The Upper Valley in Blackwork

Our first tutorial is a map of the Upper Valley (as defined by the Valley News) that I designed in the counted-thread embroidery style known as blackwork. The pattern is a pdf that includes instructions, a preview, a single-page version of the pattern, and a three-page version for easier reading. Download it here: Upper Valley Blackwork Map.

I didn't define blackwork in the previous post because I knew this was coming right up. Despite its name, the central identifying trait of blackwork is not the black on white color scheme; there are ample historical examples in other colors. Instead, blackwork is distinguished by the fact that "solid" regions are filled in with repetitive stitch patterns that are actually quite open. It is also common, though not necessary, that the patterns allow the stitched fabric to be reversible. This requires that the patterns be connected so you do not need to cross between them on one side and not the other, or start and stop threads in the middle of the fabric to avoid such crossing. Wikipedia's blackwork page has a lot of good pictures, and Nordic Needle has a page with history, materials, and methods for blackwork.

Lovely fill patterns that are historical or in the historical style are freely available, and from them I would most recommend Ensamplario Atlantio, a collection by Kim Brody Salazar. However, I suffer that strain of DIY mania common to crafters, and created my own fills from each town's initials. You may wish to replace them, and, in particular, if you want to make a reversible piece of work you will have to replace most of them. In case you'd like to crop the map, in simplifying the town boundaries (and shifting them a bit so the littlest towns still had a decent amount of space) I made sure boundary intersections all happen at grid corners.

The traditional stitch to use for blackwork is double running stitch, also known as Holbein stitch. Needlework Tips and Techniques has a whole page on double running stitch, aimed at blackwork and complete with video.

It will be a while before I finish mine. I'm working with 32 count linen; it's really not very even for an evenweave, but since I'm stitching over two threads to make it 16 count, things average out a bit. I'm using one strand of black (DMC 310) embroidery floss. I started in the middle and have five towns finished: Norwich, Hanover, Hartford, Lebanon, and Hartland.

Medieval crafting

The local Vermont branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Panther Vale, is hosting Panteria this weekend in Thetford. The SCA is dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe (per their website), and Panteria is a weekend dedicated to the re-creation part.

I am writing about it because, of course, the arts and skills of medieval Europe include a good deal of fiber craft. Of course there will be banners and period clothing, much of which will have been sewn by the person wearing or carrying it. There will be merchants with handmade items. The weekend has many planned activities, but members will also spend time as they would have in the medieval period, working on handcrafts. You'll likely see people embroidering, sewing, and spinning, and should feel free to ask questions.

The planned activities also include at least one fiber class: blackwork, a style of embroidery. There may also be one on nalbinding, a method of making fabric from yarn that far predates knitting, and perhaps some last minute classes on other fiber topics.

The practicalities: Panteria XIX runs from 2:00 Friday, May 23 to noon Monday, May 26 and is at Camp Farnsworth in Thetford. They request visitors attempt medieval garb but do not want that to be an obstacle to coming, and in fact have loaner costumes available. About those and about classes ask at the registration desk for the most up to date information. It is too late to sign up for the meal plan for the weekend, but individual meals are still available for purchase at registration. You can also cook on site, subject to some restrictions on fires. See the site rules/FAQ for more.

Many thanks to David O'Vitt for answering my questions and some I hadn't known to ask.

Upcoming Events

Somehow it escaped my awareness until this afternoon that this weekend is the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival, Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 9-4. It's in Deerfield, NH, east of Concord and about a 25 mile drive from the junction of I-89 and I-93. The NH Weavers Guild and NH Spinners and Dyers Guild will be demonstrating their crafts all day both days, and there are demonstrations and workshops on needle felting, wet felting, dyeing, and drop spindles.

While we're talking about events, a few more. Many of the entries in the previous installment are still current or upcoming, so check back there as well.

