Ribbon Embroidery - Briar Rose Pattern

This is a sweet and simple biscornu for beginners to try their hand at ribbon embroidery. I created this one in 2010, after getting hooked on the amazing designs of Di Van Niekirk and Deanna Hall West. I found a great reference at Half Price Books, An Encyclopedia of Ribbon Embroidery Flowers - by Deanna Hall West - and set about creating this biscornu.

As you can see, I kept the border very delicate, and I love how it turned out! 

Chart 1

Copyright Rainburst Embroidery 2010

The overall pattern above is intended for evenweave linen, with each square representing two threads.  

Prepare Fabric – Strongly Recommended!

• Mark center lines: Using a single thread of any color, work a basting stitch over four threads through the vertical and horizontal center lines. If desired, mark additional guidelines at intervals of 10 stitches (20 threads).

• Whipstitch the outer edges of the fabric to prevent unraveling.

• When using even-weave linen, each square of Chart 1 represents two horizontal and two vertical threads. Some patterns refer to this as working “over two.” In Chart 2, each line represents one thread.

Vine – See Chart 2 for detail

• Use one thread of DMC 580 Dark Moss Green. 

• Each line of Chart 2 represents one thread.

• Use a Double Running Stitch: Come up at dot 1, and go down at dot 2. Continue to follow the dots, working every other stitch in one direction, and then fill in the other stitches on the return journey.

Chart 2

Copyright Rainburst Embroidery 2010

Outer Border - 

• Using one thread of DMC 776 Medium Pink, work outer border as shown in Chart 1. 

Flowers and Leaves – Silk Ribbon Embroidery

Leaves:

• The placement of leaves is indicated by the dark green lines along the stem in Chart 1.

• Using YLI 171 – 4mm Dark Yellow Green, work ribbon stitches for leaves. 

• Bring needle through fabric close to the stem.

• Lay the ribbon flat against the fabric, along the line indicated. Pierce the ribbon with your needle, and slowly draw the ribbon through, allowing the leaf to curl. Don’t pull too tightly, or a straight stitch will result. Leaving the leaves loose gives a more natural effect.

Flower Petals:

• Flower petals are indicated by the straight pink lines seen on Chart 1.

• Using YLI 5 – 7mm Very Light Pink , make straight stitches for petals

• Come up at the base of each line.

• Come down at the outer point, and gently pull through the fabric. A toothpick can be used as an aid – placing the toothpick between the ribbon and the fabric as you pull through allows you to keep it from twisting, or pulling through too hard.

Flower Centers

• Using YLI 12 Light Yellow 4mm, Come up at the center of the flower.

• Work a loose French knot.

Finish as a biscornu, or add to a quilt, or needle book...anywhere a feminine touch would make you happy.

Enjoy - I hope you like ribbon embroidery as much as I do - it's so exquisite when finished.I also enjoy the fact that little mistakes don't matter so much, because in the end a loose natural look is achieved either way. There are wonderful books out there with lots of inspiration - so, if you want more information, designs or guidance - check out Amazon's stock. There are some beautiful projects waiting for you!

Ellie Sampler 1878

This last month I inherited a precious object - my great-great grandmother's schoolgirl sampler. I still feel so thrilled to have something so wonderful. I have loved embroidery for as long as I can remember, and have long looked forward to the day I could save my pennies, and get my own antique sampler - and now I have one infinitely more valuable, because it it's been passed dawn through my own family.

When I brought it home in February, I heard a bell ringing in my head - I knew I had seen something like it before. So I began researching online. Sure enough, I found images of samplers so similar there had to be a connection. The style of sampler is that of an orphanage in Bristol - a story that is quite well known...that of the Muller Homes, Ashley Down. This orphanage now has a charity based on the beliefs of it's founder - George Muller, a man who believed strongly in the power of prayer. Online, I found a number of samplers done by schoolgirls at this institution - and they had all the same elements, the same alphabets, motifs, even similar layouts...but each one varied in their own way.

I contacted the Charitable foundation, and I also began doing some family history research. I found a little mystery. There was no record of my grandmother at the orphanage. Meanwhile, I found census records before and after the sampler was made - and my great-great grandmother was with her family, even though her father died when she was ten. Also, the family did not live near Bristol at all - but in Scarborough. A funny twist however was that her father was buried in Bristol when he died. Was this the connection I was looking for? Some more reseach and family connections helped me learn that her father was a ship's captain and his home port was Bristol. The family was taken care of financially - her mother had an annuity of some kind, and they were able to stay together. Not only that, but they had servants - so her circumstances certainly would not have led to her being placed in an orphanage. I wondered how could she have done such a similar sampler without haveing been at the school. As it so happens, the Muller Homes frequently sought positions for their graduates in service. Perhaps someone who worked for them had been at the Muller homes?

My next step will be to send the names of the servants listed in the census records to the Muller Foundation, and see if one of them might have been there. I realize the chances would be slim - perhaps Ellie's father brought back something from Bristol - patterns or another sampler for her to learn from. I may not ever find out exactly - but I am so thrilled to have it no matter what. Her work was so fine. I will be sending it in to have it restored soon (it needs a little attention), and then I will have it reframed. The photo above shows it after I gently removed it from the frame in which it hung in my grandmother's house. I can't wait to hang it up in my home after it has been conserved.