History
Blackwork history, we trace this form of embroidery as far back to its origins, what influenced this beautiful form of needlework , and where it will take place in the future. A valuable contribution for those who are involved in research.
Museums
If there are blackwork samplers to be found, here you will find a list of museums where you can visit or find information. The link site will take you directly to the information page about the museum.
Free Charts
There will be plenty of designs and patterns to collect to help you build up a library, which will help you to create your own designs.
Stitch Glossary
Close-up step-by-step instructions of the main forms of stitches used in blackwork. These will help you master these beautiful stitches easily and quickly.
Book Finder
Trying to find a book on a particular subject can sometimes be most frustrating and time consuming. Here, you will find a list of the most popular blackwork books, with a selection of suppliers and an instant link which will take you directly to their website.
Costumes
Many of the costumes worn in past centuries have perished with time, but thanks to various museums and expert conservation, we still have a few examples which remain. These will preserve the beautiful embroidery which was expertly worked at a time when there were no pattern books. These designs set the example for work created in the future. A variety of costume examples which show the uses for blackwork embroidery.
Portraits
It is thanks to many of the great artists in the past that examples of patterns in blackwork were intricately recorded on the portraits of royalty and high ranking nobility. The costumes may have now perished, but the designs in these paintings will live on into the future. A large collection here of examples of portraits which will provide an insight into costume design.
Blackwork Digital Magazine
This magazine is available to non-members by visiting the magazine link. Members will receive it automatically within their subscription. It is available three times a year and contains designs, patterns and information. It is not available in the shops and is downloaded directly onto your computer, so you must have internet access to a computer in order to receive the magazine.
If you do not have an internet facility, but do have access to a computer, the magazine may be sent on a CD. See the magazine page for more details.
Blackwork Fund Donations
There are many museums which are to be thanked for there great work in conservation. From the collection of costumes and samplers which contain beautiful blackwork embroidery, it is fortunate for us that their great skills have preserved the past for all to see today.
Many of the pieces of embroidery shown within the costume and sampler collections, come from one particular museum, The Glasgow Museum of Art where the Burrell Collection is to be found. The Campbell Fund was set up in 1984 to help promote the costume and textile collection. Samplers held in the Glasgow Museums' Burrell and European Textile costume and textile collections span over 300 years.
It is hope that membership will grow and part of the fee will go to the Campbell Fund to help them continue preserving this wonderful collection.
