This is a sneak peak of my latest embroidery, being done on 38/40 count Portuguese linen.
Drawn thread embroidery on Portuguese linen
As you can probably see, it is whitework (white thread on white fabric).
The Portuguese linen is lovely to work on. When I first started working on it, it shed quite a lot of fibres, so I often ended up looking a little furry and fluffy at the end of a stitching session! I’m sure this will not happen forever, though.
The linen is lovely and heavy, and you can just feel the quality. The threads are strong and when you remove them for the drawn thread areas, they do not break as you pull them out.
(…unlike Zweigart linens, where the threads often break, and the linens themselves are way too open and flimsy for my liking. Does that mean I am becoming a linen snob?)
I am greatly enjoying the embroidery. I just need to remind myself to do it!
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
I’ve used Portuguese linen, too, and I love it. It’s nice stuff. Unfortunately, I’m with you on the Zweigart stuff. I’ve not had good experiences with their linen, though I have used it once in a while, mostly for counted work.
A linen “snob”? No. My take on that is: if you’re going to put the time and effort and expense into a needlework project, and if you want the piece to last, then it’s always best to use quality supplies! I wouldn’t call it snobbery!
I like the drawn thread bars and sections so far! Looks great! Can’t wait to see what it develops into!
Oh Yvette! I’m so happy you like the Portuguese linen!
You’ve made my day!!!
Believe me, you made mine at the end of last year too!! 😀
Thanks. That’s a much better way of looking at it!
As of last night, I can’t get onto your website, so I couldn’t comment on your rooster yesterday. I think that the tray is just the perfect place for it. And I love the idea of serving him up on a platter!