Blackworked Cuffs

December 10, 2007

Today I decided to get started on the cuffs for my gown. I am making a reproduction of Lady Jane Seymour's cuffs. I am so very thankful to have found a website with the pattern already redacted! Saves me a whole lot of time. I did print off some graph paper in various sizes and I've been redrawing the pattern in different sizes to get a feel for how it's going to go together. I've probably spent about 5 hours drawing this pattern over and over!

I pulled out my even-weave linen and threw it in the wash thinking today was the day. But later as I stood over the ironing board pressing out said piece of linen I realized that maybe I should make a little sample first. Turns out I actually had a good idea there for a second.

The sample is on a scrap of the linen I plan to use but I used some leftover black DMC floss I had from an earlier project. Turns out the pattern for this cuff is relatively easy to do. I expected a lot of problems with trying to find a way through that would result in no repeated stitches, but it worked out without any mishaps at all!

Here is my handy work for the afternoon. Not to shabby, eh?

Now if only the real deal should go so smoothly, right? This sample took 2 hours to complete. It measures 2 3/4" from diamond tip to tip. I'm thinking I may work a second sample and try bumping up the stitch size a bit. I don't know. It looks like a good size, but I may keep stitching and make the sample a bit longer so I can see the pattern draped over my arm and pleated up a bit. Sounds like a lot of work just for a sample, I know. But it'll be worth it to make these cuffs a resounding success! Plus...I'm just crazy that way. :D

Project time: 5 hours drawing + 2 hours stitching = 7 hrs.

December 11, 2007

After looking at that cuff for several months, and drawing and re-drawing that pattern on graph paper, you'd think I'd realize that I missed an entire line when I embroidered it! D'oh!

I wondered why it looked so open when the painting shows it to be quite compacted. So now I have to do another test patch. This time I'm also going to reduce the stitch size as well and see what I get.

December 13, 2007



Here is the second attempt shown next to the first. This time I got the correct number of lines and I reduced the stitch. The pattern is larger than the first yet comes out 1/4" smaller, and it took 6 hours to get this far (the other only took 2). But it's much more compacted like the portrait and I really really like it this way. :D So I do believe this project will consume a considerable number of hours, but most definitely worth it!

I'm taking this project along when we head north for the holidays. I hope to have one cuff completed by the time we get back! I'll have to pick up more linen for the other cuff anyway. :D

Project time = 13 hrs.

January 21, 2008

Beginning Dec 15, 2007 I started stitching on this sleeve. And today it is finished. Sort of. I still have to finish the edge with either french knots or some really tiny beads.

I have 38 hrs 10 min of embroidery into this cuff.

I don't even know how many times I had to pull out stitches and back up. I can't count the number of times I found myself cross-eyed trying to follow the pattern!

But I did it! I did it and now I have to do it again. You need 2 cuffs, ya know!

Project total = 51 hrs. 10 min.