Jacobean Embroidery Research and Links

 NOTE: This is an old post that i shall be updating with extra information. I started the research for Jacobean Embroidery, but never started anything.

I Just got asked what type of embroidery i was currently interested in. Up till now it has been about 1350 split stitch needlepainting type stuff.



that is not what my answer was.

EDIT: In short i guess it is Jacobean wool work?

currenly i am rather interested in some of the embroidery done in 16th-18th century. Particularly the embroidery done on the large curtains that surrounded four poster beds in many of the houses we vistited in England. Im thinking mostly of Cothele and... and.... i can see the house and town but not the name of the house dammn it... i'll remember later.




http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Embroidered_curtain_17th-18th_century.jpg
"An Embroidered XVIIth or XVIIIth century Wool-work Curtain.—This curtain, the property of Miss Killick, is a pretty example of a small crewel-work hanging. The design is of a type that was often used upon hangings of that period. It is embroidered with brightly coloured wools upon a white linen ground, and is in a good state of preservation. Much ingenuity as well as variety of stitching are shown in the execution of the work."

Summary
Crewel work on cotton and linen twill ground; stem stitch with
long, short and coral stitches and French knots, 1630s V&A Museum
no.T.124-1938
Artist/designer - Unknown
Place - England
Dimensions-
Length 18 in (sleeve, outer seam)
A mythical bird is just one of the fanciful
creatures that populate this embroidered jacket of the 1630s. Worked in red wool
on a thick twill of linen warp and cotton weft, the coarseness of the thread and
heaviness of the ground lack the delicacy of similar garments embroidered in
silk on finer linen, but overall the work has a certain enchanting vitality. The
design shows a development in later Jacobean needlework – the scrolling vines
seen on jackets of the first two decades of the 17th century have disappeared.
Each motif is worked separately, while retaining the curvilinear dynamism
typical of Jacobean embroidery. During the later 17th century, this type of
needlework, known as crewel work, grew in popularity. It became an important
method of decorating household furnishings, particularly bed curtains and
valances.
Source: http://images.vam.ac.uk/indexplus/page/Home.html

Ok so these may be a little too elaborate....but you get the jist, imagine a scaled down.... slightly sparser less time consuming and perhaps only the top frieze over a carefully chosen fabric down below.

so the past two days (home sick) has been madly spent researching this whilst running back and forward from bed for naps. Any reccomendations.... please comment.
OTHER PHOTOS
Here is another one from the V&A Click here
This site has some info on stitches used http://www.meg-andrews.com/articles/crewel-woolwork.php
Great instructions for a Jacobean hanging ie stitching guide.... interesting.
http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch/projects/crewel/crewel.html
Now i am just dreaming of having a curtain like this http://www.embroiderersguild.com/workshops/tutors/phillipaturnbull/