Free Stumpwork Tutorial
Written and Designed by Janet M. Davies 

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

All design photos have been designed and stitched
by Janet M. Davies unless stated otherwise.

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 appliquéd 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 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)

The grapes raised up off the fabric with padding and then stitched over.
The wired outline keeps the leaves suspended above the grapes.
While the padded gold metallic Bee flies around the wired tendrils.
Design Size: 11 cm (4 1/2 inches) square.

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). 

The butterflies wings are wire edged to sit up from the fabric. A fluffy stitched strip has been stitched for the body. Design:12cm (5 inches),

This raised flower above has wired petal edges and is stitched on patchwork fabric. Rows of beads are stitched to the outline of the flower and sprinkled over the petals. Rows of metallic thread are couched around the inner edge of each petal.  A fluffy wool was couched down the centre of the petals. The inner of the flower is a mass of beads. The whole flower measures 15cm (6 inches) across.

Stumpwork and more. The Butterfly has wired wings with rayon, metallic and chenille wool stitched on fabric. The pink flower petals are wired Needlelace (no fabric). The canvas gardening glove (life size) has been stuffed, with a felt covered wrist inserted. Turkey stitch around flower for grass. Glass bead bracelet made. Even some real dirt on the fingers :)

I designed this to tutor at the "Kerikeri Great Escape" 2003. This tropical fish is raised off the fabric with a padded body that shimmers from the use of shiny rayon and metallic thread. Also the furry chenille wool adds texture along with the glass beads on the marbled fabric. The front fins are wired and bound. This design pictured measures 13 x 15cm (5 x6 inches)

Padded with layers of felt.

Helen's turtle shell is Raised Padded embroidery. Light purple patches are padded with felt and split stitched over. The spiral is laid thread that has been bound. Rayon with Gold metallic threads. 7x10cm

Raised embroidery. The Starfish is padded with felt. Rows of Split stitch are stitched on the shape until the fish is filled. Four shades of rayon threads were used. Beads were used to decorate the hand dyed cotton fabric and the fish. I stitched this design for my dear friend Carol K. She is what keeps me going while I write my books and her editing skills I could not do without. Starfish size: 10cm (4 inches).

  
These 3 traditional Stumpwork photos to the left are from Sulgrave Manor in England. They are not reproductions but the original art form. Thank you to Leon Conrad for allowing me to have these photos in my website. © Leon Conrad 2002     \  

 To see information about Janet's book
"Stumpwork - Sculpture With A Needle"
and more photos, click on the book cover below.