Thistle-Threads

Beaded Basket

While in boarding school working on their samplers and cabinets, girls worked a series of small projects to learn techniques. The prelude to working a large christening basket was likely this small beaded basket.

Pink Pincushion

This project was designed after a series of pincushions from the 17th century in collections of multiple museums. About 2.5"x 3.5" in size, the pincushion is more decorative than functional with its rich metal threads.

Gilt Sylke Twist Grapes

This project uses gilt sylke twist to form a cluster of detached buttonhole grapes perched on a leaf stitched in silver sylke twist. Grapes in the 17th century were stitched in contrasting colors or materials to help define the shapes.

Glittering Snail

The snail is a faithful copy of the original from a small snail found on the glove (BATMC GLO-23342A) owned by the Gloves Collection Trust housed in the Fashion Museum in Bath, England.

Rainbow Silk Purl Bug

This project uses silk wrapped purls in the three typical raised techniques used to fill in areas using silk purls. During the 17th century and into the 18th century, figures such as flowers and bugs and tree canopies were filled with silk purls.

Pink Silk Purl Bug

This project uses silk wrapped purls in a filling couching technique that was used often on caskets. During the 17th century and into the early 18th century, figures such as flowers and bugs and tree canopies were filled with silk purls.