you can see..  Sarah Hart took these photos at their display in early September.

To see more photos, go to Facebook Stamford Bridge Tapestry 1066 page.

Sarah’s photos are copyrighted but I do not know how to communicate with her to ask if I may post these two for you.

You can read more about lO66 and this Embroidery/Tapestry in the August 2018 postings on this site.  It was a pivotal year in history.  When I  learned history many years ago nothing was mentioned about these other battles. It always puzzled me why an invading army who had to bring all their men, horses and supplies was able to defeat a determined and hostile Saxon army on their own land. The significance of these other two battles has only been recognized in recent years.  Yes, I am totally aware of the D Day landings but the defenders of France were not French citizens.

History is an intriguing subject.  Events that happened hundreds of years ago affect our lives now.  That is today’s truism!

This is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada.  Our first thanksgiving was in 1578 when Sir Martin Frobisher and his crew arrived back in Newfoundland after surviving a perilous voyage looking for a North West Passage.  In the following centuries, the thanks have been for surviving hardship and wars. It is now a thanksgiving for the harvest and for becoming Canadian.

Best wishes to all readers and thank you for following and reading this blog.

Here is a new video that updates us on the progress made to the Stamford Bridge Tapestry.  I wrote about this project a few months ago.  The video will tell you and show you the embroidery in progress. Here is a repeat of  the historical background.

1066 was a bad year for England.  Very bad in fact.  King Edward the Confessor died in January.  There were three contenders to the throne of England which, at that time, was a prosperous agricultural country.  First, there was Duke William of Normandy to whom King Edward had promised the throne.  Secondly, there was King Hadrada of Norway who was a Viking and was eager to increase his territory.  Thirdly, there was Duke Harold of England who was a statesman for King Edward.  He had no royal blood in him but had run the country for many years.

In Duke Harold’s travels as chronicled in the Bayeux Tapestry, he vowed allegiance to Duke William and said that he would not make a claim to the throne in England.  Well; that was famous last words.  No sooner had King Edward died than Harold did just that.

It was a summer of unrest in England.  Duke William  in Normandy prepared an army and fleet to invade England and claim his throne.  He was ready to invade but had to wait for the tides and winds to be right.

In England, Duke/King Harold also prepared for battle.  They both waited. It also happened to be a very hot summer,

In Norway, King Hadrada of the Vikings took advantage of the weather and tides which happened to be favourable for him.  In early September, he landed on the Yorkshire coast and invaded the city of York and fought the English/Saxon army at the Battle of Fulford Bridge.  The Vikings won. This historical event has been recorded in the Battle of Fulford Bridge Tapestry.

The Norwegian/Viking army withdrew to the area of Stamford Bridge which is east of York. They were resting before proceeding to London to claim the throne for their king.  King Hadrada was abetted in this by one Duke Harold’s brothers.

Duke/King Harold was waiting in Sussex for the Norman invasion.  Upon hearing of the rout at Fulford Bridge, he took some/all of his army and rode north to Yorkshire.  This took him four days – which for the time, transportation available, and road conditions, was an incredible achievement.  The Viking army was taken by surprise.  What followed was the Battle of Stamford Bridge which is now being chronicled in the tapestry. It was a decisive victory for Duke/King Harold.  The Vikings retreated back to Norway and never invaded anywhere again.

The video will show this panel which now completed.

Meanwhile, the Norman army had landed on the coast of Sussex and were  preparing for battle.  This battle, the Battle of Hastings, together with the Norman preparations, are the subject of the Bayeux Tapestry.

Duke William and the Norman army won the the Battle of Hastings. Duke/King Harold and his brothers were killed leaving England without a leader.  Duke William had himself declared King of England and was crowned in the newly built Westminster Abbey.  The English population were not happy about this and only the participating officials were present at his crowning.  There was essential crowd control outside the Abbey.  King William built many fortresses and prisons around England including the Tower of London.

It is possible that, if King Hadrada of Norway had not invaded England and diverted the English/Saxon army north to Yorkshire, that the Normans would not have won the Battle of Hastings and history of the western world would have been different..

Interestingly, King William returned to Normandy and visited England infrequently during his reign.  He had a large number of children whom he married off all over Europe.  It is said that King William’s blood flows in all the royal families of Europe.

Chris Maudsley, videographer, has re-edited and added to the original video.    It is good to see the progress, the stitching up close, how well the colours all blend and contrast and, to hear how much more remains to be done.  It is going to be a fabulous Embroidery that Records History.  I hope that there will be more video updates in the future.

Thank you Heater Cawte for posting the video and giving me permission to share it with you.

This glamorous young lady was made by myself in 1947/48 when I was about 14/15 years old.  She is 20″ tall/long.  She is sitting down in this photo and is able to sit unsupported.

Yes she was a challenge to make as there was a lack of the necessary materials after the end of the war.  The red velvet was from an outgrown dress belonging to my younger sister.  The hair is real and also originated from my sister.  The doll has transparent underwear with red garters.  Her petticoat is in three layers and the hemstitching is so fine I am not able to see how it is stitched at my current age.  Her shoes are red leather decorated with pearl beads.

