Chiaramonte

Chiaramonte embroidery, also known as sfilato siciliano, is a style of withdrawn thread work unique to the Chiaramonte Gulfi region on the island of Sicily.

Requiring great skill and concentration, specific threads are withdrawn and the resulting grid is stabilised before being embellished with needlewoven motifs, on this example, light steel grey petals are worked to create a mass of shimmering flowers.

Worked onto 30-count linen, the wide side borders are filled with twisted hem stitch and the mat is finished with an Italian four-sided stitch and blanket stitch border with a tassel at each short end.