Some Embroidery Patterns from Nicolo Zoppino's 1529 Book

Nicolo Zoppino was an Italian from Venice. His pattern book from 1529 was called Esemplario di Lavori. It's at the Met.

Photo credit - The Met

Here are a few patterns from the above book:

 

 

Here is something interesting... if you have followed my blog, then you may be thinking you have seen the above patterns before. And you would be correct! For example, the above double cross pattern is not only in Zoppino's pattern book, but it is also in Giovanni Antonio Tagliente's 1530 (Italian) book and Nicolas Bassee's New Modelbuch (German) from 1568.

The above acorn pattern is not only in Zoppino's book, but also in Hans Hofer's Formbuchlein (German) from 1545 and Nicolas Bassee's New Modelbuch (German) from 1568. 

The triple cross pattern above the acorn pattern is not only in Zoppino's 1529 book, but it is also in Hans Hofer's Formbuchlein (German) from 1545.

Some Embroidery Patterns from Giovanni Antonio Tagliente

Here are a couple of patterns based on the patterns found in Giovanni Antonio Tagliente's 1530 book called "Examples of Needlework", which is currently located at The Met. It was originally published in 1527. When searching for information on this book, look up "Opera Nuova". Tagliente was a Venetian calligrapher, author, and publisher.

More pages of the book, including patterns for embroidered letters, can be found here. 

Photo credit by The Met

Other popular pattern books from this time period include:

Essemplario di lavori by Nicolo Zoppino published in 1529

Ornamento Delle Belle & virtuose Donne by Matteo Pagano published in 1554

Schole-house for the Needle by Richard Shorleyker published in 1624 and 1632

 

My Latest Blackwork Embroidery Project

Here is what I have so far! The diamond pattern and the flower pattern both came from Jane Bostocke's sampler from 1598.

The linen fabric that I am using is not an even weave, so the pattern appears elongated. I am using twisted black silk thread for the embroidery. I counted every third hole per stitch on the linen fabric.

The fabric is mounted on to a slate frame, as seen here.

Watch as I embroider this project from beginning to end here.