Embroidery Made Easy: Learn 5 Basic Stitches

In this 'How To' video I show you how to stitch five embroidery stitches that are found in early medieval embroidery.
Stem stitch (sometimes called outline stitch)
Laid and couched work (sometimes called Bayeux stitch)
Satin stitch
Chain stitch
Split stitch
Enjoy,
Alex
Kits can be found here: early-medieval-embroidery.squ...
My published analyses can be found here:
- 'The Front tells, the Story the Back tells the History: a technical discussion of the embroidering of the Bayeux Tapestry', in Making Sense of the Bayeux Tapestry Readings and Reworkings, ed. Anna C. Henderson with Gale R. Owen-Crocker (Manchester University Press, 2016)
- 'Les six Chateaux de la Tâpisserie de Bayeux: une discussion technique du travail de broderie de la Tapisserie de Bayeux' in L'invention de la Tapisserie de Bayeux, ed. Sylvette Lemagnen, Shirley Ann Brown & Gale Owen-Crocker (Point de Vues, 2018)
- The Lost Art of the Anglo-Saxon World: the sacred and secular power of embroidery (Oxbow, 2019)
Dr Alexandra Makin
Early Medieval Embroidery
Professional Embroiderer
Textile Archaeologist
​#howto #embroidery #stitch

[@lizmerritt8682]

Thank you ❤

[@allonewordcaps]

Great video. Fun that i know many of the stitches already. Love having both views too. Thank you.

[@EarlyMedievalEmbroidery]

Yeah! And thank you ☺️

[@catherineskis]

Thank you for explaining. I suppose men didn't wear armor in 303; however, my St. George is wearing armor and I'm working on his grieves. They are 11cm long and I am using the Bayeux Tapestry, laid work/couching stitching.

[@EarlyMedievalEmbroidery]

It is, isn’t it 😊. I also like how it is so textured, especially in wool, and it gives a 3D effect to the areas worked.

[@sharonhargreaves6056]

Thank you for taking the time to answer, I’m sure it would be known to everyone else. I want my Bayeux kits to look as authentic as possible so I’m second guessing and doubting myself.

[@EarlyMedievalEmbroidery]

No problem, and not everyone knows this. I often find that when I teach embroidery classes. I was thinking about whether I should go into it as I made this video but decided against, for no real reason really. Never doubt yourself! And there's always someone to ask if your brain refuses to stop. I completely understand that process because I'm the same ☺☺

[@sharonhargreaves6056]

Hello 👋, is stem stitch always worked with the loop to the right? If you go along the bottom is the loop above and if going along the top is the loop below? Thank you ☺️

[@EarlyMedievalEmbroidery]

I knew I should have discussed this aspect of the stitch; sorry. The loop should always be to the figural right so, if you create a line top to bottom and then turn to work along the bottom from the line towards the left, the loop will lie to the bottom (which, if you turned your work so this line was being stitched top to bottom, would then show the loop lying to the right). However, if you reach the bottom of the vertical line and stitch to the right (left to right along the bottom), the loop will lie above the working line. I hope this helps. I’m mentally turning my stitching as I work this out. It’s really complex when I have to think it through. I might make another video where I show these variations

[@Camel0769]

I love the sweater you're wearing. Did you knit it yourself? If not, do you know the name of the pattern?

[@EarlyMedievalEmbroidery]

I love this jumper too. I didn’t knit it. I actually bought it a few years ago from a fairtrade company called PeopleTree. Unfortunately, they’ve gone bust. It’s such a shame for so many reasons; also because they used to sell the gorgeous hand knitted jumpers.

[@yarnexpress]

Would you please describe the 9 colors used?

[@EarlyMedievalEmbroidery]

Of course. I actually chose these colours so that they would stand out against the fabric, and each other on the laid and couched work. The BT uses the same colour for all three layers. It’s only later, when the stitch is worked in silk that you start to see multiple colours used. I hope this helps 😊