Friday, May 1, 2015

What's Up Stumpwork?

Deer for a stumpwork casket.  The antlers are worked in a new needlelace
stitch decoded during the course and being made available to the students
in diagrams and animated form
Those who are not in the Stumpwork course might be wondering what types of things we learn in that class.  This month's lesson is about how to make difficult large animals.  Stumpwork pieces often use needlelace to make raised lions, leopards, horses, and other big game.  Often they also incorporate heads that are stuffed and detached off the surface with separate horns, ears and other details.  Working needlelace in such a complex shape can be a series of difficult decisions.  This month's lesson goes into all those details using pictures from historic pieces as well as this yummy example from a casket I am working.  This piece has a head that is stuffed and won't be attached to the ground fabric.  The body is ready to go over its padded surface and then will be outlined in gimp to add further details to the piece.

If you are interested in such things, the Stumpwork Encore will start in November of 2105 and registration for spots opened up yesterday.   A further discussion of the course and its parameters are located on the links.

Another example of the yummy things we learn is shown in the figure of the king that has been worked in detail for the course instructions.  One of the hallmarks of the course is the instructions on individual needlelace stitches and their animations that can be followed to make their execution much easier to do.
Notice the patterning in the needlelace of the King's garment.  This is just one of
the interesting techniques found in the Stumpwork Course

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3 comments:

  1. AllysMay 1, 2015 at 1:55 PM

    Fabulous!

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  2. SpopekMay 15, 2015 at 1:46 PM

    I would be totally new to stumpwork. I love this king so much and I always wanted to learn stumpwork but live in an area where there is nothing. Being a total beginner am I totally out of my league with this class. How does some one learn if you don't have a teachers to you. They main seem like there in Europe or you find out a little to late when there is something. Usually the class are always above beginners. Sorry for rambling, just frustrated. The king in superb!!!!!!

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  3. AnonymousMay 15, 2015 at 9:48 PM

    Tricia, Would you consider offering the little deer as a "Needlework Nibble" for people who would like to dip a toe in Stumpwork? Not only would the slip make a terrific little pin but it could be applied to a sampler or ...well anywhere one would apply a slip. Just a thought.

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