Needleprint Needlework Competition

My translations and my day-job are keeping me away from my blog lately. I want to post however, about the needlework competition of the blog Needleprint. As half of my readers are in Italy, I hope my other readers will forgive this post which will be mainly in Italian.

The connection to Italian Needlework is this: the Needleprint needlework competition is open to the world and I believe it would benefit from contributions from Italy as there are so many kinds of needlework there that are beautiful. As I had one friend who wanted to enter the competition but who doesn't speak English ask me to translate the rules, I thought perhaps my Italian readers would benefit from the translations as well. I hope the Italian is comprehensive, I usually translate the other way around, that is from Italian to English.

For those who don't speak Italian, I am providing the links to the posts in English which I have translated.

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Announcing a major Needleprint needlework competition: A Mirror to My Art

Annunciando una importantissima concorrenza di lavoro ad ago di Needleprint: “Uno Specchio alla Mia Arte”

...e un primo premio di £500 sterline perché il 2012 è un’anno special per noi! Pubblicheremo il Volume 2 della Collezione di Lavoro ad Ago di Micheál e Elizabeth Feller; e speriamo che la mostra della Collezione all’Ashmolean sarà prevista per la fine del 2012 (se non, allora sarà nel 2013); è anche l’anno delle Olimpiadi di Londra; e speriamo che per La Sua Maestà Reale quest’anno del sessantesimo giubileo sarà un annus mirabilis finalmente. Molti di voi sapete che Needleprint è stata fondata con tre scopi: ad aprire il mondo del lavoro ad ago da rendendo le immagini di lavori ad ago più accessibili; a preservare le collezioni di lavori ad ago per le generazioni a venire; ed a promuovere il lavoro ad ago. Così oggi ho il grande piacere di annunciare questa importantissima concorrenza di lavoro ad ago di Needleprint che avrà un primo premio di £500 sterline (o dollari, euro, yen, equivalente). L’obiettivo è quello di progettare e cucire una copertura per uno specchio a mano - una sorta di specchio che ha le dimensioni giuste che si potrebbe inserirlo in una borsetta. Appunti sul disegno, gli abbozzi e gli schizzi saranno giudicati insieme al manufatto finito. Ci sarà anche un premio per quelli sotto l’età di 16 anni - e un premio per l’insegnante che dà un corso per facilitare il processo della manifattura delle coperture ricamate. La data di chiusura del concorrenza sarà il 14 settembre 2012 e il giorno del giudizio si svolgerà il 12 ottobre. Maggiori informazioni seguiranno presto e noi provvederemo a creare un blogspot dedicato alla concorrenza.

Iniziate a pensarci ora - e solo per adescare la fonte della vostra immaginazione - ecco un tardo seicentesco specchio a mano a forma ovale ornato con il lavoro ad ago, su un lato raffigurante Giacomo II con la corona, globo e scettro, che ha venduto per £2,875 sterline comprensivo di sovrapprezzo di compratore recentemente a Bonhams. Ma non abbiate paura - questa è aperta a tutti i ricamatrici ovunque vi siete, e potete usare il punto croce, temari, sashiko, trapunto, lavoro a maglia, uncinetto, stumpwork.....qualsiasi tecnica che usa l’ago. Spero che abbiate grande piacere ed entusiasmo nello scoprire quello che si può ottenere con l’ago e che il vostro specchio sarà un vero riflesso della vostra arte. Cliccate sul angelo qui sotto per stare sempre aggiornati sulle novità sulla concorrenza.

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Judging Panel

Giuria La giuria comprenderà Micheál e Elizabeth Feller e ci sarà un premio speciale “Micheál e Elisabetta Feller” per il Ricamo Ispirato.

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Competition Notes for Entrants

Informazioni per i concorrenti

Chi può partecipare? A Mirror To My Art [uno specchio alla mia arte] è un concorso di lavoro ad ago aperto a tutti, di qualunque età, da qualunque posto nel mondo. I concorrenti devono registrarsi entro il 21 maggio 2012.

Come devo registrare? Clicca qui per registrare

Che cos’è l’obiettivo? L’obiettivo è di creare una copertura ricamata per uno specchietto a mano di una dimensione che si può mettere in una borsa o una borsetta.
Questa può essere una copertura attaccata - o separata come un rivestimento. Il progetto deve anche comprendere gli appunti del disegno e gli schizzi.

