Casalguidi

I have ordered a new book today, after nearly a year of no new needlework books, and it is Casalguidi Style Linen Embroidery by Effie Mitrofanis, which is back in print.

I first encountered Casalguidi in the Embroiderers Guild. Someone brought in an illuminated letter for our group project in purple hand-dyed variegated Casalguidi. I was enchanted by the stitch, being a fan of stumpwork, which it resembles. I admit that, as an embroiderer, I like the look of 'art' embroidery, with unstructured shapes and wild colours - for other people's houses. I would only make something like that for a gift for someone I was sure liked the style. After looking at some pretty 'rich and strange' Casalguidi work in needlwork mags, I chanced on the 'real thing', the old style, which was of whitework.

Here, my traditional embroidery-loving heart went 'Ah....' For it is a style full of familiar whitework stitches, worked on a ground of pulled thread (four-sided, or 'nun's' stitch), with double buttonhole bars, bullion knots, detached buttonhole, as wells as the woven bars, picots and other fillings familiar from Reticella work.

It is not an old technique, dating only from the late 19th century, during the general revival of Italian needlework; but it was very popular up through the 1920s and 30s, especially for bags, as can be seen in the photo cover of Miss Mitrofanis' book. There are the most wonderful bobbles and fringes! All traditional to Casalguidi.

So there is another sampler in my future, as well as a technique to add to the store for liturgical garments.