Winter blues and looking for inspiration I went to The Fashion Museum. Based at the Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath. Hosting a 100,000 headstrong of objects donated by Doris Langley Moore 1963. The collection is amazing ranging in time from 1600’s to the present day. For me it was all about the embellishment from sweet little baby’s bootees quilted with fancy embroidered patterns on them.
to a 1610’s Linen Coat richly covered in embroidery, using a Needle lace technique commonly associated these days with Stump Work, stems and tendrils worked in a interesting stitch called ‘Plaited Braid Stitch’ notorious for being difficult to craft, certainly the work of a professional embroider. Owned by Lady Alice L'Estrange.
These James 1st gloves were for me the 'best in show', embroidered in silk floss threads, gold and spangles, finishing off with a ruff of ribbon, beautiful. The long fingers are interesting, they crafted gloves in the early 17th century with long looking fingers to give the wearer a appliance of elegance, a fashion statement, not the most practical of garments though and certainly given as status gifts more to be kept and admired then worn.
1700s linen Quilted Waistcoat embroidered in fanciful birds and flowers like sentimental pinks, borage and carnations, from a time when flowers were used as a language. Worked in Chain Stitch in silk coloured threads.
1690’s Cotton Petticoat embroidered designs in Worsted Wool using a technique and style called Crewel Work, the good thing about working in wool is the embroiderer can cover large areas quickly making Crewel Work excellent for soft furnishings from cushions to bed hangings. I like this garment not because it has lovely embroidery on it but because of the many repair patches which tells me it was a much loved item of clothing.
For more info about exhibitions and events see the Fashion Museum website.
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