I created the pattern for her dress and, considering I knew nothing about pattern drafting at the time, I think that it turned out well.  The velvet ribbon edging matches the red velvet of the dress.  It is stitched with pearl beads and gold thread. The gold used to be quite vivid but has faded despite the doll being in storage. There are also pearl beads all up the center back which will open so that the dress can be removed.

I do not remember how I created her head and face but think that I may have used an existing doll’s head and covered it with starched or glued fabric.  It was then painted and varnished.  The whole head has been intact for many decades but has become damaged in very recent years.  It is now sensitive to being handled though the rest of her is strong and undamaged.

The body?  I cannot remember how the pattern was created but suspect that it was made by myself. I subsequently made another doll wearing a pale blue dress. That one was from a Dryads pattern using the face and hair they supplied.  I was not enthusiastic about the result and never made another doll. The body fabric of both dolls is closely woven cotton stuffed with kapok. The limbs are jointed and the head of the blue dressed doll rotates.

Your interest and comments are always appreciated.  I look forward to hearing from you.

We noted that the hillsides around San Diego were arid.  Trees and grass were only in the city as they are dependent on irrigation.  I am sure that the residential areas now spread up the hillsides and that they are no longer as arid as when we saw them.  In November, the weather was lovely.  It was perfect for strolling and I remember that the blouse I wore was suitable both inside and out.  Now, in July 2018, the weather in California is sizzling hot with wildfires burning out of control.  Hopefully, not near San Diego.

The harbor area.

The sun always shines in San Diego.  It is stitched in a sorta Shishka technique with couched yellow sun rays.  The stitches used to add detail to the fabric applique are mostly the basic ones of stem, chain, satin and couching.

The Star of India, built in 1863, is permanently moored in the harbor.  Her hull is electrical tape applied to felt with added red ribbon. The portholes are french knots and the sails are white felt.  I replaced the original white felt sails a few years ago as they had become discolored and detached for their moorings.

On the left side you will see the lighthouse which is north of the city.  Next to it is the Hotel Coronado.  It is a hotel enjoyed by celebrities and many films have been shot on this location.  The central dining hall is octagonal and all wood.  I think that we were able to afford a cup of coffee there.

San Diego boasts a large and sheltered harbor which is the base of the Pacific fleet of the American Navy.  San Diego and Norfolk, Virginia are both naval bases which means to me, that the sun never sets on the American Navy. The grey object in the harbor is either a whale or a submarine and includes the setting sun.

The water in the harbor is stitched in parallel lines of stem stitch in the style of Hokusai, the Japanese artist.  Sailboats enjoy these sheltered waters.  Their sails are made out of morsels of ribbon.  That ribbon was springy and really hard to attach.  The shores of the harbor have great sandy beaches and it is all warm enough for palm trees.  Yes, it is a city I would love to live in, or at least, visit again, especially during the Canadian winter months.

The fabric pieces all came from drapery samples.  In those long ago days, interior decorators would give you their out of date sample books.  I have made good use of those small pieces of fabric and continue to do so.

In 1984, I entered this piece into the competition at the Embroiderer’s Association of Canada’s annual Seminar.  It won the Enny Award – that is a piece of stitching in any technique, any color etc voted for by the members.  Even that is 34 years ago!  Where did all this years disappear to?

I hope that you have enjoyed this historical tour of San Diego.  Please share this with friends and family especially those who live in or have been to San Diego.  Corrections of the information included are also welcome.

This is not a record of an historical event that includes people but rather a “Snapshot in Time” of the beautiful city of San Diego.  In 1983, my husband and I visited this most interesting city.  While there, I found a black and white line drawing poster designed by Chotre and dated 1979.  I knew that it would make a wonderful textile collage.  We spent most of the next few days driving around identifying the buildings in the poster.

Considering that this is a “snapshot” taken 39 years ago, I know that there will have been many changes in the city though the well known buildings will be much the same – I hope.

This is a fabric collage and most, but not all of the stitching techniques are applique.  Here is a guided tour of the top half of this time dated presentation of this magnificent city.

Starting at the top right hand corner firstly, there are two items of whose meaning I am uncertain.  The blossoms could be tropical and the yellow circles could be hot air.  The building is Mission San Diego de Alcala which was founded by the Spanish in 1769.  It is the oldest mission building in California as the Spanish gradually moved north from Mexico.

The giraffe is represents the San Diego Zoo.  Eucalyptus trees were imported from Australia.  They were intended to supply wood for railway ties but the wood proved to be unsuitable.  Instead, the leaves fed the koala bears in the zoo. I do not know if giraffes eat eucalyptus leaves.

We think the tower is the lookout on the mast of a tuna fishing boat.  The brown roof is that of the Jewish Synagogue.  The Catholic University really does have a light blue dome as is illustrated here.

The five arches and red tiled roof represent the five museums in Balboa Park. The dark blue area, we think, represents the clear night skies where the stars are visible.  Is this the moon or a baseball for the San Padres Baseball team?

The central area includes the downtown skyscrapers. There will be many more of these buildings now. Remember that this was 39 years ago. A snapshot in time.  We enjoyed a wonderful few days there and I treasure the memories.

Please share this with your friends who live in California and know San Diego much better than I do.  I will happily include corrections of this information.

Bottom half of the picture will be posted tomorrow.