Upper Valley Sew-op:
The Sew-op's classes through June 2 were listed previously. There are a few scheduled after that, for adults unless otherwise stated:

• Custom Gadget Sleeves - sew to your item's measure with a few shaping and finishing options; June 9, 5:30-7:30 PM. Basic sewing skills required.
• Skirts - sew to your own measure; June 14, 10-noon. Basic sewing skills required.
• Tech Holder, for kids - make a pouch for your MP3 player; June 21, 10-noon.
• Letter Pockets, for kids 8+ and adults - sew a simple pocket for practicalities or treasures, while learning to top stitch and sew a buttonhole; June 21, 1-3 PM.
• Tic-Tac-Toe, for kids ages 7-12 - cut and sew a felt tic-tac-toe game, including a pocket to hold the pieces and ribbon ties to roll the game up; June 28, 10-noon.

Open hours in June are every Wednesday 1-3 PM, and Monday the 16th, 23rd, and 30th 5:30-7:30 PM.

Artistree:
Artistree, in Woodstock, has a number of fibery classes and camps this summer, including one tomorrow afternoon. They're roughly chronological below, but alphabetical on the website.

• Scribble Scarf Workshop, adults and 5+ - make a wool and silk scarf, aimed at Mother's Day; May 10, 10-noon.
• Silk Painting, adults and 12+ - tracing, dye resist, and painting; June 7, 9 AM-4 PM with hour lunch; may also register for 9-12 only.
• Fiber Arts Studio, ages 5+ - weekly studio of knitting, felting, knotting, and twisting; Wednesdays June 18-August 13, 1-3 PM. Register for individual sessions or the whole series.
• Simply Crafts, adults and 15+ - three sessions dedicated to different crafts: rag wreaths, easy canvas art, and nail and string art; June 28, July 26, and August 16, 10-noon. Register for individual sessions or the whole series.
• Dragons and Fiber Craft Camp, ages 7-12 - four days of felting, weaving, and sewing dragon-related items; June 30-July 3, 9-12 AM.
• Hand-sewn, Hand-made: Designing and Creating with Fabric, ages 7-12 - five days of creating textile accessories, learning fundamental hand sewing techniques along the way; July 7-11 or August 11-15, 1-3:30 PM.
• Fashion Camp, ages 8+ - five days of restyling clothing with sewing machines and embellishments; July 14-18, 9-noon.
• Zombie Sock Monkeys, 8+ and adult friends - just what it sounds like; July 19, 10 AM-12:30 PM.
• Shibori Scarves, adults and 16+ - Japanese dye-resist techniques of folding, pinching, and binding; August 9, 10 AM-12:30 PM.

A visit to the Upper Valley Sew-op

The Sew-op is a community workspace on the second floor of the Upper Valley Co-op in White River Junction. It is dear to my heart, as I have taught there since 2010, when it was about a year old. It is sewing-centric, but as a sign says in the room, not just for sewing.



The Sew-op overflows with fabric, yarn, and other materials and tools for fibercraft. The fleet of sewing machines includes an embroidery machine. Except for a few tools purchased with monetary donations and class proceeds, everything was donated by people in the community, and all materials are free to use. The goal is to put usable goods to use rather than throw them away – want fabric to practice sewing with? Take some of ours home.



The Sew-op is typically open for two-hour stretches Monday evening, Wednesday afternoon, and Saturday morning. There may be a class scheduled; if not, the room is available for free, drop-in use by the public, times we call Open Hours. They are staffed by volunteer aides (Co-op Superworkers) all of whom sew, are familiar with the Sew-op, and know the sewing machines. You might come to Open Hours for a second opinion on an unusual pattern instruction, to use a sewing machine because you don't sew enough to want to own one, to be inspired to create a costume, or simply because you'd rather do your projects in the company of others.



Classes, described on the Sew-op webpage, cover topics in sewing, hand embroidery, and crochet, and include children's sewing classes (see the photo below). Instructors are paid, and each two-hour class costs $25, or $20 if you are a Co-op member. You can register for classes via phone, clipboards by the Co-op's registers, or an online form.



