Compendium and classes!

For those of you who make your own items, you will be delighted as I was to find The Sharpe Compendium Shops - which lists shops that cater to the re-enactor, LARP, or cosplay communties. There are some familiar names among them, Wm. Booth, Draper, Nehelenia Patterns,  Smoke and Fire Company, Alter Years, Jas. Townsend and Son, Inc., The Staymaker ... It's a feast for the bluestocking in one!

For those of you who do not yet make your own items, but would wish to do so, we are offering courses in Historical Fine Hand-Sewing and Embroidery. The Handsewing Course is $150; the Embroidery Course is $300.

The Handsewing Course consists of Three PDF Lesson packages with materials (muslin, needles, thread) and instructions. The First Lesson consists of basic stitches (running, backstitch, whip, pin stitch) and seams (plain, felled, and whipped) and seam finishes, as well as historical commentary on the use of such methods

The Second Lesson involves the construction of pleats, ruffles, gauging and cartridge pleating, and tucks, as well as working with and finishing curved seams, French seams, and plain hemming. It concludes with historical commentary on the use of such methods, and study resources.

The Third Lesson progresses to fancy hems, faggoted seams, buttonholes of various sorts and the making of buttons. Period techniques such as simple needlelace, Dorset buttons, covered buttons and round buttons are included. Methods of attaching linings, piping and cording are an optional bonus.
Historical commentary on the use of such methods, and study resources accompany this final section.

Self tests are enclosed with the packets, and I am available to answer questions via email or the Workshops Page here.
At the end of the course, you can expect to have an artisan-level skill that, with practise, you can use for pleasure and profit.

By comparison, to get such a course from the Embroiderers' Guild, one would have to
      * Be a Member - $60
      * Pay for each Lesson - $150
      * Purchase the materials  - $20

The Embroidery Course consists of five PDF Lessons with materials (linen, hoop, needles, embroidery cotton, wool, beads and spangles) and instructions. The First Lesson consists of basic stitches (cross stitches, double running, algerian eye, Queen stitch, Irish stitch) as well as historical commentary on the use of such methods. It results in a working band sampler of the 17th Century mode for your future reference.

The Second Lesson progresses to surface stitches for both silk (or cotton) and wool (crewel). It includes advice on choosing colourways and methods of shading. It concludes with historical commentary on the use of such methods, and study resources. It results in a working spot sampler of the 17th Century mode for your future reference.

The Third Lesson encompasses whitework, including cutwork (reticella, broderie anglaise), drawn work, pulled work, Ayshire sprigging, casalguidi, and needlelace. It concludes with historical commentary on the use of such methods, and study resources. It results in working spot samplers of the 17th Century mode for your future reference.

The Fourth Lesson consists of quilting methods; flat quilting, patchwork, cording, trapunto, whole cloth and subdued crazy patch.  Included is historical commentary on the use of such methods, and study resources. It results in quilt samples of the 18th and 19th Century modes for your future reference.

The Fifth Lesson has two options:
1) padded work ('stumpwork') and the use of gold, beads, and spangles. This was the piece de resistance of a young lady's 17th Century needlework education. Stitches used are surface embroidery, trapunto, needlelace, cutwork and pulled work. Historical commentary on the use of such methods and study resources are included. It results in a decorative piece which may be used in the traditional manner to cover a box lid, or framed.

2) painted surface embroidery picture. This was the pride of an early 19th Century young lady's needlework education. It consists of a memorial or sentimental scene, drawn with painted elements - such as the sky, with the details of the picture needle-painted with finely detailed and shaded surface stitching. Historical commentary on the use of such methods and study resources are included. It results in a decorative piece which may be framed and given as a gift, in the traditional manner.

Self tests are enclosed with the packets, and I am available to answer questions via email or the Workshops Page here.
At the end of the course, you can expect to have an artisan-level skill that, with practise, you can use for pleasure and profit.

By comparison, to get such a course from the Embroiderers' Guild, one would have to
      * Be a Member - $60
      * Pay for each Lesson - $250
      * Purchase the materials  - $100