Events

FORTHCOMING EVENTS - EXHIBITION: All Wrapped Up. Textiles - function, form and design
27 October to 18 November, 10.30-5.00 daily
Craft Renaissance Gallery, Kemeys Commander, near Usk NP15 1JU

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Charting historic cross stitch sampler motifs

I am going squiggle-eyed - following my visit to St Fagan's, I have started the marathon job of charting some of the motifs from photographs I took of selected samplers from their collection.  I am using squared paper to produce a resource of motifs, borders and alphabets to use in my work.  So far I have done three alphabets and about a dozen motifs and borders, but it's the most eye-bending work!  I have high resolution photographs, which I then zoom into as much as I can on screen, and using the cursor to help me not lose my place, I transcribe the patterns to the squared paper stitch by stitch (with pencil, and a lot of rubbing out!).  It's the kind of job that can only be done in short bursts, so I think it's going to keep me occupied for most of the summer as I probably have several more alphabets and maybe up to a hundred motifs and borders to do!  I have spoken to Elen Phillips, the curator, and agreed that I am going to be giving St Fagan's a copy of the completed pattern charts - they are all cross referenced with the samplers' accession numbers, so might make a useful resource.  I wonder if it would be viable to create a book of Sampler Patterns from the St Fagan's Collection to sell in the shop?

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