Between Portugal and Scotland on the tip of a needle

 Olá! The Scottish panels are finished and already safe in Scotland!!

Since the beginning, we had in our mind that we should "impregnate" both panels with our Portuguese embroidery soul... And that was the reason why we decided to choose, as much as possible, the stitches that are the most traditional in our regional embroideries... And that ended to be a great decision... 

All the great choices belonged to Méri Almeida and Sofia Amaral M who led this giant effort of many embroiderer volunteers.

At the center of both panels, to fill in the cask, the most popular stitch from Castelo Branco Embroidery was used: "frouxo" stitch (frouxo means "loose), Castelo Branco Stitch or Oriental stitch - different designations for the same stitch profusely used in this silk embroidery but that ended being perfect in wool embroidery. Agulhas da Meri suggests this link about this type of embroidery that can be called laid-work.

But there were many others... Like the Portuguese stem stitch decorating the end of the cask on the Lisbon's panel or the four corners using four different stitches from Castelo Branco's embroidery. 

At some point the embroiderers from Lisbon noticed that the wool yarn would not be enough to finish the four corners as it was supposed to. There would be slight differences in the colors... What seemed to be a problem, ended in such a great opportunity to enrich the panel... And four different stitches ended up decorating each corner of the panel, illustrating the richness and beauty of our Castelo Branco embroidery. Beginning bottom right and going clockwise we have:  rede torcida (twisted net); pé de galo (cocksfoot); velhinhas (old ladies); crivo fingido (pretended openwork) (note: the designations in English  are literal translations and not the real name of the stitches).

It was a very simple pattern, but at the end we had a beautiful panel, so balanced with the stitches' choice for the center and the corners...  

Lisbon's panel and its four Castelo Branco's corners

And the same effort happened in Oporto. The bullion knot, (ponto canutilho) very popular in many Portuguese embroideries from the North of the country and the "soul" of Guimarães Embroidery, beautifully filled in the white wig and one of the Castelo Branco's Stitches brought color and texture to the vine leaf. The choice for the bushy mustache was brilliant: the velvet stitch, from Guimarães Embroidery, was everything George Sandeman needed... And the Grilhão Stitch (Palestrina Stitch), very present in Caldas da Rainha Embroidery (and in so many others...), was perfect to fasten the mast of the Rabelo's boat. 

Portuguese embroidery on a Scottish design, two countries on a panel.

We ended this journey between Portugal and Scotland on the tip of a needle celebrating with Porto Wine... and we are already feeling saudade, such a Portuguese "mood"... 

Wine Port, Portugal and Scotland, a journey on the tip of a needle...

Don't forget to check the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry, once each day new panels are arriving from all around the world with incredible examples of beautiful wool embroidery...

Scottish Diaspora Tapestry - Portuguese Panels

Olá! Two weeks ago I introduced you to the Scottish Diaspora Panel and promised to show the panels that were sent to Portugal.

George Sandeman's panel

We received two panels designed and drawn onto linen, a colored pattern and wool thread. We should choose our own stitches to bring the design to life. Both designs represent the Porto Wine industry. There is a third panel, depicting Sir John Drummond (John of Scotland, Joao Escorcio) in Madeira in the 15th Century, but it is being stitched in Scotland.

The panels are very different from each other, which happened to be a great way of creating different experiences around them.

Port Wine families' panel

There is a panel representing George Sandeman that was sent to the North, the region of Porto wine. The panel has a much more intricate and detailed pattern. The North of Portugal is the region where we find most of Portuguese embroidery traditions...

So we decided to have it embroidered there, in the North, in a more traditional way, using the stitches more common in our regional embroideries.

Méri Almeida from the blog agulhas da méri became responsible for this panel, coordinating a team of volunteers that have been gathering on a daily basis...

Lovely details including the mustache using velvet stitch from Guimarães embroidery

Méri was the best choice I could have ever made... She knows all the details of our traditional stitches, she loves to use embroidery technique at a high level, and puts her heart into each stitch. The photos showing the team working tell us that this is the spirit being lived there... 

The hair is growing day by day with incredible "canutilho"stitches (bullion knots), the soul of Guimarães embroidery

In the North we have the panel of the technique and rigor... But the door is always open and whoever wants to help or see the panel will be welcome.

The grapes are finished and the first vine leaf is almost done...

The other panel represents many of the Scottish families related to Porto wine industry and the design is simpler, not giving opportunity for using many different stitches.

Using "ponto frouxo" or Castelo Branco Stitch to fill the wine barrel

And the simplicity of the design was used with mastery by Sofia, from the blog Tayari, a borboleta serrana. Instead of a very technical panel, in Lisbon, we have one in which many participate.

A group of volunteers, in Lisbon, stitching the outlines using stem stitch.

