This interesting article - "Sewing stories: unpicking the reality of young lives" , exploring the circumstances surrounding a collection of charity school samplers from the 18th and 19th centuries (an online exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum ) popped up on my Bloglovin feed recently.
Looking at all the tiny, intricate stitches within the works on display
and the accompanying photos, one can only feel for the youngsters who
created them and the circumstances in which they found themselves.
I also wonder what the student needleworkers who made the samplers back then -and their teachers- would think of the computerised embroidery sewing machines we have today?
Would they be excited or horrified that something which they laboured over for hours could be done in minutes by machine?
And what would they think of the resulting work?
How would it compare in quality?
Suffice to say this has piqued my interest in hand embroidery again! I think several of the motifs used in the samplers could easily be incorporated into modern garments.
However ...actually stitching the motifs myself (at a level even barely approaching the skill and workmanship displayed) might be a different matter...
Oh well nothing like a new goal to aim for !
;)
Happy sewing!
Kate :)
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