Incredibly fine needlework

[Mabel Figworthy]

DH gave me some of his grandmother's hand-embroidered handkerchiefs (not embroidered by her, I think, but for her) - the work is incredibly fine and makes my eyes water just to look at it! The bit below is about 13cm (a little over 5") square...

[AngieR]

I have always wondered how any normal human can do this sort of thing. They are stunning. Make sure you use them and not let them sit around gathering dust. It always bothered me the my mom and sister would not use the afghans/blankets I made them. They just let them sit in a closet.

[Mabel Figworthy]

They are definitely used Angie, though not as intended since one nose-blow would probably render them ready for the laundry
I use them for cleaning my glasses and carry one with me at all times.

[AngieR]

Cool. Glad to hear it.

[Allyn]

That is so beautiful. I love that intricate work.

[wendywombat]

Such fine and intricate embroidery. Something to be treasured indeed.

[Squirrel]

So elegant and gorgeous aren't they Mabel. I love seeing this sort of beautiful work and always enjoying walking around our 4 or 5 90+ yr olds positions at my embroidery group and watch them stitching on almost identical fabric some doing drawn thread work others just embroidery. It is awesome.

Thanks for sharing this treasure.

[BizzieLizzie]

My goodness, that is absolutely beautiful! I'm glad you've found an alternative use for it though - it's far too lovely to blow your nose on!!

[Serinde]

I have also inherited handkerchiefs similar to this, but none so beautiful. The monogram and embellishments including the cutwork border are lovely in themselves, but that needlelace is spectacular. I wonder if they were actually done at the same time?

[Mabel Figworthy]

I'll see if my MIL (whose mother they belonged to) nows more about when they were done, and by whom.

[richardandtracy]

Simply amazing. I can never get over the abilities of some people in the past to spend time in perfecting a craft skill. It is absolutely awesome. I just wish I could do something, anything, half so well.

Over the Christmas break we spent a day clearing out our under stairs cupboard and discovered some more of my great aunt's embroidery. In this case it was cross stitch, but like no other I have seen. The full story of the work was there, an original magazine picture she saw, a watercolour painting inspired by it, a tracing plan and finally the work itself, all carefully rolled up together. It has probably never seen the light of day since she packed it up. Sad really.

Regards,

Richard

[Serinde]

?

[kingfisher68]

Oh my goodness, how intricate - so very delicate & dainty stitching. How on earth someone can manage do this sort of work beggars belief. Must have taken loads of concentration & perseverance.

Would also like to see the embroidery from under stairs cupboard Richard.

[richardandtracy]

I'll see if I can dig down deep enough this evening. I will have help, of the furry kind. For some reason the cats cannot resist the cupboard. I wonder if they can smell the 'man-eating leopard' skin that my Granddad shot in India in 1927/1928 that is also stored in there?
Maybe I can photograph some of the shawls too. They are similar to a couple on display at 'Knighthayes', the Victorian Gothic pile the National Trust curates near Tiverton.

Regards,

Richard.

[rcperryls]

Mabel, that is so amazingly beautiful. The embroidery by itself is fantastic, but the delicacy of the lace is breathtaking. Thank you for showing it to us. How wonderful of your MIL to give them to you.

Richard, please find the time to sometime soon! I have a tablecloth that I think one of my grandmother's embroidered and we have a piece that my husband's mother stitched years ago (don't think I gave it to my daughter when he died, but have to check that). These are precious heirlooms indeed.

Carole

[fiddler]

It is lovely to have some sewing past generations have done.Ihave a patch work quilt made by my great grandmother.It was made to be used and is made from old scrapes of material. I treasure it as I Rember my great grand mother. I wonder what will happen to my sewing,

[Mabel Figworthy]

Just had a chat with MIL, and she says her mother (Susan, hence the S) was probably given them by her (MIL's) aunt and uncle who were out in China for years and bought them there and either sent them or brought them back with them. I forgot to ask when this would be but I'm guessing second quarter of the century.

[richardandtracy]

Has it ever been said 'you should be careful what you wish for, as you might just get it'?

In response to the request yesterday I photographed my Great Aunt's tablecloth, and I fear it's a bit photo heavy. I do not know what date it was, but there were card bobbins in the box made from old postcards franked in Quetta. My grandparents left Quetta in 1932, so that is probably a reasonable estimate. Please forgive my photography, it isn't good.

First, the watercolour painting that she painted:

This was then traced and pricked out:

Now the whole tablecloth, only 1/4 is completed, 1/8 has been outlined and the remainder has been marked out:

Now for the detail of the stitching:








Hope this isn't too much.

I photographed the shawls, but uploading the photos will have to wait another day.

Regards,

Richard.

[Serinde]

This is remarkable. To have the whole thing, from design to partial finish is astounding, and that's before examining the variety of stitches to suit feathers and leaves, the colours... and its colonial provenance. I suspect this is actually a very important artistic "document". It is such excellent condition, considering its age -- you really ought to talk to someone from the V&A or the Royal School of Needlework about this, you know.

[Mabel Figworthy]

you really ought to talk to someone from the V&A or the Royal School of Needlework about this, you know.

Hear hear - to have the whole process there in such detail is wonderful and would be a great study object!