Current Class List with Christine Bishop
Two, Three or Four Day Classes
Other Classes
(Photographs Only)
Two, Three or Four Day Classes
* = Beginners ** = Intermediate *** = Advanced
Click on technique name for example of work
LEFKARA embroidery from Cyprus. Worked on 32 count linen with No. 12 and 8 Perle cotton. Techniques include surface stitches, drawn thread work and needlelace. Lefkara was mainly used for household linen i.e. towels, bed hangings, curtains and table linen. Threads are cut in a pattern, the edge reinforced and the resulting grid embellished with buttonhole st, overcast st and picots. The cut area is surrounded with patterns of counted surface stitches and sometimes eyelets **/***
CASALGUIDI embroidery from Italy. Worked on 26 to 32 count linen with No. 12 and 8 Perle cotton, also Cebelia. Techniques include pulled fabric, raised surface stitches and needlelace. Casalguidi was mainly worked on small bags and purses, on borders for cushions and on table runners. **/***
Both Lefkara and Casalguidi embroidery can be taught within a 2, 3 or 4 day class, although students will not complete the project within 2 days, they will have the knowledge to complete repetitive sections.
* = Beginners ** = Intermediate *** = Advanced
Click on technique name for example of work
CUTWORK from Italy. Worked on various linens, cutwork includes the basics of Roman, Renaissance, Richelieu and Venetian cutwork. Suitable fabrics include Ricamo and Kingston linen. Suitable for all levels, the class can be adapted to suit beginners. */**/***
TUSCAN EMBROIDERY from Italy. Tuscan embroidery can be broken up into many different areas. However for this class the students will concentrate on needlelace images of lions and birds (known as Leone e Uccelli) which are based on the ornamentation in some of the 11th and 12th century black and white marble churches of Tuscany. Small 2cm cut squares or larger rectangles and surrounded by Italian four sided stitch and filled with delightful needlelace images. Tuscan embroidery is worked on Ricamo or cutwork style of linen using No. 8 and No. 12 Perle cotton. */**/***
IL RE from Italy. Meaning "the king", needlelace figures are worked within a matchbox size cutwork rectangle. Originally worked in macrame these little figures are meant to represent members of the Medici family from Florence. The representation of figures dates back to the 14th century. Worked on a Ricamo or cutwork type linen using No. 12 Perle cotton or an equivalent linen thread. **/***
PUNTO ANTICO from Italy. Dating back to the 14th century this is a very important style of embroidery from Florence. Small 1cm squares are worked in a pattern and surrounded by Italian four sided stitch and filled with dove's eye stitch. The squares can surround larger squares filled with reticella style needlelace. This delightful an interesting embroidery can be worked on 30/32 count linen but is better worked on a cutwork style of linen i.e. Ricamo or Kingston **/***
SICILIAN CUT & DRAWN "Punto Tirato" from Sicily. Worked on evenweave 28-32 count linen. Threads are cut and withdrawn to form a grid. The pattern is then woven onto the grid outlined with cording. This technique dates back to the 15th century – students will work a small project combining 15th and 16th century techniques. **/***
RETICELLA from Italy. Reticella is worked on 30/32 count linen. Threads are cut and a geometric needlelace grid is worked within the cut area. This class is based on the original geometric 16th century style and students will work a small project. */**/***
Flowing style of Reticella needlelace of the late 16th to 17th century is worked free of the fabric grid. Students work a small project within 2 days. **/***
PUNTO IN ARIA NEEDELACE from Italy. Punto in Aria is the first of the true laces and developed from Reticella. Patterns were first produced in the 16th century for this style of needlelace. It is worked off the fabric, however for beginners I suggest you work the edge of a small piece of linen before commencing a large piece. Worked with 80 – 100 gauge thread, this work is not difficult. **/***
