Silk and Metal Classes
Silk and metal thread embroidery predates history. Silk’s origins are shrouded in myth. Gold work with silk embroidery can be traced to an interest by the Yuan rulers in China. From these origins and the progress through the ages, silk and metal is a strong form of embroidery in today’s culture. MAK, Inc. Designs offers beginner and more advanced teaching pieces for you and your members.
Butterfly in Purls
Butterfly in Purls
This beauty is a study in metal thread on Congress Cloth. The butterfly is outlined in pearl purls, some areas are filled with chipping using the soft metal purls in both silver and gold metals. Others are filled with canvas work stitches.
Thistle in Gold
Thistle in Gold
Create this beautifully stylized thistle. It is a study in metal thread embroidery. The flower is highly stylized. Let your imagination play while you embroider this beautiful flower. The ground fabric is black congress cloth. The threads are Japan metal-imitation, gold purls #6, check wire purl #5, soie d’alger.
Golden Butterfly
Golden Butterfly
Golden Butterfly is designed for the beginner. It is worked on congress cloth. A variety of metal thread techniques mixed with canvas stitches and silk will be explored. Beads and pailettes will also be attached.
Dragonfly with Cattails
Dragonfly with Cattails
Dragonflies are a very ancient species of insect. They have been flitting and darting about for eons. In primeval times, they were large and some of them had wingspans of two feet or more. Today, the wings span three to four inches. Each pair moves independently for more skillful maneuvering. A dragonfly can attain great flying speed. The dragonfly in this study is worked in gold purls.
Tulip With Acanthus Leaves
Tulip with Acanthus Leaves
Tulips have fascinated Westerners since their discovery. Their images are found in art, tapestries, and embroideries since that time. In this class, our goal is to create a fantastical, stylized tulip in rich gold metals/metallic, and red silk on black congress cloth.
Flower On Black
Flower on Black
I love to embroider flowers that are composites of several flowers. The flower in this study has its origins in the textiles of centuries past. Many examples from the past are fantastical in shape and design. Working on black Congress cloth using brilliant colors and gold metallics is a great exercise using silk and metal threads.
Three Leaves
Three Leaves
Join us in creating this lovely small embroidery. Using three different purls you will outline the three leaves in variations of the outline stitch. The stems are couched pearl purl and #8 braid. The leaf background is a silk and metal organza. The background is a blackwork pattern.
Golden Seed Pod
Golden Seed Pod
Golden Seed Pod is a metal thread embroidery. Join us in stitching this exquisite seed pod! We will be using smooth, gilt bright check purl, pearl purl super, #1 Japan gold, #5 Check Thread, and #5 Japan gold to create this beautiful piece. The ground fabric is Congress Cloth in black.
Trefoil and Seeds
Trefoil and Seeds
Trefoil is a study in metal thread work. The Trefoil is worked in #5 Japan thread couched with silk couching thread in brick pattern couching. The five seeds are dimensional padded with gold felt and stitched in rough and smooth purls.
Elizabeth’s Iris
Elizabeth’s Iris
Elizabeth’s Iris is adapted from a painting in Hardwick Hall of a dress owned by Elizabeth of England. The dress represents the land, plants, creatures, and continents over which she held dominion. The dress was of silk with the figures painted on the silk. It is by an unknown artist. It was sent to Bess of Hardwick Hall as a gift
Gilded Circle
Gilded Circle
Gilded Circle is a half-day class for beginners. It is a small piece suitable for framing or for a box top. Students learn the fundamentals of silk and metal embroidery
Amadeus in Silver and Gold
Amadeus in Silver and Gold
The Jean Hilton Amadeus stitch is one of my most favorite canvas work stitches. It is counted and also a manipulation of the thread that forms dimension. The piece is stitched to create a diamond shape. Amadeus in Silver and Gold is a combination of counted and couching on congress cloth.