I’ve been watching the craft of machine embroidery for nearly 20 years now. When I first became aware of it, I didn’t think much of it. But, even way back then, I knew that machine embroidery was in its infancy. The time would come!

Today machine embroidery in the ecclesiastical setting has clearly come of age. Elegant work is being done in both white-work and gold- and silk-work. I want to do everything I can to encourage and support this excellent craft.

Over the past year, I have been contacted by a number of expert machine embroidresses (so far, they’re all women). And, these seven women have been interested in forming a group, the purpose of which would be to develop liturgical machine embroidery patterns. Possibly, the group would go on to sell these patterns. Possibly some members of the group would take on commissions to do custom work.

I know that liturgical machine embroidery patterns are needed. While I do not work in machine embroidery myself, I also know that the process of developing a digitized machine embroidery pattern is an art in itself. I know that this process takes a great deal of knowledge and skill and is very time consuming.

I sell a re-print of a catalogue of ecclesiastical embroidery patterns that was published by Thomas Brown & Son, a company that produced iron-on embroidery transfers. The patterns shown in this catalogue were available in both England and the United States beginning in the late 1800s. The catalogue consists of 150 pages and contains thousands of liturgical designs suitable for both white-work and gold- and silk-work.

There are too many lovely designs for any one person to even think of digitizing them all! However, a group of people, cooperating, would have some hope of getting the job done!

The thought is this: If we can get a group of expert pattern-makers together, each of whom would commit to producing X patterns a month (or, a year), then all the patterns could be shared.

The question of selling the patterns generated would be open for discussion within the group. The question of individual group participants taking on commissions to do custom work would also be open for discussion within the group.

As I am organizing this group, I think you should know my position. I am blessed not to need the profit my business, Church Linens and Fabrics, produces. I turn the profit toward charity. So, I’m not looking to make a personal profit here! Because I’m interested in supporting and encouraging this craft, I’m willing to put a certain amount of time and energy toward the organization phase. If/When this group comes together, I would be interested in promoting it on my web site - selling patterns, facilitating commissions, etc.

Because I strongly believe that our time is extremely valuable, I will also guard you to the very best of my ability. This is meant to be a group of extraordinarily skillful artisans. I will do everything I can to ensure that the participants in this group are fully capable of producing high quality patterns. I have a friend of many years who is an expert machine embroideress, who is fluent in digitizing her own patterns. While she is not interested in participating in this group (she does a great deal of charity work and, in her own words: “I’m just not a group person”), she is interested in seeing such a group succeed. She would be willing to serve as our ‘jury’.

If you believe that you are fluent in the process of digitizing machine embroidery patterns and would be interested in working with a group for the purpose of having access to more patterns, I’d like to hear from you. Please send photographs of your work.

If you do not possess these skills and would like to purchase very special ecclesiastical patterns, please contact me. While I don’t have any patterns for you at the moment, I believe they will be forthcoming. I can begin to accumulate a mailing list and will let you know when patterns become available.

In Christ –

Elizabeth Morgan

Church Linens and Fabrics

obunny@hvwisp.net