An Elizabethan Panel by Susan Casson

Rich in symbolism and splendour, An Elizabethan Panel by Susan Casson pays homage to one of history’s most decorative eras - a time when embroidery was as much an expression of artistry as it was of social status.

Featured in The Handpicked Collection 5, this project draws inspiration from the lavish embellishments that once adorned royal garments and stately interiors and reflects the grandeur of Elizabethan ornamentation through needle and thread.

An Elizabethan Panel is every bit as the name suggests - a wonderfully lush and richly dimensional work, with each element thoughtfully chosen to echo the motifs that defined sixteenth-century design.

At its heart, An Elizabethan Panel is anchored by a flourishing vine, a symbol of life and growth, that winds its way across the design, uniting each motif in a graceful rhythm.

From this central stem, nature’s abundance shoots forth with a ripe pomegranate bursting with promise, figs and berries symbolising prosperity and fertility, and the unmistakable Tudor rose blooming in regal tones to represent unity and strength.

Amongst the vine you’ll also find honeysuckle and columbine flourishing, their forms entwined in a timeless expression of devotion, faith and beauty.

Each element has been beautifully placed within the composition to achieve a harmony of richness and restraint.

Throughout the design, Susan employs a variety of stumpwork and surface embroidery techniques to blend a restrained palette of lustrous silks, all in keeping with colours sympathetic to the era.

Flashes of metallic thread, sparkles of beads and glints of paillettes are incorporated with great effect.Flashes of metallic thread, sparkles of beads and glints of paillettes are incorporated with great effect.

The interplay between these colours and textures, the raised elements, padded forms and subtle embellishments, all converge to bring a sense of depth and opulence that perfectly echoes the richly adorned textiles of the Elizabethan age.

An Elizabethan Panel invites stitchers to immerse themselves in the very tradition it celebrates, a time and place when embroidery reigned supreme.

You can find this project in The Handpicked Collection 5 book, and it’s also available as a digital pattern.

For those who enjoy the convenience of having all the hard work of sourcing materials taken care of, Ready-to-Stitch kits are also available. And as this project is part of our Handpicked Collection, printed instructions are included with every kit.

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