For quite some time I have had a workroom studio at my works site in Bulgaria devoted to needlepoint and embroidery, working on commission to produce embroidered cushions, kneelers and other soft furnishings.

We have undertaken work for private chapels and covers for suites of seating - furniture, armchairs and footstools. This includes, a few years ago, making a set of embroidered fitted covers for an early 17th-century suite of furniture from an old fabulous house in Mid Wales, Penpont. Embroidered by the family in 1630, the old covers were knackered but over two or three chairs, a sofa, footstool we found bits and pieces and were able to redraw and accurately dye with vegetal dye stuff the wools and silks for remaking to re-cover the whole suite.

Incidentally, this started the renaissance dyeing with the lovely Margaret and David Redpath, dyeing and supplying the very best vegetal dyed wool for embroidery and tapestry.  Their business still runs from an outlet in central France. 

From the research we did then and since, we are now able to carry out needlepoint for commission work, which requires these rare and distinctive skills - not only period, but also new and very distinctive work for new and refurbished rooms.

To this end over the last year, we have produced our own extremely high-quality spun embroidery wools and silks dyed with conservation-grade dyes stuff using specific production methods. We have sourced the best interlock canvas and built floor-standing swivel frames for the embroiders to work doubled handed. These can be set up in the embroiderer's homes. This has proved to be a very popular work method, with visiting supervisors bringing supplies, wools, drawings etc. These are all experienced weavers who have woven rugs for us for many years and may need flexibility now to work from home. We are continuing a heritage craft by undertaking the cushion project.

NEEDLEPOINT CUSHION COLLECTION

During this period of set-up and training, we have drawn point papers for our first set of 60 x 60 cm cushions. Bold, colourful and in pairs at 60,000 stitches for each face @ 10 x 10 hpi wool made using English cotton velvet backing and stuffed with 85% down 15% feather filler with a choice of density. We have recently begun work with Helen Fry, a hand weaver of braids, to make us bespoke fringes in wool going forward.

Here are the photos of this first new set of 60 x 60 cm cushions. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further information.