"Medieval Majesty" in Blackwork embroidery by Leon Conrad
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Medieval Majesty is based on designs found on the floors of Medieval Churches and Cathedrals. These can best be described as patchwork floors of incredible detail, mesmerisingly beautiful and full of hidden symbolism.
Leon is inspired by the majesty, magic, history, symbolism and ritual surrounding some of the designs the medieval artists and craftsmen used. He spent over two years researching the history behind the designs and as a result, has come up with a stunning piece, charted in great detail, to allow standard and quasi-reversible stitching- the first in a projected series of designs inspired by this type of work. The chart includes an overview of the history and symbolism behind the design. He is working on a stand-alone booklet which goes into the ideas behind the design further.
The filling patterns used are non-standard patterns, which feature within the medieval pavements, and present a novel approach to blackwork which will appeal to the intermediate and advanced stitcher alike. The majority of the filling patterns used in this design are not standard blackwork filling patterns, and these are charted in great detail, to allow standard and quasi-reversible stitching.
An appealing feature of this type of work is the way in which the patterns are used to fill shapes.
In standard blackwork, filling patterns usually remain the same within a given shape.
However, in the medieval pavements, the filling patterns move around following the contours of the shapes they fill.
This adds to the complexity of these designs, which Leon has adapted masterfully to fit the demands of a charted needlework design.
Technical Details:
Medieval Majesty is a blackwork design, with some couched gold thread around some of the outlines.
The design measures around 15.5 inches square and is worked in silks and man-made gold fibres on 32 count linen.
The format is similar to the chart for Queene Besse's Chesseboarde (ie a spiral bound booklet).
It has 48 pages, the majority of which are in colour. It includes clear instructions on precision blackwork techniques, hints on starting and ending threads and much more besides.
Suggested pathways are provided for all non-standard filling patterns, and in some cases several alternative ways of working a pattern are suggested.
Stitch Count = 442 Square
Design Area c. 39 cm (c 15.5 inches) square on 32 count fabric
Graph/Thread ratio = 1 square:1 block containing four fabric thread intersections.
The 48-page spiral bound A4 chart booklet for this design is printed with full colour diagrams and photos.
It contains background information, comprehensive instructions, including stitch diagrams, hints on starting and finishing threads and precision blackwork techniques, suggested pathway charts for the filling patterns, often listing several ways of working the patterns and a full colour chart for the design.
A stand-alone booklet on the symbolism behind these designs will shortly be available.
CHART BOOKLET: £27.50/$45.00
Chart Ref MMC
THREAD PACK (chart booklet not included): £30.80/$49.50
Thread Pack Ref MMTP
THREADS AND FABRIC (chart booklet not included): £39.75/$63.50
Threads and Fabric Ref MMTF
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