In preparation for the shipment of my new book Early-Style Hardanger arriving very soon, I have uploaded the supporting products to the website. Early-style Hardanger is traditionally and historically stitched with linen thread on linen fabric, with tapestry needles.
We now stock white Londonderry linen thread, as linen thread is used for stitching traditional Hardanger embroidery, rather than pearl thread which is often used for contemporary Hardanger. Londonderry linen thread is the thread that is specified in the book. While linen thread is traditionally used for Hardanger embroidery, it is also used in lacemaking and book-binding.
The thread is available in 5 different sizes: 18/3 (thickest), 30/3, 50/3, 80/3, 100/3 (thinnest). The thread is unwaxed.
We also stock Edinburgh linen, which is a beautiful 36 count linen from Zweigart. As with their other linens, this one is 140cm wide. We sell it by the metre, in full width and half width, and also as fat quarters (approx 50 x 70cm) and fat eighths (approx 35 x 50cm).
We have the appropriate needles: No 26 tapestry needles. These particular needles have a good size eye for threading, but which is not too big for going through the fabric happily.
When stitching on such fine fabric, you will need finely pointed scissors in order to cleanly cut the threads. We recommend and stock Premax scissors. I always take my ones of these scissors to classes with me so that students can try them out. They often love them so much that they purchase their own pair!
If you have any questions about these products, please don’t hesitate to ask. And if you haven’t yet ordered your copy of Early-Style Hardanger, do so now, so that you’ll be among the first in the world to own your very own copy!
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
Thanks for telling us what materials we’ll need. Edinburgh linen is easy to get in the UK. I use it a lot, and it’s excellent, reliable fabric.
Linen thread is harder to find over here, so it’s good to know that you have some if I get stuck.
I have a truckload of the linen thread, so am very happy to send what you need, Sue!
Do you think it would be possible to work this technique on 28 count monaco with pearl thread? I have a lot of it in my stash and was hoping to use it for practice cloth.
Also, what size Londonderry do the projects require? I’m in the US so I’ll have to find a friendly (us-based online) needlework store that sells it.
Hi Eve, There’s a lot of difference between 28 count and 36 count. Using 28 count will make everything much, much larger. Of course you *could* but you’re not going to end up with the same project as I have made.
36 count creates a really dainty, highly detailed embroidery, which is one of the things that sets it apart from contemporary Hardanger – the scale is totally different, and that’s one of the *things* about it. Moving the embroidery back to a larger count of fabric means its not so different from contemporary Hardanger, and sort of defeats the purpose.
The Londonderry linen threads are specified for use with the 36 count fabric. I don’t know what thicknesses you would use on 28 count, because I haven’t worked it on that scale. It would be a matter of trying and seeing. I do happily mail to the US, though. 🙂
Thank you for your reply and your new post- I completely understand your point and that certainly clarifies what is special about early style. As for the, I Londonderry, which one goes with the 36 count? I would like to see if some place near to me carries it. 36 count linen is also not a problem to obtain here.
Thank you for your gracious reply, Eve. I’ve been expecting similar questions (and already had them from class participants) so I’ve written a blog post about it so that everyone can have that same question answered.
Just quietly, I use 80/3 and 50/3 Londonderry linen thread, however, I’d really rather people learn that from the book! 🙂
This is wonderful! I’m so glad I found your post on true materials used in hardanger.
I’m about to dabble in hardanger and the thought of DMC perle threads and fabric with ginormous holes to stitch was very unappealing. I’m a traditionalist and believe in heirloom quality pieces. You made my day!
Glad to have helped! If you have any questions, please just ask.