Embroidering a Flower and Diamond Pattern by Jane Bostocke, circa 1598

Holbein stitch, also referred to as double-running stitch or Spanish stitch, is a reversible stitch used in early 16th century blackwork embroidery. Follow along step by step as I embroider a flower inside of a braided diamond pattern. Both of these patterns are located on Jane Bostocke's embroidery sampler from 1598, currently at the V&A Museum in London. 

 

  Picture credit: "Sampler." V&A Museum. https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O46183/sampler-jane-bostocke/ 

 

       Suggested Items for Purchase: 

- Patterns from 16th Century Pattern Books: https://amzn.to/3VxcuS3 

- 16th to 18th Century Double-Running Stitch Embroidery Patterns (2nd edition on Amazon): https://amzn.to/42NlF4P 

- Silk thread (Needle in a Haystack): http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Thread/AVAS_Ovale.html or http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Thread/AVAS_SoiePerlee.html 

- Slate Frame (T.F. Woodcraft): https://www.tfwoodcraft.com/shop/slate-frames/ 

- Beeswax: https://amzn.to/3ZFtwPM 

- Scissors: https://amzn.to/44cTNYx 

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- Craft Stand: https://amzn.to/3pYGlR0

 

The Same 16th Century Flower Pattern Found on Both an English & an Italian Embroidery Sampler

Watch step by step as the flower pattern from the 16th century is embroidered. This pattern can be found on both an English sampler (Jane Bostocke's sampler from 1598) as well as an Italian sampler (located at the the Museo del Tessuto in Prato, Italy from the late 16th century). 

        Check out my embroidery books! 

- 16th to 18th Century Double-Running Stitch Embroidery Patterns (2nd Edition of Pre-18th Century Embroidery Patterns). https://amzn.to/43lwjRp 

- Pre-18th Century Embroidery Patterns (1st Edition). https://amzn.to/4cnysi5 

- Patterns from 16th Century Pattern Books. https://amzn.to/43VMwwI 

 

       Suggested Items for Purchase: 

- Silk thread (Needle in a Haystack): http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Thread/AVAS_Ovale.html or http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Thread/AVAS_SoiePerlee.html 

- Slate Frame (T.F. Woodcraft): https://www.tfwoodcraft.com/shop/slate-frames/ 

- Hoop Frame: https://amzn.to/3sktIBs 

- Beeswax:  https://amzn.to/3ZFtwPM

- Scissors: https://amzn.to/2ZO93cP 

- Linen Fabric: https://amzn.to/3m1bsuJ 

- Craft Stand: https://amzn.to/3pYGlR0 

 

 

Jane Bostocke's sampler: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O46183/sampler-bostocke-jane/sampler-jane-bostocke/ 

Italian sampler: https://www.museodeltessuto.it/museo/collezioni/?lang=en 

 

 

More information on the Italian sampler: http://tudorblackwork.blogspot.com/2019/10/patterns-from-italian-linen-cloth-circa.html

Don't Miss Out on my Embroidery Book!

Need something to do inside while its cold outside? Try some historic embroidery patterns from my book!

16th to 18th Century Double-Running Stitch Embroidery Patterns 

 

 

 

This book is available on Amazon, as well as Barnes & Noble (with a different front cover).  

 

 

 

Connect the Dots to Reconstruct Partially Missing 16th Century Embroidery Patterns on a Sampler

Recreate the embroidery patterns on historical samplers that are missing some of the embroidered threads by essentially playing a game of connect the dots. A double-running stitch means that there are two journeys to make the embroidery pattern look like one solid line and therefore making the embroidery reversible, so that it looks the same on both sides of the fabric. Since it's reversible, if part of a thread is missing, one is still able to fill in the voids to recreate the original pattern.

 

     Suggested Items for Purchase: 

- Patterns from 16th Century Pattern Books: https://amzn.to/3VxcuS3 

- 16th to 18th Century Double-Running Stitch Embroidery Patterns (2nd edition on Amazon): https://amzn.to/42NlF4P 

- Silk thread (Needle in a Haystack): http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Thread/AVAS_Ovale.html or http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Thread/AVAS_SoiePerlee.html 

- Slate Frame (T.F. Woodcraft): https://www.tfwoodcraft.com/shop/slate-frames/ 

- Beeswax: https://amzn.to/44eT3Cl 

- Scissors: https://amzn.to/44cTNYx 

- Linen Fabric: https://amzn.to/3MnnccA

 - Craft Stand: https://amzn.to/3pYGlR0 

 

        Photo credit: 

- Embroidered Sampler: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/221177

 

 

Embroidered Flower Pattern from Jane Seymour's Cuffs from 1536

Follow along step by step as I embroider a geometric looking flower pattern from the cuffs of Jane Seymour, the third wife of King Henry VIII of England. 

Suggested Items for Purchase: 

- Embroidery Stand: https://amzn.to/468W4Tz 

- Embroidery Hoops: https://amzn.to/467ezHP 

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- Silk Embroidery Thread: https://amzn.to/3PVh5LB

- 16th to 18th Century Double-Running Stitch Embroidery Patterns book: https://amzn.to/43lwjRp

Where to Find Some Patterns on a 16th Century Italian Embroidery Sampler

This 16th century Italian sampler (Accession Number T.14-1931) is available online at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. It is a linen sampler embroidered with silk thread. Most of the sampler appears to be embroidered in blue and green. However, there is also some red color too. The embroidery stitches on the sampler include cross stitch and back stitch.

 

 

 Don't forget to purchase my latest embroidery book!

 16th to 18th Century Double-Running Stitch Embroidery Patterns

 

 

Holbein Stitch on Margaret Roper's Collar of 1535

When Margaret Roper (maiden name Margaret More, eldest daughter of Sir Thomas More) was 30 years old, she had a miniature of herself painted circa 1535 by Hans Holbein the Younger. In this portrait, Holbein has included significant detail of the embroidery pattern found on her collar. This is a recreation of part of that pattern. 

 

 Holbein stitch, also referred to as double-running stitch or Spanish stitch, is a reversible stitch used in early 16th century blackwork embroidery. If you would like more information on blackwork embroidery, please check out other videos on my channel. 

 

      Picture credit: 

- Holbein the Younger, Hans. “Margaret Roper (Margaret More).” The Met Museum. 

 

      Suggested Items for Purchase: 

- Silk thread (Needle in a Haystack): http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Thread/AVAS_Ovale.html or http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Thread/AVAS_SoiePerlee.html 

- Slate Frame (T.F. Woodcraft): https://www.tfwoodcraft.com/shop/slate-frames/ 

- Hoop Frame: https://amzn.to/3sktIBs 

- Beeswax: https://amzn.to/2NHAmTF 

- Scissors: https://amzn.to/2ZO93cP 

- Linen Fabric: https://amzn.to/3m1bsuJ 

- Craft Stand: https://amzn.to/3pYGlR0