Blackwork cuffs: One down, one to go

Sometime earlier this year, possibly around May/June, I decided to have a go at blackwork as a diversional A&S project*

I've never really gone in for embroidery as all that fine attention to detail is usually beyond my attention span. I decided to have a go at blackwork because it looked interesting, particularly the whole reversible concept. A long time ago I'd printed off some blackwork patterns so I had a flick through and found a strawberry motif. Knowing that Miss D was about to become a venerable Duchess and there would be cause from strawberries, I decided to give that one a go. If I turned out not to be completely inept, it would become a pair of blackwork cuffs to go with that Elizabethan frock Miss D keeps swearing she's going to make, any reign now.

As it turned out, blackwork is one of the easiest things out there to pick up. Even the reversible thing is simple once you read the explanatory notes and diagrams. The motif I'd chosen isn't complete reversible as I decided to make the strawberries red and the seeds on the strawberries are not connected to the rest of the pattern (the reversible thing relying on an unbroken line).

Though after about 6 months of doing blackwork on and off (while watching tv, at events etc..) I finally have one cuffs worth completed. The completed length is about 53cm and is worked with black and red silk thread on white linen (which was an off-cut from a smock). The pattern was from the Blackwork Embroidery Archives website and was designed by Paula Kate Marmor based on period style (i.e. this is not a period pattern, just periodesque). The pattern is shown below.

Now on the pictures:

Full length of blackwork with measuring tape.


Close up shot of the front side.


And a close up of the reverse side. As you can see, not quite reversible. Still need a bit of practice at getting the ends of the threads nice and neat.


So that's one cuff finished. Now to start on the second one.I'm aiming to have the next one completed by July. Then Miss D gets the fun task of making the frock to go with the cuffs.


*Diversional A&S Projects: The projects you start because you're sick of your current projects. In this case I was sick of doing button holes on my watchcoat and certainly didn't want to face starting to make the covered buttons. Still have one more button hole to go and haven't even started on the covered buttons.

Revised Four Winds A&S Competition

Well I promised to post the revised competition information as soon as I'd figured it out and not even the wrath of the gods (via a Rowany Baronial pavilion pole*) is going to delay this any further, so here it is!

Four Winds A&S Competition - 2007

New entry and scoring criteria, plus more prizes!

The goal of the competition is still to produce a head-to-toe costume, a complete "look" for your choice of style.

Entry requirements

At least 75% of the entry must not have been previously entered in a Four Winds competition. So if you made something this year, but didn't enter it, you can enter it next year. This should give people a bit more time to get pieces together and include items they've made previously.

There is no restriction on the amount of the entry that is your own work, but you must indicate which items have been purchased or otherwise created by someone else. You will not receive as many points, but it will still contribute to your overall score.

Scoring system

- Components of the outfit /50
o Undergarments (chemise, smock, hose, brays etc..) /10
o Outer garments (Gown, tunic, coat, etc..) /10
o Footwear (shoes, boots, sandals etc..) /10
o Headwear (head coverings, hair styles, adornments etc..) /10
o Accessojewelryellery, belts, partlets etc..) /10
- Documentation /10
- Authenticity /10
- Creativity / Presentation /10
- Complexity /10
- Workmanship /10
Total score: /100

Entrants will also be asked to indicate whether they are 'beginners' or 'experienced'. Beginners are those who are making their first attempt at a particular style or technique, whereas experienced entrants are those who already have a good level of skill. You decide what level you're at and the judges will take this into consideration when scoring your entry.

The prizes (that's right, more than one now)

- First prize - for the overall best entry the prize is still an SCA membership or a Rowany Festival ticket. The winner will also receive a bell (the traditional prize for and A&S competition)
- Encouragement prize - To encourage more beginners to have a go, the prize for the best entry from a beginner will be a subscription to the Lochac A&S magazine 'Cockatrice'.

As putting together an entire outfit is a big effort, all entrants will receive a token to keep.

Good luck and I hope to see your entry at the Feast of the Four Winds in 2007

*Rowany Yule Tournament yesterday. A freak gust of wind flapped the Rowany baronial pavilion enough that one of the centre poles came free and landed on my noggin. Stories of huge gaping wounds, gushing blood, wailing & gnashing of teeth, rushing to hospital with severe head trauma are all true**

** For the given values of true as follows:
"huge gaping wounds" = a small cut about 1cm long by 1mm deep
"gushing blood" = slightly oozing
"wailing & gnashing of teeth" - a bit of blubbering from shock and surprise
"rushing to hospital" - a medium paced trip to Canterbury Hospital casualty in our Elantra while trying to balance ice pack and map.
"severe hconcussion - a bit of concussionn, some bruising and lumps, and a small cut. No stitches, just a handful of painkillers and instructions of "take it easy". Unfortunately this happened before the tourney started so I missed the entire thing.