London Embroidery School

Central London Embroidery School

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Monogramming Part 3 – The Nitty Gritty

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The final part of our Monogramming online class series is now out on the London Embroidery School Website. The most in depth look we have ever shared on monogramming, we get up close and personal with the letters. We will be working on a classic 8mm high monogram, the sort you may have seen used on shirts or handkerchieves. Talking you through the techniques and decisions we make, as we make them stitch by stitch, we encourage you to join us and stitch along so you can see and feel those choices too.

When you have made your purchase, the link and template will be sent to your email. In the four letters we will be stitching, we cover a lot of the common elements we see in the alphabet so you can apply your new knowledge to stitching out whatever you like. In this video we also talk about window mounting your item, to open up your embroidery onto pretty much anything you care to try to stitch on.

Thank you once again to those who bought the whole series in advance, it means alot to us and your video will be waiting for you in your inbox. If that isn’t you, it’s not too late to join the lettering party . There are no kits required for this class or series, we just make suggestions of things to use and alternatives that we hope you will already have access to at home so there is no reason to delay. You could be stitching along with us in a matter of minutes!

Items used:
Embroidery Hoop
Fabric (Denim, knit, sweatshirting or similar)
Embroidery Needle Sharps 10
Snips
Stiletto (optional)
Pencil (ideally mechanical)
Silver Gel Pen (option for darker fabrics )
Embroidery Stranded Cotton or similar
Tracing Paper
Printed Letter Template (Downloadable with purchase)
Pricker (option: needle/pin)
Felt Rubber (roll up felt strip or loose weave fabric pounce ‘bag’)
Pricker Board (option: bullion board or folded up fabric)
Pins

Let’s Take this to the Next Level

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After the success of the first part, we are building on our skills for the second part of the Monogramming Online Class Series. This time we will be introduced to the foundations of traditional monogramming in the form of stem, outline and satin stitch. We will get comfortable with using these stitches and changing from one to the other seamlessly.

Working on Denim, this style of monogramming uses some of the foundation elements of classical monogramming, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously. We will work on a playful 15mm high, 2 letter monogram together; discussing angles, changing between the stitches and how to approach the letters. Showing you these stitches from several view points, from the front and back, we hope to give you a well rounded view of how to get the most out of your stitches.

Once again, there is no kit for this class, we will just be advising what you can use, a lot of which we hope you will already have at home. Where possible we offer alternatives to get you started and equipment you might like to purchase can be obtained from our website so you can just buy what you need.

The final part of this series will become available to purchase from the London Embroidery School Website from next Friday. In which we will look at smaller, serif style monogramming, the kind you might find on shirts or handkerchieves.

With that in mind, get practising on this next section and I’m sure we’ll see you again next week.

Hawthorne & Heaney for London Craft Week

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For the past 3 years, London Craft Week has become a highlight of the creative calendar with all sorts of exciting workshops, demonstrations and talks taking place across town. These celebrate the most unique and interesting craft skills London has to offer. Ranging from whisky tasting to watchmaking to weaving there is something to interest everyone. This year, our sister company Hawthorne & Heaney have been invited to take part in London Craft Week and are excited to be hosting two workshops in the studio to showcase our own skills.  In these workshops we will be teaching one of our stable skills, monogramming which we regularly use on shirts, suits and accessories from our tailoring clients.

You can join us to learn the delicate art of monogramming and leave with your own monogrammed handkerchief or cuff links at the end. Follow the link to secure your place as spaces are strictly limited, tickets are £60 plus VAT and can only be bought directly from the London Craft Week Website.

History of Monogramming

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In today’s world it is always a delight to own something that has been personalised, for example, it is so simple to make what was an ordinary item into a unique object with the use embroidered lettering, commonly known as monogramming.

In its original form monogramming can be traced all the way back to Roman and Greek times when it was used as a royal signature on coins or as a seal to identify a certain ruler.

In particular, embroidered monograms first served as laundry markers, allowing clothing and linens to be washed together without them getting mixed up.

By the 15th century it became more of a higher prestige, as nuns would typically produce monograms on the finest fabrics with gold and silver threads.

In the 16th century the new middle class caught on to how sophisticated the idea of embroidered personalisation looked and the more wealthy households were demanding embellishments for many items including clothing and home furnishing. It was from this time onward that monogramming was seen as the height of fashion and not just a practical label.

It became a necessity that that women in the house, including the small children were to learn this skill so practically every item had a personal stamp.

Depending on your gender the rules when casing was concerned changed. If you were a female the initial of your first name was placed on the left, the initial of your middle name on the right, and the initial of your last name was large in the middle. In the male version all the letters were the same size. When a couple got married a joint monogram was created having the bride’s first initial on the right, groom’s on the left and joint last name initial in the centre.

Today all the traditional rules go out the window and the choices to what style monograms are produced are unlimited. Monograms can be often seen as a piece of artwork and are sometimes incorporated with other embroidery techniques like gold work.

Although this technology has developed and this technique can be produced on a machine, hand embroidered monogramming is still highly popular on garments in particular suits and shirts.

 

If you would like to learn the art of monogramming, London Embroidery School offer and evening class which shows you how to hand stitch your own initials in a basic font. Book your place now! Our last class has sold out, so book soon to guarantee yourself a place on the 15th June.

Monogramming 18th May Sold Out!

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Anyone who was looking at joining us for the Beginners Monogramming Class on the 18th May I am afraid all the places have now been taken so it is no longer booking. However a new date for this class has been released which will take place on the 15th June, so grab a place on that one instead to save you from missing out again!

With Father’s Day soon approaching, why not monogram him something special for an unusual present this year?