Customer Reviews

The New Carolingian Modelbook: Counted Embroidery Patterns from Before 1600

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This is a super book for embroiderers. While I have a particular preference for using the patterns on costumes for historic recreation, I have found that many of the patterns are charming (i.e., the snails repeat border) and look lovely on "modern" projects, as well. It's also a good reference for those who would like to design a band sampler of their own.

Anyone with an interest in historical needlework should own this book. The patterns and stitching instructions are easy to use and the historical background is comprehensive.

The patterns are also a good starting place for those who wish to create their own designs.

This by far is one of the best embroidery pattern books I have found in a long, long time. This books documents patterns for you, so you know exactly where they come from. A few patterns have been inspired by their older counterparts. The patterns are extremely well done, and are very clear so you know exactly what do so. Some books give character symbols that are confusing, this does not. They are large enough so you can photo copy them for your personal use. Most patterns are done with a single color so this book is for beginners. This book has one drawback, its limited availability. Scoop this one up by all means if it is available.

In the tradition of antique embroidery pattern books, author Ianthe d'Averoigne has collected nearly 200 of the most beautiful Medieval counted embroidery patterns directly from their original sources.

Also included are historical details to help in recreating these patterns as they were originally rendered in the Middle Ages. The author explains pattern books as they were used then, and how embroidery was used to decorate almost every aspect of Medieval life. She goes on to explain the types of ground fabric and embroidery threads and colors used, with suggestions for modern substitutes to produce the most authentic results.

The author is an active member of the Washington, D.C.-area historical embroidery community. She has won several awards for her needlework, including the Nellie Custis Lewis Prize in the prestigious Woodlawn Plantation Needlework Exhibition. She is a long-time member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international Medieval re-creation organization, and has earned its highest honor for technical merit, the Order of the Laurel.

Book contains 75 Plates showing patterns with detailed descriptions, organized by type of stitch, and also the following Appendices: Historical Context, Working from this Book, Period Stitches, Period References, Annotated Modern Bibliography, and Glossary. Indices by Pattern Name, Date and Origin.

I might mention that this book has nothing whatsoever to do with embroidery of the Carolingian Empire of seventh- through tenth- century western Europe.

Carolingian here is from the Barony of Carolingia, a Society of Creative Anachronism group the eastern US.