White Work that is Cream

Have just told Deepa that I had some photos of Schwalm work on my blog only to find that there was only one of the large cloth so I am adding another couple.

Deepa is starting some Schwalm work and has bought a wonderful book which she is reviewing on her blog.

The photo of the cushion below is of the first Schwalm project I attempted and the supper cloth was the second. I was very ambitious and enthusiastic in those days.

I had previously learned pulled thread work, so stitches I learned with that are also found in Schwalm work. I have only done one "white" schwalm project ...the table cloth here on my blog, the rest have all been cream on cream. As Cotton a Broder which is a traditional thread was hard to obtain where we lived I have always worked with Perle Nos. 8 and 5 No 712. I like the slight sheen of this thread on the linen.

The Fan is my first attempt at Pulled Thread work. It is done on a table runner which has been in constant use on the top of my dressing table. I have also worked tray cloths and bags which I have given away as gifts.

I learned these techniques when I belonged to a group of Embroiderers in Maryborough in Queensland which was run by a lady called Ada whose knowledge and expertise where embroidery was concerned were boundless.

Schwalm Embroidery is an interesting and satisfying technique. Perhaps sometimes exacting but the completed projects are very rewarding.

Table Cloth

This is the tablecloth I made for my daughter. The fabric is a wool blend evenweave. There is a story to the fabic. While looking after my mother while she was recuperating from an operation a friend of hers told me there was a fabric sale on in town. Unable to leave my mother, asked her to keep a look out for evenweave linen for me. This fabric was what she arrived with. I did not have the heart to tell her it wasn't what I wanted but thought since it was a perfect evenweave I could use it....particularly the whole 3 metres cost me I think round $12 when I knew the good linens were at that time round $80 a metre.

This is the traditional schwalm design which i have worked in the corners of the central piece of the table cloth. I have surrounded this rectangle with 4 sided stitch, and hemstitched the outer hem, pictured below. Withdrew threads round the hemline to create a lacier effect.