Stumpwork delights in Guild talk

Embroiderers today are extremely lucky with their choices of materials, new and exciting products, wonderful sewing machines and innumerable techniques to choose from and many of us will happily burn, distress, paint, melt and manipulate fabrics in the hope we will achieve our aim.

But sometimes, even for the most adventurous of us, it's good to step back and take a look at what can be achieved with just a needle and thread. At our last meeting, we were able to do just that when Kay Dennis gave us an illustrated talk and bought along her exquisite samples of the very traditional technique of Stumpwork.

Stumpwork was popular in the 16th and 17th centuries and is a style of embroidery where the stitched motifs are raised from the surface of the work to form a 3-dimensional effect and was taught to children of the aristocracy when they were 12-14 years of age.

Many of the stately homes in the UK will have samples and are generally very popular with the viewing public owing to the humorous custom of filling every available space with a motif, regardless of whether the proportions were correct. So you might find a giant frog alongside a tiny lion, or a caterpillar that has been embroidered much bigger than the head of the lady alongside it. Many of these embroideries could take up to two years to complete and would then be sent to professional cabinet makers to be made into boxes or mirror frames.

Kay was introduced to needlework at the very early age of four, by her aunt, and once she had discovered the technique of needle lace, she never looked back and this is the only type of work she does. She is an expert in her field – if you "google" the word "stumpwork", her website is top of the list – and she generously explained the materials and technical difficulties she'd had to overcome for the various pieces that were on display.

Samples of her work can be seen at the National Trust property, Lytes Cary Manor in Somerton, Somerset, when she was asked to pick six motifs from a 17th century mirror frame and reproduce them, along with story boards, to show how the motifs would have been made – it was fascinating to see how similar, but different, the individual motifs were.

Kay had also bought along husband, Michael, who since his retirement has been very much involved with her work and he cheerfully admitted that although he's not an actual practitioner, he can explain every stitch and step of a finished piece. His contribution is more on the practical side of making the deep frames required to display the 3D work, producing the various moulds that might be required, photography and website. With three published books to their name, "Team Dennis" are at the forefront in keeping this historical technique alive and well in the 21st century.

Our final meeting before the summer break, on 21st July 2011, is "Recycling Textiles" with Amy Senogles. Please check out our website for more photos and information at Audlem Embroiderers Guild" rel="nofollow">Audlem Embroiderers Guild

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