Drawn thread work

Drawn thread workis one of the earliest forms of open work embroidery, and has been worked throughout Europe. Originally it was often used for ecclesiastical items and to ornament shrouds.^[1]It is a form ofcounted-thread embroiderybased on removing threads from thewarpand/or theweftof a piece ofeven-weavefabric. The remaining threads are grouped or bundled together into a variety of patterns. The more elaborate styles of drawn thread work use a variety of other stitches and techniques, but the drawn thread parts are their most distinctive element. It is also grouped withwhitework embroiderybecause it was traditionally done in white thread on white fabric and is often combined with other whitework techniques.

History

Drawn thread embroidery is a very early form of open work embroidery, and is the basis oflace.Drawn thread work from the 12th century was known as Opus Tiratum and Punto Tirato^[1]from the ArabTirazworkshops in Palermo.^[2]^: 109Forms of drawn thread work were known and created throughout Europe, often for ecclesiastical purposes or to decorate shrouds. Early examples have been found in which the work is done on linen so fine that magnification is needed to see the work.^[1]

Styles

Linenhandkerchiefdecorated with three rows of hemstitching.

Openwork insertion with needle-weaving.

Making Mexican drawn work, early 20th century

Basic hemstitching

The simplest kind of drawn thread work ishemstitching,which is often used to decorate thetrimmingsofclothesor householdlinens.The transition from elaborate hemstitching to more advanced styles of drawn thread work is not clearly defined.

Needle-weaving

This relatively easy type of drawn thread work is created by weaving (ordarning) the embroidering thread into the laid warp or weft threads to create patterns of light-colored threads and dark openings in the drawn-thread cloth. Needleweaving is most often used for decorative borders. It is nearly always used in combination with other types of embroidery stitches. Together they create a complete design and, historically, in ethnic embroidery, distinctive embroidery styles, also known as "needle-darning."

Poltava-style drawnwork

InUkrainianand some otherSlavic languages,merezhka(мережка,pronounced[meˈrɛʒkɐ]) is the general term for "drawn-thread" work. It includes all types of drawn-thread work including those mentioned in the paragraphs above.^[3]

The termmyreschka,a variant ofmerezhka,began to be used in some circles for a specific Ukrainian drawn-thread technique that is traditionally used in the central lands of Ukraine, especially in the regions of Poltava and Kyiv, and areas along the Dniepro (Dnieper) River, and some have come to call it "Poltava-style"merezhka.^{[citation needed]}The technique has its own descriptive name in the Ukrainian language, which might be translated into English as "layerings".^{[citation needed]}

The technique for doing Poltava-style "layerings" -merezhkabasically involves withdrawing sets of parallel threads of weft while leaving others in place, then using the antique hem-stitch (calledprutyk) and this special "layerings" technique to create both the openwork "net" and the design of embroidering threads upon the "withdrawn" part of cloth. The designs which can be created in this way can be simple and narrow, or as complex and wide (high) as any one-colored embroidery design.^{[citation needed]}

Prutyk(may also be spelledprutik) is the "bunch" (switch or stick) that is created when you pull together each bunch of three threads together using hem-stitch. In Ukrainian,prutykis simply another name for "simple hemstitch" (i.e.:merezhka-prutyk), or it can mean each tiny "bunch" in the hemstitching.

Other drawn-thread

A form of double-drawnwork, where both warp and weft are removed at regular intervals, consists of wrapping the remaining threads into "bundles", using embroidery thread to secure them, thus creating something similar to a net. Then embroidery threads are woven in patterns into that net using needle weaving or needle darning. The result is a pattern of the design in white (or colored, depending on ethnic region) embroidery on the "openwork" background of netted cloth.

Cutwork

Hardanger

Hardanger embroideryis a style of drawn thread work that is most popular today. It originally comes fromNorway,from thetraditional districtofHardanger.The backbone of Hardanger designs consists ofsatin stitches.In geometrical areas both warp and weft threads are removed and the remaining mesh is secured with simple weaving or warping or with a limited number of simple filling patterns. The designs tend to be geometric, if they include flowers or such they are very stylized due to the nature of the technique. Hardanger never includesButtonhole stitches,except for securing the edges of a piece of fabric. It is usually executed using rather coarse fabric and thread.

Ukrainian cutwork

Much like Hardanger, Ukrainian cutwork belongs to the category of 'cut-and-drawn' work, since, unlike merezhka (drawn-work), threads of the ground cloth are cut both vertically and horizontally and thus create specifically larger cut-work openings in the body of the fabric, when compared with drawn-work. The Ukrainian word for cutwork embroidery isvyrizuvannya(pronouncedveree-zoo-van-nya- translates into "cutwork" ). There are several styles of Ukrainian cutwork, one of which closely resembles Hardanger cutwork.

Needlelace and drawn-thread work

Reticellalace is a form of embroidery in which typical techniques ofneedlelaceare used to embellish drawn thread work. It was first used in 16th centuryItaly.Needlelace evolved from this when the lacemakers realized that they can do the same things without any supporting fabric. High quality reticella is done with thread almost as thin as sewing silk.Ruskin laceis in fact a near-modern form of it. Warp and weft threads are removed, and the remaining threads are overcast withbuttonhole stitches,as in needlelace.

Another embroidery style that combines drawn thread work with needlelace techniques isHedebofromDenmark,which originates from the area aroundCopenhagenandRoskilde.It uses techniques that are clearly distinct from reticella and traditional Italian needlelace on the one hand and Hardanger on the other. It does make extensive use of buttonhole stitches, but they are done slightly differently than in Italian embroidery.

References

^^a ^b ^cCaulfield, S.F.A. (1972).Encyclopedia of Victorian Needlework.Vol. 1. New York: Dover Publications. pp. 157–161.
^Needlework: an illustrated history.Harriet Bridgeman, Elizabeth Drury. New York: Paddington Press. 1978.ISBN 0-448-22066-0.OCLC 3843144.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: others (link)
^"Drawn thread work".vettycreations.au.Retrieved2021-08-24.

"Ruskin Lace"by Elizabeth Prickett
Merezhka embroideryat Vetty Creations

Sources

Thérèse de Dillmont,Encyclopedia of Needlework
Tania Diakiw O'Neill,Ukrainian Embroidery Techniques1984 USA
Nancy R. Ruryk, ed,Ukrainian Embroidery Designs and Stitches1958 Canada
Yvette Stanton, "Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery: Merezhka Poltavska" 2007 Australia

External links

Thérèse de Dillmont.Encyclopedia of NeedleworkatProject Gutenberg
"How To: Basic Reticella Lace"at Needlearts
"How To: Hedebo Embroidery"at Needlearts

[:1-1] Caulfield, S.F.A. (1972).Encyclopedia of Victorian Needlework.Vol. 1. New York: Dover Publications. pp. 157–161.

[2] Needlework: an illustrated history.Harriet Bridgeman, Elizabeth Drury. New York: Paddington Press. 1978.ISBN 0-448-22066-0.OCLC 3843144.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: others (link)

[3] "Drawn thread work".vettycreations.au.Retrieved2021-08-24.

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