Free Stumpwork Tutorial
Written And Designed By Janet M. McDonald - New Zealand
Stumpwork can be found as early as the seventeenth century. Early designs depicted stories from the bible or showing the English Stuart Court. Depictions of people, castles, flowers, animals, insects and fruit were always popular. Once the young girls of the house had mastered their stitch sampler, then Stumpwork would be one of their next tasks. Girls as young as 11 years would start their Stumpwork designs.
Small cabinets with draws (caskets) were covered in this raised hand embroidery. Mirrors would be given padded frames with these designs. Wall pictures, book covers and sachets were also popular. www.jmddesigns.co.nz
Parts of a Stumpwork design are hand stitched away from the main background fabric and then attached to the background fabric. Many different styles of stitching were used: Fine canvas was stitched and then appliquéd to the main fabric. Wired Needle Lace slips were stitched to produce clothing for the characters in the design or for flower petals, etc. Fruit and faces were sometimes made by covering wooden shapes. Many types of threads e.g., cotton, silk, wool, metallic, were used along side spangles, beads and metallic coils etc. Often the embroiderer would stitch her initials and year of stitching on the embroidery using small pearl beads.
Designs were purchased from travellers that past the homes of the ladies or designs were sent from the cities. Designs were printed on thick white satin. The individual elements of the designs were easily recognisable, but the size of people, animal, flowers etc would not correspond to their true life size representation. The Stag deer could be smaller than the flower sitting next to it. The stars, sun, moon and rain where often found all in the same picture. Giving an innocence to the designs look.
The designs of Stumpwork today are quite different. Though traditional looks and techniques are still used in designs. A more modern look has been given to designs, whether it being ladies swimming at the beach or Owls sitting in a tree on their lonesome. Larger elements are often used in contemporary designs. Thicker threads are more often used for Needle Lace slips, as in Pearl 8 cotton, than 1 strand of silk traditionally. Heavy Linen fabric or other furnishing fabric is popular today to stitch on. www.jmddesigns.co.nz
Small cabinets with draws (caskets) were covered in this raised hand embroidery. Mirrors would be given padded frames with these designs. Wall pictures, book covers and sachets were also popular. www.jmddesigns.co.nz
Parts of a Stumpwork design are hand stitched away from the main background fabric and then attached to the background fabric. Many different styles of stitching were used: Fine canvas was stitched and then appliquéd to the main fabric. Wired Needle Lace slips were stitched to produce clothing for the characters in the design or for flower petals, etc. Fruit and faces were sometimes made by covering wooden shapes. Many types of threads e.g., cotton, silk, wool, metallic, were used along side spangles, beads and metallic coils etc. Often the embroiderer would stitch her initials and year of stitching on the embroidery using small pearl beads.
Designs were purchased from travellers that past the homes of the ladies or designs were sent from the cities. Designs were printed on thick white satin. The individual elements of the designs were easily recognisable, but the size of people, animal, flowers etc would not correspond to their true life size representation. The Stag deer could be smaller than the flower sitting next to it. The stars, sun, moon and rain where often found all in the same picture. Giving an innocence to the designs look.
The designs of Stumpwork today are quite different. Though traditional looks and techniques are still used in designs. A more modern look has been given to designs, whether it being ladies swimming at the beach or Owls sitting in a tree on their lonesome. Larger elements are often used in contemporary designs. Thicker threads are more often used for Needle Lace slips, as in Pearl 8 cotton, than 1 strand of silk traditionally. Heavy Linen fabric or other furnishing fabric is popular today to stitch on. www.jmddesigns.co.nz
Wooden Box Lid
This traditional design above has many of the elements used in early designs. The woman's clothing, blue flower petals and mauve butterfly wing are Needle Lace slips wired and stitched using 1 strand of silk. The castle is tent stitched on canvas with 2 strands of silk then padded and appliqued to the Silk fabric background. The Stag is padded in places and split stitched, as is the pea pod. The antlers on the stag is wire covered with chenille thread. The leaves on the tree are made with Bullion stitches and the fruit are wooden beads covered in thread. The grey clouds are rows of buttonhole stitch. The sun, rows of couched metallic thread. The face has been hand painted. Star shaped sequins scattered around the design. Note, that a couple of the stars are missing. Be aware, if you stitch a box lid......people will want to touch it!
Design size: 16 x 10 cm (6 x 4 inches)
This traditional design above has many of the elements used in early designs. The woman's clothing, blue flower petals and mauve butterfly wing are Needle Lace slips wired and stitched using 1 strand of silk. The castle is tent stitched on canvas with 2 strands of silk then padded and appliqued to the Silk fabric background. The Stag is padded in places and split stitched, as is the pea pod. The antlers on the stag is wire covered with chenille thread. The leaves on the tree are made with Bullion stitches and the fruit are wooden beads covered in thread. The grey clouds are rows of buttonhole stitch. The sun, rows of couched metallic thread. The face has been hand painted. Star shaped sequins scattered around the design. Note, that a couple of the stars are missing. Be aware, if you stitch a box lid......people will want to touch it!
Design size: 16 x 10 cm (6 x 4 inches)
Man and Donkey
This contemporary design has it's Needle lace clothing on the man and horse body stitched with Pearl 8 Cotton thread. The Mules body is one complete piece of Needle Lace (detached Buttonhole). The top of the wall is made of Raised Stem Stitch. The vine on the wall, has leaves which are wired onto fabric, the fruit is covered beads. The saddle cover is fine linen with buttonholed edging and a pulled eyelet border. The gold fish is padded, then gold metallic thread and open detached buttonhole is placed over the body. Behind the wall in the tree is a Stork, Possum, bug and snake. The tree and creatures are stitched in Chain and Split stitch. Design:20 x 23cm (8 x 9 inches).
This contemporary design has it's Needle lace clothing on the man and horse body stitched with Pearl 8 Cotton thread. The Mules body is one complete piece of Needle Lace (detached Buttonhole). The top of the wall is made of Raised Stem Stitch. The vine on the wall, has leaves which are wired onto fabric, the fruit is covered beads. The saddle cover is fine linen with buttonholed edging and a pulled eyelet border. The gold fish is padded, then gold metallic thread and open detached buttonhole is placed over the body. Behind the wall in the tree is a Stork, Possum, bug and snake. The tree and creatures are stitched in Chain and Split stitch. Design:20 x 23cm (8 x 9 inches).
Secluded Beauty
In this Stumpwork design the flower petals, leaves and tendril are all wired sitting up off the fabric. There are loops of thread sitting around a mountain of beads in the centre of the flower. Design Size: 8 x 10cm (3 1/4 x 4 inches)
Click here to purchase this individual design
In this Stumpwork design the flower petals, leaves and tendril are all wired sitting up off the fabric. There are loops of thread sitting around a mountain of beads in the centre of the flower. Design Size: 8 x 10cm (3 1/4 x 4 inches)
Click here to purchase this individual design
Thiis Owl has a padded Needle Lace body. The wings and leaves are wired fabric stitched upon. The fruit are covered wooden beads. The tree is Raised Stem stitch. The eyes are made of felt. All threads used are Rayon. Hand dyed fabric. Design: 5 x 8 cm (2 x 3 inches)
All design photos have been designed and stitched by Janet M. McDonald -Davies This page is not to be copied or cut and pasted into other websites. Links to this website are more than welcome. Thanks Click for top of page |