Finally the start of my medieval goldwork course! For years in my head, for months in the making and now at last the first lesson has been released to the first group of students. My husband and I celebrated with pizza and cake for lunch :). But now it is back to work again. As my research is very much ongoing, future versions of the course will require constant updating. Not in the least because certain materials are no longer available or a better alternative has finally been found. I'll share one such update with you below. But first: have s sneak peek at the current course contents in the short video below.
As I want my medieval goldwork course to be as authentic as possible, I search high and low for the correct materials. For some things that's surprisingly easy as the climate crisis leads people to rediscover natural materials. In other cases, it is a bit more trial and error. Take the luxury silken fabrics. Samite is rare as hen's teeth. This is a heavy silk fabric with a marked twill weave. It is a joy to stitch on. God only knows why it is no longer the embroidery fabric of choice. Luckily, I knew where to buy some: Sartor in the Czech Republic. They specialise in the re-creation of historical fabrics. Unfortunately, each run is a one-off. And since I had no idea if my course would be popular and samite is not a cheap fabric, I did not buy a huge amount. This means I can probably run the course twice more as is and then I will at least need to change the design of lesson 2. It will be such a burden to stitch another design on yet another piece of this heavenly fabric :).
Not as rare as hen's teeth is silk twill. You can have silk twill by the shipload. Just not the one you need if you want to recreate Opus Anglicanum :). To stay with the teeth: you have a choice between dentures and the real deal. Lots of dentures out there. You can have very light-weight silk twill in any colour your heart desires. But it is oh so flimsy. Oh, and the colours are very bright and so not medieval-y either. In the end, I went with a madder-dyed flimsy version for the first run of the course. At least it had the right colour. And although it is so very flimsy, it does survive underside couching surprisingly well. But what I really wanted was a firm version of silk twill. And lo and behold, Sartor came to the rescue again.
The lovely ladies who run this excellent fabric business have recently revamped their website. And among the normal silk twill, they now carry two heavier versions too. They arrived on Saturday and I cannot wait to start underside couching on them. Unfortunately, the one my gut feeling says is the right weight, has the wrong colour: petrol. Ah, well. A born-again medieval goldwork embroideress just cannot have it all! These two examples show that running my medieval goldwork course is not like serial production. Before I announce the next run, I want to be sure that I can actually run it again. And run it well.
29 Comments
Darcy Walker
1/2/2021 16:36:18
Please keep me on the list for your next offering of
Reply
Agne
1/2/2021 16:40:33
I hope to be in your next class. It would be such a great adventure :)
Reply
1/2/2021 17:45:58
Looking forward to having you as a student, Agne! For this course, I am not using velvet. Getting a 100% silk one, is near impossible. Cotton velvet or cotton/silk velvet is probably easier to come by. How about this cotton velvet: https://basteln-de.buttinette.com/shop/a/baumwollsamt-premium-bordeaux-75273# Good luck!
Reply
Agne
1/2/2021 17:53:21
Wow, thank you for this link. This velvet is much cheaper than the one that I buy here... But I am still looking for some silk velvet (well, I have one idea, where I could look for it, but I'll be able to try my luck only when I'll be able to travel again).
Nancy B
1/2/2021 16:57:40
Jessica, your students are very lucky, and I hope they will truly enjoy this course, which sounds magnificent.
Reply
1/2/2021 17:01:42
Please, I would like to be inform when your next course will be offered. I am quite interested to join in.
Reply
1/2/2021 17:47:36
Thank you, Marie-Renée. I will announce the next course here on my blog and in my newsletter.
Reply
Geneviève Borreux
1/2/2021 17:16:33
This course sounds fascinating. Congratulations Jessica.
Reply
Jane Drummond
1/2/2021 19:58:37
Hi Jessica, I shall be keeping a very close eye open for the next medieval course. I have some silk twill that came from a producer in the UK, it’s used for making gent’s ties. Think I might have got it from Vanpoulles. Have you tried asking Michelle Humphries (De Vere yarns) as her husband, Richard, is the owner of Humphries Weavers. I was told they sometimes have remnants, so they might be worth asking. If you would like a bit of the silk I have to try, I could pop it in the post. Hope that’s helpful. Jane
Reply
1/2/2021 20:07:20
Hi Jane,
Reply
Štikar'ca
1/2/2021 20:34:37
I also hope to be able to join your next class. Fingers crossed.
Reply
Mabel
1/2/2021 21:11:23
Hoi Jessica is het mogelijk om op je volgende lijst geplaatst te worden als je deze cursus nog een keer geef?
Reply
2/2/2021 11:48:39
It sure is, Rachel! Especially as we are losing specialist suppliers faster and faster.
Reply
2/2/2021 11:16:40
Dear Jessica, I would like to attend the gold embroidery course as soon as there is a vacancy or you offer a new one.
Reply
2/2/2021 11:49:56
Thank you for your interest, Dorte! I will announce any new course on my website and through my newsletter.
Reply
Annelies Englram
2/2/2021 14:01:37
Liebe Jessica,
Reply
ALICIA D CLARK
2/2/2021 18:00:18
I would like to try the Imperial Goldwork course. However, have I missed my chance? As this course is now closed, I noticed I can see the videos but I cannot access the pdf downloads( I asume it is because you had to pay the course fee in order to gain access - very understandible). Please notify me if you choose to run this course again. My skills are pretty basic, but I would like to try something challenging. Thanks.
Reply
2/2/2021 18:56:16
Dear Alicia,
Reply
ALICIA D CLARK
2/2/2021 19:22:53
Thanks so much! I now have the pdf downloads. Sorry to be a bit slow - have to be led by the hand for some of the simplest things on websites.
Erin Thornton
3/2/2021 04:32:53
Jessica,
Reply
Erin Thornton
3/2/2021 23:05:11
You are so talented and an inspiration I can't wait to catch this course. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Liked my blog? Please consider making a donation or becoming a Patron so that I can keep up the good work and my blog ad-free!
Categories
All
Archives
January 2025
|