Getting to the Sew-op requires some description; the second floor is reached from the back of the building. Start by following the footsteps on the concrete (and signs to Vital Communities) and enter through the yellow door. When you're in you can take the elevator to your left or the stairs to your right, following the red and yellow Sew-op signs along both paths. I made a map of the upstairs for you; it is incomplete and not to scale, but it will show you what turns you need to make.



We would love to see more people use the Sew-op and for materials to circulate – the main reason the Sew-op is so unkemptly crammed is that we get more donations than are used. We would also love for more people to come on board the Sew-op as aides and teachers. Feel free to contact us here via comment or the form in the sidebar if you're interested in knowing more!

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Make your own visit!

The Upper Valley Sew-op
Upstairs at the Upper Valley Food Co-op
193 North Main Street
White River Junction, VT 05001

802-295-5804 (Co-op)
http://www.uppervalleyfood.coop/sew-op/

Co-op open Monday-Saturday 9 AM to 8 PM, Sunday 11 AM to 5 PM.
Sew-op open for scheduled classes and open hours only; generally includes Monday 5:30-7:30, Wednesday 1-3, and Saturday 10-12, as well as for a rug braiding group on 3rd Thursdays 5:30-7:30. See the calendar.

UV Craft Challenge 1: Fiddleheads Round-up

First, a little housekeeping. Summer is coming and to keep things easiest we've decided to limit the challenges to once a quarter. They will still run a full month and the next one will be in July with the topic to be announced in June. Feel free to comment with your ideas for future challenges.

Best I know, Rebecca and I were the only crafters this challenge. Both of us felt it was a great experience. I love how this encouraged me to be creative and flow with how things happened. I not only made a table runner, I also found enough fabric for a table cloth. Rebecca came up with two wonderful and very different projects for the challenge.

If you created a fiddlehead project, or if you find time for a later project on this theme, please post in the comments. I still hope to play with my plastic bag idea and post those results so maybe I'll do a final round-up at the end of the quarter. Keep watch for the topic for July's UV Craft Challenge sometime in June.

UV Craft Challenge 1: Fiddleheads Craft

This has been an interesting project for me with a few twists and changes.

My first thought was to play with plastic packaging in place of rope in a sort of coiled coaster or trivet. And I still want to do that. But, after two weekends in a row of watching house guests slide serving dishes across our old (family heirloom) dining room table I decided a table runner was in order. Something cute, with good coverage, and knowing my family as I do, insulated. I'll still use trivets under hot serving dishes but I'll rest easier knowing there's a little extra protection. So I was leaning in the direction of something quilted.

I also wanted this project to use up as much stash fabric as possible and after some digging came up with this. It's like a very heavy linen with a tight weave and a nice fringe at the selvage.

Turns out, the fabric piece is large enough to be a tablecloth on it's own with plenty of fabric leftover to create my table runner. I think ideally this would be best with the fabric grain running the length of the table, but my extra fabric is on the end and it doesn't matter for this project. And the fabric is a bit too stiff for a quilting project. So I'll go with just a single layer of fabric and save a quilted runner for another day.

I ended up buying the fabric for the fiddlehead design because I didn't like what I had on hand.

I got a little carried away cutting out circles. (I see many circle projects in my future!)

The biggest challenge for me was the layout. I went back and forth between colors and sizes, symetrical and non-symetrical layouts until, after much fiddling (heh), I ended up with the layout below. The purple was nice but ended up looking too Easter-ish. The blue and yellow add interest while staying in the green family.

But how does this have anything to do with fiddleheads you ask? Like this.

I used a double-sided, fusible interfacing called Wonder-Under to attach my circles. First I ironed the interfacing to my circles. Then I cut them into spirals. Those are double cut to allow the base to show through. And then I ironed them to my fabric. My final step will be to fringe the sides of the entire runner. Or perhaps just run a stabilizing seam down both sides and see what happens.