Disegni tradizionali o moderni? Decidete voi.

Come lo devo fare? Il lavoro deve essere eseguito usando l’ago e filo (di tutti i tipi).
Esempi: ricamo classico, punto croce, applique, stumpwork, trapunto, lavoro a maglia, luneville o altro lavoro con le perline, uncinetto, merletto ad ago, temari, sashiko ecc.

Quando deve essere terminato? La data di chiusura del concorso è il 14 settembre 2012.

Che cosa faccio con il mio progetto completato? Su o prima di questa data, i concorrenti dovranno mandare per l’email 5 immagini del loro progetto a Needleprint: 3 immagini del progetto terminato (una di queste deve essere della ricamatrice con il suo lavoro); 2 immagini degli appunti per il progetto. Dettagli più precisi su come di indirizzare l’email e le dimensioni delle immagini, ecc., saranno pubblicati ad una data più tardi.

Il mio progetto sarà restituito? Una graduatoria finale sarà annunciato su questo blog ed i concorrenti sulla graduatoria finale saranno invitati ad inviare i loro lavori per il giudizio finale. I lavori saranno restituiti dopo il giudizio alle spese di Needleprint. Assicurazione di spedizione può essere richiesti e pagati dai concorrenti.

Cosa sono i premi?

• Un primo premio di £500 sterline sarà assegnato al vincitore. 
• Un premio di Lily di £100 sterline per il vincitore minori di 16 anni. 
• Un premio di £100 sterline per un insegnante che dà un corso per aumentare il numero di concorrenti (maggiori informazioni a seguire). 
• Almeno £300 sterline di premi tra cui il premio di Micheal e Elizabeth Feller sarà assegnato e assegnati sulla base del merito. 

Come posso sapere i risultati? La decisione dei giudici è inappellabile ed i vincitori saranno annunciati il 30 ottobre 2012 su questo blog.

I premi possono essere pagati in valuta locale? I premi saranno pagati in sterline o dollari o euro o yen equivalente con un assegno per i vincitori dell’UK o tramite PayPal per i concorrenti all’estero.

Maggiori informazioni? Se avete delle domande sulle regole - si prega di mandarmi un’email cliccando sul angelo qui sotto.

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Here are some Hungarian needlework designs with an Italian connection which might be adapted well for this competition.

I look forward to seeing the entries!

Scapolari - Devotional Scapulars

Devotional Scapulars or Sacramentals are small pouches of cloth attached to a band and worn by around the neck as a symbol of a religious pledge, promise or sign of devotion - largely used by the Catholic faith. These "scapolari" as they are called in Italian can also be worn specially during religious functions like processions or special Masses. Silver reliquaries containing the relics of saints or items from a beloved can be placed inside the pouches.

A very kind gentleman from the MI 1906 Ning group (for those interested in the 1906 World's Fair in Milan) wrote to tell me that in reorganizing his collections he came across some scapulars that he knew I would be interested in.

These scapulars are from 19th century southern Italy and no two are the same. As I understand it, each scapular was hand-embroidered by the person who wore it and it was decorated according to each wearer's own imagination and creativity and according to the purpose which they desired to represent.

This one is stitched in traditional embroidery stitches with coloured threads (silk?) and a border of gold or silver (now tarnished) Bright Check Purl:


This interesting scapular is stitched using beads, lace (bobbin?) and metal thread, possibly gold Pearl Purl? The object in the center of the lower part is surrounded by gold filigree:


The front of this one is stitched using traditional embroidery stitches and coloured, possibly silk threads:


...and here is the back, the cross is outlined in what looks like gold Bright Check Purl:


The front of this one is stitched using traditional embroidery stitches with metal threads and Spangles:


...and here is the back:


And this one has lots of Spangles and nice metal thread work which includes some laid gold Smooth Passing threads:


The embroidery on all these scapulars is exquisitely done and in great shape.

A heartfelt thank you to Ampelio for sharing his photos with us!

Arnaldo Caprai

There are some websites that I like to get lost in... where I continually find things I haven't seen before, where I see things that make me want to investigate them further and about which I want to learn more.

The various websites of Arnaldo Caprai keep me interested in going back again and again.

