Try your hand at 17th-century blackwork with dress historian Juliet Braidwood, while discovering more about the heritage of the craft.
Our study days sessions are a programme of skills learning sessions on restoration techniques. These are inspired by the recent restoration of Boston Manor House, but are also relevant to people who live in listed or historic buildings or who have an interest in restoration skills. For example, they include focused workshops on plasterwork, brickwork, stonework and weaving as well as various craft skills such as Jacobean embroidery.
Sessions will also be run on aspects of heritage management, including archival research, managing an archive, collections management, object handling and care and recording oral histories.
This study day focuses on 17th-century blackwork with dress historian Juliet Braidwood. Blackwork uses black silk thread on white linen to create striking monochrome patterns, ranging from geometric to naturalistic designs featuring flora and fauna. The technique can be traced back to the medieval period, but became very popular in the 16th and 17th centuries. Juliet will give a short introduction to the history of the blackwork, and participants will then have the opportunity to learn the basics of embroidery stitches before progressing to making their own embroidered piece of work.
All materials and tools required will be supplied. Suitable for beginners.
Agenda
10:00 – 10:30 Introduction to the study day
10:30 – 11:30 Talk about early 17th century embroidery materials and techniques
11:30 – 12:00 Introduction to materials and techniques to be used in the afternoon session
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch break
13:00 – 16:00 Embroidery workshop
Juliet Braidwood is a dress historian who has worked on recreations of historical clothing dating from the beginning of the 16th Century up to the early 20th Century. She gained her degree in History at Royal Holloway University of London, and runs living history events at Athelhampton House, as well as working as a historical interpreter across the U.K.. She is currently recreating a 17th Century embroidered waistcoat in the Burrell Collection.