For several days Sofia received volunteers in a public space in Lisbon, where they gathered to embroider all the outlines in stem stitch. In a weekend she traveled to Sintra in order to work with another group of volunteers, including a Scottish lady. She was in an Embroidery School, where a teacher of the Castelo Branco embroidery began filling the wine barrel at the centre. And she managed to take the panel to a public school where a group of 10 year old students experienced the joy of embroidering for the first time... Next weekend the panel will travel to a rural region of Portugal and there some very skilled embroiderers will also be able to participate.

The panel at the school, where students learned history, geography and embroidery technique

Sofia is coordinating all these different volunteers and at the same time ensuring the quality of the stitching. The stitches that have been chosen are giving the panel such a textured touch... That's not an easy job and Sofia is coordinating it always with gentle words and a smile on her face...

One of the four corners of the Port families' panel. 

This is an incredible experience for all of us... A truly feeling of celebration inspires all the volunteer embroiderers, regardless of their age and experience... We are celebrating our "global village" in this journey between Portugal and Scotland on the tip of a needle! 

Lucky winners of Embroidery supplies with Portuguese Soul

Olá! Passing by to announce the winners of last week's giveaway.

I'm very happy to inform Crystal Prior that she will receive a pack of Portuguese embroidery supplies with pure linen, a box of "vibrant" (her words...) pearl cotton balls from Limol and two Portuguese patterns. And I look forward to see how she will use them on her wool felt embroidery...

I believe that receiving a box of pearl cotton balls inspired by Guimarães embroidery will remind Deb H of Portugal. She was the lucky winner!!

And I was so happy with her comment... Knowing that Deb already visited Portugal was very special to me. She stayed in Ericeira, a little town near the sea, very well known among surfers... I have to quote her words: "Oh, how I loved that little town and it's people. Every morning, I would take a walk and talk to shopkeepers and residents. How lovely it was. I long to go back."

Pastel colors,  another choice from agulha não pca - not so traditional but still beautiful

Both winners gave the correct answer about the Portuguese traditional embroideries that inspired my color choices for the pearl cotton boxes... Guimarães embroidery has precise definitions on the colors that should be used in order to preserve the tradition: red, blue, gray, black, white and ecru. And these are the colors in the box that Deb H will receive.

Love or fiancé' embroidered handkerchiefs were the inspiration to the color choice of the pack won by Crystal. Although they do not have a rigid color palette and many colors can be used, primary colors predominate.

But Crystal and Deb were not the only winners... I was so surprised with all your kind comments, that I'm feeling like a real winner...

I loved to know that you think these pearl cotton balls look divine and have a pretty shine, that these collections are amazing and great color combinations that make you smile, that the traditional Portuguese embroideries inspired the work for an art lesson, that some of you recognize similarities between regional Portuguese embroidery and the stitching traditions of your country, that you've been learning and feeling inspired by my posts and look forward to reading more. And, of course... I was even happier to know that some of you have already visited Portugal and others will do it soon (contact me if you need some help...)

Portuguese heavy weight linen by agulha não pica

I loved your care... And how you took your time not only to apply for the giveaway but also to leave some kind words about my new products an my work...

You made me feel like a winner... Thank you so much - Muito obrigada!

More Guimarães Stitches

Olá! Last weeks I've been talking about Guimarães embroidery. Today I simply bring you two beautiful and charming pieces of embroidery inspired by these regional Portuguese stitches. I seriously recommend that you follow the links and browse the inspired work of these two Portuguese embroiderers...

The first work belongs to Avé Meri. Follow this link and you'll find many more pieces of Guimarães embroidery.

Guimarães embroidery by Avó Méri

Joana from the blog Jubela is the author of these beautiful stitches. Here you'll find more of Joana's Guimarães stitches.

Guimarães embroidery from Jubela

In other blogs like açafate dos retalhos and donalberta you'll find more...
Até para a semana... See you next week...

Guimarães embroidery - from the people, to the people

Olá! This week I'm coming back to Guimarães embroidery... I hope you don't mind :)

Many years ago the stitches that are known today as Guimarães embroidery were used to embellish the rural woman’s blouse and working tailed waistcoats and the shirt of the farm worker (even richer than woman’s). 

The shirts were worked on thick coarse linen, profusely using bullion knot stitch in quite an original manner. White was the dominant color but in the shirt-front red was also used in some details. The same applied to the tailed waistcoat, on which red, blue, or black were used separately. 

Farm worker shirt.

This was truly a popular type of embroidery and by saying “popular” what I really mean to say is that this type of embroidery was made by the people, for the people - do povo para o povo.
Experts argue that this “popular” embroidery is the most original regional embroidery in Portugal. The shirts from the peasants “give us the impression of something absolutely different” from any other Portuguese or other countries’ regional embroideries.

Rural woman's blouse

Maria Clementina found the right words to describe it: 
“of such graceful design and so beautifully embroidered that it could easily compete with a more aristocratic piece. Many peasant embroideries, made for personal use and not for sale, are so carefully worked as to be technically perfect. This works is done during the short intervals between their heavy labor in the fields and in the home, with the loving care bestowed on work destined to last several generations.” 

