Schwalm Whitework History

New Items Catalog Sales Items Class Discounts Free Samples Tips Links History Biographies Newsletter International Orders Shipping Rates
			SCHWALM WHITEWORK by Rae Iverson
			The delicate whitework lacy embroidery takes its name from the region of Germany where it was born about 300 years ago. The town of Schwalm, in the Hessen province in northwest Germany, has been known primarily for its beautifully colorful folk costumes and handwork. It is only fairly recently that their fine detailed white raised embroidery and cutwork has interested a broader world of needleworkers. Even a cursory look at Schwalm work will have you thinking of Pennsylvania Dutch folk art. As with the fraktur which can be traced to its rural German roots, Schwalm embroidery is characterized by imaginatively decorated heart motifs, arcing branches and flowers. That the cutwork is also closely related to the graceful Hedebo embroideries should be of no surprise when one looks at a map of Europe and the close proximity of northern Germany to Denmark. In addition to the traditional heart motifs, Schwalm embroidery is known for its elaborate drawn thread and needlewoven areas and borders, and for signature crown motifs designed by the stitcher. The best Schwalm embroidery is worked on very finely woven linen - 36 threads per inch and higher - which affords the stitcher the greatest opportunity for a highly textured surface work and intricate lace-like needleweaving in the drawn thread areas. Though the traditional linen is white or off-white, many beautiful contemporaries pieces are worked on colored linen with matching and white threads. Many of the threads which are used in the traditional handwork are not available in America, and, thus, we have to substitute with stranded floss(cotton and silk), crochet and tatting cottons. The pinkeep of this kit features a traditional Schwalm heart with arcing flowers worked in a variety of textured techniques. The cutwork includes the traditional wickelstich (wrapping stitch) to secure the drawn thread area inside the heart, and is then further embellished by gewickelte rosette (pulled thread rosette eyelets) worked between the rows of wrapping.

bargello, battenberg lace, blackwork, Brazilian, casalguidi, stumpwork, crewel, demensional embroidery, EdMar, goldwork, gold work, hardanger, Hungarian Embroidery, Miniatures, Nordic Needle, DMC, thread, Sewing, Stitching, petit point, Mountmellick Whitework, Polish Eyelet, Snutki, Schwalm Whitework, Swedish Weaving, Huck Work, Ukrainian, whitework, Shadow Embroidery Whitework, Ukrainian Cutwork, Ukrainian Openwork, stitching, embroidery, needlework, needle work, needle point, cutwork, openwork, surface work, pulled thread, daylight, lamps, magnifiers, books, miniatures, miniature embroidery, Romainian Point Lace, Rowandean, Gingher, scissors, Hummingbird House, Brunner Haus, ToolTron, Nordic Needle, Mary Jane Collection, Elizabeth R. Anderson, Gitta, Moss Creek, Liz Turner Diehl, Serenity Designs, Britstitch, Creative Reflections, Norsk Engros, Youngman Hughes, Sherwood Studio, Love 'N Stitches, Janice Love, Marion Schoular, Rae Iverson, Skinner Sisters, CATS, Consumer Arts and Teaching Show, Stitching Festival, Dovo, tweezers, scissors sheath, bodkin, earth magnets, magnets, needle threader, needles, petit, seam ripper, thread cutter, Historic Needle Work Guild, Kunsten Needle, Gitta's, Wholesale Cutlery, Kreinik, Royal School of Needlework, Norden Craft, Threads Through Time, Nancy Sturgeon, Cindy Valentine, ubelhor, Russian Punch Needle, Linda Driskell, punch needle, redwork, knotwork, Rococo, Assisi, weaving, sampler, DMC, Hoffman Distributing, Norden Craft, Pep'r Pot, Pamela Gurney, Maria A Freitas, Swarowski Crystals, Jill Carter, Piecework Magazine, Sew Beautiful, Hancock Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, Micheals, Needlework Market, Pegasus Original, Martha Pullen, cross stitch, crossstitch, needle, sewing needle, stitching frames, sewing thread