According to Carolyn Ambuter in her (huge and wonderful) book, "The Open Canvas", Hedebo* has passed through three stages of development. Embroidery in the first period [1760-1820] was not as open or delicate as that done later. Opened shapes were patterned after leaves and flowers on the wood carvings of the furniture in the embroiderer's surroundings and the open spaces were filled with withdrawn thread embroidery. Opened shapes (semicircles, hearts, crescents, leaves) were outlined in chain stitch. My first attempt is in this style.
The second period [1820-1850] saw more formal squares much like reticella or Ruskin lace and less surface embroidery.
From 1850 through the turn of the century, round and open shapes were filled with lacy designs as in reticella and on finer linen, often with stamped-on designs, and used for table linens and ladies' collars and blouses.
*pronounced "hay'-the-bow"; a contraction of heather born - people who live on the heath. This delicate lace embroidery was done by people whose principle work was digging and drying peat.
Carolyn Ambuter, "The Open Canvas"
1 comment:
Very pretty. So Hedebo (thanks for the pronunciation guide) is British? Irish?
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