Good morning!

Before we get any further in the series of Embroidery Archeology articles that cover salvaging ecclesiastical embroidery for re-use, I thought I’d set up an organizational structure for the series to make it easy to reference.

If you’re relatively new to Needle ‘n Thread, under the main menu on the website, you’ll find a section called Tips & Techniques. In that section, there’s a list right at the top of indexes for all kinds of series of articles here on Needle ‘n Thread. You’ll find projects that evolve step-by-step, as well as collections of lessons and tutorials.

This particular index for all the articles in this series on Embroidery Archeology can be found on that list, and each time I publish a new article on the topic, I’ll add it to the list below in chronological order from first to last in the series. This way, you can follow along at your leisure and refer back to the index whenever you need it.

In this series of articles, I’m taking apart an old piece of ecclesiastical embroidery to salvage the figures (and any other parts I reasonably can, but the focus is the figures) and replacing them on new ground fabric so that they can be used.

This is a bespoke project, but it doesn’t have a specific deadline at this point. I’ll share progress on the project as I make headway with it!

Article Index for Ecclesiastical Archeology Salvage Project

Here are the articles so far, in chronological order:

• Salvaging Figures on Ecclesiastical Embroidery – the background of the project and an overview of the original piece and what it was used for
• Visual Documentation and Close Examination – making scans of the original embroidery for the record!
• Machine or Tambour Work? The Back of the Embroidery – a look at the back of the embroidery and the layering involved to make the whole piece

As the project progresses, I’ll add the articles to this list, which you will find on Needle ‘n Thread under Tips & Techniques. Feel free to bookmark it and share it with any of your stitching buddies who might have an interest!

Looking for More?

You can find a similar project called Deconstructing Goldwork here, where I took apart an old piece of goldwork embroidery.

These articles examine an old piece of historical goldwork on velvet that was originally part of a valance on a half tester bed, most likely 15th / 16th century:
Goldwork on Velvet: The First Explorations
Goldwork on Velvet: Behind the Embroidery
Goldwork on Velvet: Finishing Touches
Further Explorations of Old Goldwork

This Mission Rose embroidery project was inspired by an old piece of ecclesiastical embroidery originally done in chain stitch, that I examined, eventually traced, and then developed into a new pattern and embroidered it in silk and gold.