The St Cuthbert Maniple Recreation Project Part III - Stitches

This post discusses the embroidery stitches used in making the St Cuthbert Maniple Recreation Embroidery.
The St Cuthbert maniple is an early 10th-century church vestment, hand embroidered in gold and silk threads. It is worked in split stitch, stem stitch, two forms of goldwork surface couching and tracery stitch.
The maniple, along with a matching stole, were re-discovered in the tomb of St Cuthbert in Durham Cathedral, England, in 1827. Both were stitched by embroiderers in early medieval England, who were commissioned to make them by Queen AElfflaed (Ælfflæd). She wanted to give them as a present to the Bishop of Winchester but it's thought he never received them...
You can also read about the stole, maniple and a set of embroidered ribbons that were also found in St Cuthbert's tomb, in my book, 'The Lost Art of the Anglo-Saxon World: the sacred and secular power of embroidery'. It can be bought at either
www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Art-Ang...
or
www.oxbowbooks.com/oxbow/the-...
You can also read about how the stole and maniple were viewed by early medieval society in my latest article, 'Embroidery and its early medieval audience: a case study of sensory engagement', published in World Archaeology. Copies can be bought here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/...
You can watch The St Cuthbert Maniple Recreation Project Part I - The Origin Story here: • The St Cuthbert Manipl...
You can watch The St Cuthbert Maniple Recreation Project Part II - The Materials here: • The St Cuthbert Manipl...
You can check out some of the goldwork embroidery being stitched here:
• A glimpse at goldwork ...
Dr Alexandra Makin
Early Medieval Embroidery
Professional Embroiderer
#embroidery #embroider #goldwork #textiles #alexandramakin

[@katienewell7350]

Another great video! Thank you for explaining everything so well!

[@EarlyMedievalEmbroidery]

Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it and it was easy to understand :->

[@lurdesfernandes2006]

Please, oh please, tell me how I can acquire an embroidery (slate ?) frame like the one you have in the background. I am a long time, self-taught, embroidery aficionada that lives in Portugal. Can you kindly refer me to an on-line shop? I have recently come across your youtube videos and I am in love, being as I am - also - a bit of an historical geek. Thank you for all your insight and generosity of knowledge on the subjet. Best regards, Lurdes

[@EarlyMedievalEmbroidery]

I'm so pleased you love the channel! To be honest being a historical and embroidery geek is the best combination there is 😉. I know I'm going to say that😄. I got my slate frames when I started my apprenticeship at the Royal School of Needlework, many years ago now. I don't know many people who sell these traditional style slate frames but there are a couple of places. I see you're in Italy so I'm going to give you a UK online shop and a mainland Continental one so you can compare postage and duties etc. I know both these ladies and they are both excellent. They'll answer any questions you may have too. The UK link is: jennyadin-christieembroidery.com/product/traditional-slate-frame The Germany link is: pallia.net/en/shop/sewing-embroidery/product/view/2/43 Good luck and let me know how you get on, Alex

[@lurdesfernandes2006]

@@EarlyMedievalEmbroidery Hi! Thank you so very much for the links. I will check them out as soon as I finish writting this. I just wanted to clarify that I'm Portuguese, not Italian. Minor detail, though, as long as the internet works properly... Your videos have been a delight for me. Such knowlege to savour, Thank you again. Lurdes

[@EarlyMedievalEmbroidery]

@@lurdesfernandes2006 Ooh, I'm sorry. I wonder why I thought Italy. My mushed up brain. I'm so pleased you enjoy the videos! I'm working on a couple of new ones at the moment so watch this space. I hope the links prove useful too and you get your slate frame. There's nothing quite like a beautiful frame to embroidery on. ☺

[@alisonwodehalle1089]

Are you aware of any other embroideries with the Tracery stitch?

[@EarlyMedievalEmbroidery]

I've not come across any but I do keep an eye open when I'm looking at other pieces

[@alisonwodehalle1089]

Thank you!!@@EarlyMedievalEmbroidery

[@mickimicki]

The stitch count of your work boggles my mind even in modern times, never mind doing this a thousand years ago without the benefit of artificial light or eyeglasses...

[@EarlyMedievalEmbroidery]

I totally agree! It did me too when I first read, saw and then had a go. I'm still thinking through how they did it. Got some ideas but they need exploring...