How to make 1870's Arabesque / Oriental & Venetian Embroidery patterns
Janis Carleton Allen
January 2nd 2010, 9:32pm
Updated January 3rd 2010, 8:49am
We have taken these patterns out of our soon to be reprinted Needlework Book from the year 1870.
Border in Oriental Embroidery.
Materials: Purse silk of the following shades:--dark red, bright red, 2 shades of green, 2 of blue, 2 of yellow violet.
Border in Oriental Embroidery.
The four ovals placed together are worked of four contrasting colours. These ovals are composed of two rows of chain stitch. The outer row of the first oval is dark red, and the inner one bright red. Following the same arrangement, the second oval is of two shades of green; the third of two shades of blue; and the fourth of two shades of yellow. The knotted stitch in the centre is violet. The dots outside the ovals are worked in satin stitch, and are alternately red, yellow, violet, and blue. The stems are long stitches of black silk. The arabesque patterns between those formed of four ovals are worked in chain stitch with silk of two shades of brown. The colours of the ovals may be varied as much as you please, but the brown shades of the arabesque patterns should remain the same for the whole of the border.
"Venetian Border"
Materials: Messrs. Walter Evans and Co.'s embroidery cotton No. 12 and No. 16; net and muslin.
Venetian Border.
This design is elegant and effective, without there being a great deal of work in it. It is useful for tuckers for evening dresses or handkerchief borders. The muslin is laid over the net, sewn neatly over, and then cut away between the pattern, leaving the net for the ground work.
Lace Insertion.
Materials: Fine black sewing silk; black Brussels net.
This lace insertion is first outlined in running stitch upon the net; the leaves are then darned across the net holes; the stems are worked in overcast stitch; the dots are embroidered by darning across the circle previously outlined; the lace stitches in the centre are formed by gently enlarging the net holes with a fine stiletto, and then sewn lightly round, the remaining holes being filled with lace stitches consisting of fine button-hole stitches, very evenly worked over the entire space surrounding the open holes.
To be effective the very finest black silk should be employed. This pattern may be worked in appliqué by placing muslin over net, sewing all the outlines in fine overcast stitch, and when finished, carefully cutting away the muslin.
"Lappet or Sash End in Venetian Embroidery"
Materials: Messrs. Walter Evans and Co.'s embroidery cotton No. 6 and No. 12; net and muslin.
The pattern must first be traced on muslin, which is then tacked over net. The outlines are worked in button-hole stitch, and the veinings are sewn over, using the coarse cotton for tracing; the muslin is then cut away all round the pattern.
"Two Medallions for a Purse in Embroidery"
Materials: Light brown russia leather; black, scarlet, and gold silk; steel or gold clasp.
These medallions are intended to ornament a small purse, but may be employed on a variety of articles.
Medallion for a Purse in Embroidery.
The raised spots of No. 198 should be worked in black silk, in satin stitch, the branched sprays in point Russe in scarlet and gold, the four largest being in scarlet and the intermediate sprays in gold silk. Medallion No. 199 is worked entirely in point Russe, and may be embroidered in one colour, or in alternate branches of scarlet and gold, or scarlet and black.
Please Note:-all of these images and patterns are part of my Vintage Clothing Collection photos which are circa 1800 - 1920 & are originally of public domain but they have been altered & enhanced & repaired by us & remains the property of Janis Carleton Allen copyright 2009