Tailed Waistcoat.

Today, Guimarães embroidery is used in tablecloths, valances, napkins, doilies, sweetheart’s handkerchiefs and many other pieces that embellish the home, and also in accessories for ladies and children. This work begun in the middle of the 20th century, adapting shirt’s motifs to house linen. Unlike the popular embroidery from which it stems, it is not made by the people, for the people, once it is executed by professional embroiderers. As it is very time consuming it became expensive, not accessible to all purses, ending to be a ”rich embroidery” ... 

But we have good news… The interest in learning traditional stitches from Guimarães is growing and we hope that, soon, it will return to “the people’s” hands…

*In this post I've used four books on Portuguese embroidery - Traditional embroidery of Portugal; Guimarães Embroidery - a renewed tradition; Bordados e Rendas de Portugal; Embroidery and lace in the house linen of Entre Douro e Minho

Guimarães embroidery - a renewed tradition

Olá! This week I'm back to traditional Portuguese embroidery, bringing you one of the most famous Portuguese regional stitches. Guimarães is an incredibly beautiful and historical city known as the "birthplace of the Portuguese nationality" or "the cradle city" (Cidade Berço in Portuguese).

Guimarães Embroidery is known worldwide and I believe that it is due not only to the beauty and originality of its stitches but also to the work carried out in divulging it. And a very special book has its credits... It's not easy to find information about Portuguese embroidery in English and this special book not only is written both in Portuguese and English but is also available online. You'll find Guimarães Embroidery - a renewed tradition here. And if you want to know even more don't forget to read here, where you'll find instructions on the stitches and some videos.

I'm not going to review the book... I don't dare!!! Because two of my favorite embroidery experts have already done it!! What a coincidence!! After buying this book, Avó Méri explained, both in Portuguese and English, why she believes this is a great book to have in your library. And some months later, while visiting USA, Avó Méri mailed it to Mary Corbet allowing her to review what she calls a "gorgeous book".

I leave you with some photos of this incredible book - beautiful pictures, great design and thorough information. I'm happy to share the photos with you and even happier knowing that you can read the book, at least online... Hope these pictures help to make you curious...

Some weeks ago I've showed you some beautiful stitches made by modern embroiderers and inspired by Guimarães Embroidery. They are worth of a new visit... Check them here...

Hope you'll accept my invitation to get to know Guimarães Embroidery better...

New Stitches With Portuguese Soul - part III

Olá! This week I bring you one of the most famous regional embroidery from Portugal - Guimarães Embroidery. I've not yet reviewed it here on Feeling Stitchy, but I'll be doing it soon. Today I'll only be showing some very beautiful "re-interpretations" of this traditional embroidery made by inspired Portuguese hands...

Bárbara begun "blogging" last Summer and soon she decided to devote her embroidering days to learn Guimarães Embroidery. As in old times she thought of making a sampler. Her blog, ponto cereja  (cherry stitch), written in Portuguese, is like a diary on that journey of learning the stitches of Guimarães Embroidery where you'll find many photos of the stitches and illustrated step by step instructions. Now we can say she is an expert and her new works show it, like her brooch or keyring.

But she never forgets which is the best stitch in the world...

Guimarães Embroidery, by Bárbara, blogged.

Vânia, from dedal no dedo (thimble on finger), proposes an incredible "reinvention" of Guimarães embroidery... These pieces belong to a project that were shown in the city that gives name to this regional embroidery. The neighboring embroidered little boxes are so cute and original - I simply love them and they were my first choice among Vânia's work. But you must see her "embracing the rain collection" and many other creations. You can get to know more about her work here...

Embroidered little boxes by Vânia, blogged.

Donalberta is an incredible example of how families can work together passing traditions from generation to generation and gathering different knowledge to make something new. In this case, mother and daughters use their skills in stitching and communication to take their project further. You'll find some traditional pieces of embroidery, like the fiancé handkerchiefs or the handmade bowls, but also original applications of old stitches like the dresses of Berta (the doll) inspired by Guimarães or Azores Embroidery or the beautiful bookmarkers. And here you'll find more...

Berta's dress inspired by Guimarães Embroidery, by Donalberta

This amazing neckwarmer is also a great example of how joint efforts can have unpredictable results. The mold of Alice's charming neckwarmers and the stitching of "the girls" (also mother and daughter) from ponto margarida (daisy stitch) created something unique. As always, Alice could not resist to follow all the production process of this piece, beginning in the linen fields. As she usually says" the process is an end in itself" and I believe this was the inspiration for an incredible project (really worth reading - some are translated into English) named "Saber Fazer", where she describes and beautifully illustrates artisanal and semi-industrial production techniques in Portugal. You can get to know Alice better in her blog, noussnouss.

Embroidered neckwormer by Alice e Ponto Matgarida, blogged.

Each week I'll be more and more proud to show you all these inspired stitches with Portuguese soul! Feeling happy!!!