About this time last year, I began collaborating with Mike Parr, to put together a collection of Hungarian Hand Embroidery Patterns here on Needle ‘n Thread. Since then, we’ve communicated back and forth about Hungarian embroidery and embroidery in general. Mike stumbled on a really nice gallery displaying samples of Hungarian hand embroidery.
If you’re in the mood for browsing needlework photos, you can visit this photo gallery of examples of Hungarian embroidery and click on the images to see larger versions. There are some interesting tidbits on the website, which belongs to someone who apparently repairs or recreates textiles. I didn’t read too much of the information on the site – but I definitely browsed the photos!
So, that’s for your viewing pleasure today! Thank you, Mike, for the link!
Normality Ahead!
I’m out of town again today and tomorrow, but on Monday – aaaaahhhhh! – Normality Returns. Life will settle back into routine. That means that next week, I’ll have some instructional hints for you, and a few other needlework tidbits that I hope you’ll find enticing. Tomorrow, I’ll be showing you my “grab and go” project that I set up before company and short travel stints took over. See you then!
Dear Mary,
Thank you (and Mike) for this beautiful link to Hungarian embroidery. I love the single color pieces (blue thread only and the red thread only).
On another note, I subscribed to you newsletter many moons ago and for awhile received it daily. Somehow, I was dropped. I never re-subscribed but instead visit your website daily (or more) to read your latest entry. I am going to subscribe again and see if it works this time. Could it be something to do with my spam control??
T
Hi, Tania – Not sure what the problem was, but it looks like your new subscription is working – just checked it. Let me know if you have any problems, ok?
I like the red / blue stuff, too. In fact, that’s the next pattern I plan to put on the site – one for this Hungarian-style redwork. It’s a nice scrolly pattern!
Mary –
Can you tell us what stitches, other than cross are used in Hungarian Embroidery and what sites or books might be useful in learning the techniques? The last step in the Surface Embroidery Certification is Folk Embroidery. I can always do Mountmellick, which I love, but wanted to explore a folk form I wasn’t familiar with and Hungarian is so beautiful. I have had trouble finding information regarding stitches though. Thanks for your help and I will check out the site for photos to see what I can glean. Anastasia
Hi, Anastasia – there are several good Hungarian embroidery books out there, but most of them are in Hungarian, which poses a little problem. Here are some book reviews here on Needle ‘n Thread of books that I think would be helpful:
https://needlenthread.wpengine.com/2010/12/hungarian-embroidery.html
https://needlenthread.wpengine.com/2011/02/hungarian-folk-embroidery-patterns.html
You can look them up through used book sources, like ABE books, Alibris, etc.
Weldon’s Practical Needlework also has a section on Hungarian embroidery, but it’s pretty limited. Still, it’s good stuff, if you can get a copy of that issue, or buy the whole compiled book (from Interweave) that has that issue in it. You might check Iva Rose Reproductions for their reproduced copy of that issue of Weldon’s – it’s about $10, for maybe 15 pages, but if you’re keen to have it, it’s less expensive than buying a whole volume of Weldon’s through Interweave.
~MC
Thank you for the references Mary. I have been eyeing the Interweave reprint of the Weldon’s series and this gives me one more reason to buy the set. If only the Mountmellick and the Hungarian were in the same volume. Sigh.
Thank you again for your help and wonderful site and I will let you know how I progress.
Anastasia
Hi Mary,
There’s a really nice book on Hungarian embroidery, though it’s in Japanese. It was compiled by someone who collected the information firsthand on her (actually a couple, I believe) regular trips to Hungary. They run a shop in Osaka selling Hungarian zakka and craft supplies. The book features traditional patterns from different regions within Hungary, interviews with notable embroiderers and personal episodes from the trip. You can see a few pages from the book at their online shop: http://www.charkha-okaimono.net/item/co-bohs-07.php Though it’s marked as ‘sold out’ there, you can still obtain it through Amazon Japan: http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%83%8F%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AC%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AE%E3%81%8B%E3%82%8F%E3%81%84%E3%81%84%E5%88%BA%E3%81%97%E3%82%85%E3%81%86-%E3%83%81%E3%83%A3%E3%83%AB%E3%82%AB/dp/4863110588/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_T1?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1XGR2UF1I0URF&colid=3PVBHHBHN5156 Even if one can’t read the text, the images & patterns themselves are worth the price of the book, I think.
I don’t own it yet, but I’ve read through the whole thing and found it really charming & inspiring. I’m very selective about the embroidery books I purchase, but this one is definitely on my wish list!
Yuki