I first discovered the immense textile-related collection of Arnaldo Caprai when I purchased a book many years ago online called: In Viaggio con Penelope. [Travelling with Penelope] This book is actually a catalogue of an exhibition held in Perugia in 1989 of some artifacts from Arnaldo Caprai's collection of over 24,000 pieces of textile-related materials.

Bridal outfit 1940s, possibly made on Burano, found at an antiques market in Florence, image from In Viaggio con Penelope:


The text is in Italian and there are many historical and informational articles on the pieces shown but there are also many, many photos. There are photos of paintings depicting lace and embroidery, embroidery materials like sewing boxes and their contents, frames, lace pillows, old pattern books and catalogues;

L'Arte del Taglio, an Italian monthly fashion publication, May 1, 1915, image from In Viaggio con Penelope:

...sewing tools like clothing irons and machines, fabric stamps and pretty much any tool related to the textile arts.

Venetian needle lace pillow, late 1940s early 1950s, image from In Viaggio con Penelope:


There are photos of embroideries and laces: samplers, table and personal linens, household furnishings, articles for clothing like collars, cuffs, bonnets, trims, etc. Most of the artifacts are Italian but the collection includes pieces from around the world.

The Arnaldo Caprai collection has been called "probably the most important private textile collection in the world." The various websites are showcases for not only pictures of some of this collection but also a great source of little bits of information. Pieces range in age from the 8th century up to 1940.

The Virtual Museum website has so many pages that even though my Macintosh computer will not permit me to view the virtual rooms, (and anyway I can still read the text even if I can't access the virtual room pictures) I still haven't looked at all the other pages and the website has been online now since 2007.

The Study and Research Centre page has a listing of all books and catalogues published from 1980 to 2005. You can find some of these items for sale at used bookstores online. Be aware that they are made of heavy gloss paper and shipping costs can be quite high!

The Techniques pages have instructional videos for a "taste" of how the techniques are executed and photos plus lists of other books (not put out by Arnaldo Caprai) for further reading and study of related topics.

The Collection pages are broken down further into categories which display photos (you can zoom in really close to see details) and information on many things. Use the search engine on the left to get lost for hours! Not everything is translated into English and some of the slideshows are slow to load but be patient - it's worth it!

The Curiosity pages have several mini-articles on things from trousseaux to furnishings to clothing.

The Caprai Group pages show you all the other sectors Arnaldo Caprai is involved in like household linens, clothing and even wine. This site in turn takes you to all kinds of other things like along the bottom of the pages: News takes you to more recent events and exhibitions, the Textile Production Process is packed full of each step that textile products go through before being sold. And of course if you want to know more about the man, his businesses, his activities, etc – click on his smiling face!


In 2004 Poste Italiane (the Italian Postal service) together with Arnaldo Caprai produced a letter stamp to honour lace. It is a sticky-back fabric stamp worked with machine-embroidery.

From the 28th of May until the 20th of June, 2010 there will be an Arnaldo Caprai exhibition in the Costume and Textile Museum at the Palazzo Rosati Spada in Spoleto on "Wedding Traditions and Love" featuring 100 items which relate to the symbolism of wedding gifts covering the period between the 17th century and 20th centuries. This exhibition will be preceded by a press conference featuring Arnaldo Caprai himself on May 28th at noon at the Hotel Clitunno in Spoleto. Just in case you happen to be in the area...

Here goes...

Hello and welcome to my blog. After much humming and hawwing I have decided to start a blog in order to share all the wonders of Italian Needlework that I have found over the last 10 years of research. I aim to show you needlework techniques, books, kits, supplies, websites, and anything else I think you might be interested in. Please feel free to ask me questions about Italian Needlework and I will endeavour to find you some answers. Italian Needlework is my passion and I have been researching it for the last decade with the hope of bringing it to light for English-speaking embroidery enthusiasts who might not otherwise know of it or be able to find it. Until very recently it has been difficult to find, the language barrier is always an issue and techniques were traditionally handed down verbally without much enthusiasm for writing anything down. However as women went to work and had less time to stitch, techniques and know-how have been lost. Recently Italian needleworkers have started to publish books, manuals, kits and start websites about the embroidery that they love and now there is a wide range to choose from albeit most of the text is still only in Italian. The trend now is for embroiderers and lace makers to show the world their art and they are making an effort to have things translated into other languages like English, French, German and Spanish. This can only mean good things for those of us who are curious to learn of the wonders of Italian needlework.