EASY Blackwork Embroidery Pattern: a Straight Line | 16th Century Holbein Stitch

In my opinion, this is the easiest double running stitch, also known as Holbein stitch or blackwork embroidery: a straight line! Blackwork embroidery was a popular form embroidery on clothing in 16th century.

Hans Holbein the Younger was a European painter, just like his older brother Ambrosius and his father, Hans the Elder. If you hear the term 'Holbein stitch', it is in reference to Hans the Younger. From his friendship with Erasmus, he had a letter of introduction and found himself in England to eventually become a court painter in the court of King Henry VIII of England. Compared to other artists at the time, Holbein painted numerous portraits with blackwork embroidery in them. 

 

Suggested Items for Purchase: 

- Beeswax: https://amzn.to/2NHAmTF 

- Embroidery Scissors: https://amzn.to/3rKAs0W 

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

- Embroidery Needles: https://amzn.to/45AMjMG

Response from the Carnegie Museum of Art about 2 of Bartolozzi's Etchings based on Holbein's Sketches

Last week, I contacted the Carnegie Museum of Art about 2 of Francesco Bartolozzi's sketches from 1797 and 1799 (based on Hans Holbein the Younger's sketches from 1526-1528). One was of Anne Cresacre (Carnegie Museum of Art had her listed as Portrait of a Woman) and the other was of Margaret Giggs (Carnegie Museum of Art had her listed as Mother Jak). 

 

Both women can be found in Holbein's portrait of Sir Thomas More's family, as well as Holbein's individual sketches of them. Since Bartolozzi had made copies of Holbein's work (Holbein's sketches are with the Royal Collection Trust), it concerned me that the Carnegie Museum had these 2 etchings mislabeled. 

 

Earlier this afternoon, the Curatorial Assistant with Carnegie Museum of Art emailed me. Their internal database has been updated. The online collection search should be updated in the next week or so.  

 

Follow-up on February 21, 2024:

Carnegie Museum of Art updated their online collection! Check it out:

 

How neat is that!? I'm simply excited that I caught this and was able to bring it to someone's attention (and the fact that a museum responded)! 

Simple Black Embroidery Trim for the Square Neckline of a 16th Century Smock or Shift

A demonstration of how to easily add black embroidery to the square neckline of a historical smock or shift or chemise.

 

 

 

Previous Project: Blackwork Embroidery on a 16th Century Style Coif

This coif took me over 29 hours just to embroider with blackwork embroidery, also known as Holbein Stitch. The earlier form of blackwork embroidery is a double-running stitch, typically found with black silk thread on white linen.

 

Hans Holbein the Younger was a European painter, just like his older brother Ambrosius and his father, Hans the Elder. If you hear the term 'Holbein stitch', it is in reference to Hans the Younger. From his friendship with Erasmus, he had a letter of introduction and found himself in England to eventually become a court painter in the court of King Henry VIII of England. Compared to other artists at the time, Holbein painted numerous portraits with blackwork embroidery in them. 

 

 

 

       Suggested Items for Purchase: 

- Beeswax: https://amzn.to/2NHAmTF 

- Embroidery Scissors: https://amzn.to/3rKAs0W 

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

- Embroidery Needles: https://amzn.to/45AMjMG

 

 

To check out pictures of this coif in progress, as well as what inspired the design on this coif, please check out my blog post here from April 2017.