Thistle Threads

Gold Master Class Encore - August 1, 2011 - January 1, 2013
Class Length: 18 months
Course Registration and Payment Deadline: July 31, 2011
Course Commencement: August 1, 2011
Monthly Fee: Eighteen monthly payments of $36

How do I sign up for this class?
Registration for this course is now closed. However, if you are interested in being on the wait list, should there be any cancellations, please click the button below to send your contact information to Tricia.

During the Tudor and Stuart time periods, there was a transition from using couched gold threads to using them as a media that could be placed in the needle and used to form complicated stitches. While many texts list plaited braid as a gold thread stitch for period pieces, they often fail to point out the enormous variety of stitches.

About a decade ago, I had the unique opportunity to examine the silver and silver-gilt stitched woman's waistcoat in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. I had preconceived ideas of what stitches I would find on its surface. Yet, when I examined it none were recognizable to me. A search of texts did not result in the proper identification and stitch mechanics. This intrigued me and started a search for new stitches as well as working to figure them out. At the moment, I have identified 32 independent stitches and have worked out the mechanics for 28. The search has taken me to a dozen museum collections as well as working on private pieces. The best places to document these stitches are spot samplers that often have small areas in corners where the stitches were practiced. Not only was it important to deduce the mechanics, but the proper needles and gold thread structure and metallurgy was needed to make the bends that the stitches formed. It was this work that formed the basis of our ability to reproduce the Plimoth Jacket when I was originally contacted about the project. Since the project commenced, the interest in this type of embroidery has increased dramatically and I decided to launch this master class.

One of the exciting developments in my research of this subject occurred earlier this year when Smudge Animation completed a fully animated version of one of my stitch diagrams for the coiling stem that featured on a woman's waistcoat in the MET's collection. We had been working on and off for years animating these stitches and the Twixt Art and Nature Exhibit was the impetus to complete a complex animation and then continue to work on the other 27. I am excited to announce that each of the gold thread stitches will be accompanied by an animation of its working for this class.

It is under this context that the Tudor and Stuart Gold Master Class is launched. During the eighteen months instruction for 29 stitches will be given in both traditional line drawing and animated versions. Three projects will be provided for the student to practice these stitches. The first is a small (6" x 10") spot sampler based on a piece in a private collection. The piece had a delightful set of floral slips and geometric motifs stitched with queen stitch. Unlike many spot samplers, it was devoid of any goldwork. After much study, it became obvious that the stitcher had intended to fill in the sampler with gold stitches but had put the piece aside before doing the work. The 'scaffolding' for several gold stitches exists on the piece.

The other two projects are pincushions, approximately 3" square each. These small projects allow the students to place the stitches in a full project for their decorative manner, contrasting with the tent or queen stitched backgrounds. The students will be provided with high quality faux gold and silver English wyre threads for learning in two sizes. There will be a supplementary package of real silver and silver-gilt threads in three sizes for use in the small course projects if the student wishes. Two sizes of handmade Japanese Needles will be part of the course kit.

Instructions:
There are 236 pages of PDF downloadable instructions for the three kit projects, 28 gold stitches, and two bonus projects (no kits). The bonus projects are the instructions for the Tudor Band Sampler and Golden Accessories. Separate silk and linen kits are available for purchase for these kits if desired. The base course kit includes enough metal threads to complete them.

History Sections:
Historic information and photos are used to supplement the course material to enhance the understanding of this type of work. Each month there is a text section on some relevant topic, such as historic gold thread making, spot samplers, etc. The text is augmented with close photos of 17th century objects from the collection at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. There are 17 objects pictured with between 10-25 macro pictures for each in the history. These include coifs, nightcaps, cushions, an embroidered jacket and spot samplers. There are over 220 pages of history and they are print only during the course.

The course kit materials will be sent in three mailings as listed below. This includes a final CD Rom containing the course stitch animations which are unable to be printed and will be yours to review on your computer for future projects.

Mailing 1: Spot Sampler Kit Contents: 34-ct Legacy linen, twelve colors of Au Ver a Soie Soie Paris floss, two tubes of #371 Faux Gold Wyre, #380 Faux Silver Wyre, 10 meters each of #340 and #345 Faux Gold and Silver Wyre, Handmade #9 Japanese Needle and Japanese needle felt.

Mailing 2: Tudor Pincushion, Petite Pincushion and Supplemental Real Metal Thread Pack Contents: 34-ct Legacy linen for both projects, five skeins of Au Ver a Soie Soie d'Alger, four tubes of Au Ver a Soie Soie Paris, lining silk for each project, two tubes each of #371 and #380 Faux Gold and Silver Wyre as well as 10 meters of #345 Faux Silver Wyre, Gilt Fine Grecian Twist, One tube each of Silver Passing #4 on Silk, Gilt #4 Passing on Silk, and Gilt Special Tambour. 10 meter hanks of 90% Silver 9 drm Tambour and Gilt 9drm Tambour. Handmade #7 Japanese Needle.

Mailing 3: CD Rom containing the animations will be shipped to each student at the end of the course for future use after the course.

Note: Please maintain a current address with the Thistle Threads mailing list during the course for these additional mailings.

Note: If you are on my list as having taken any or all of the projects shown for this course and want to join the course to take advantage of the animated versions of the stitches, email me for individualized course pricing.