| The work will progress from left to right, so please finish those near
the left edge first. |
| Choose a figure and make it your own. Start with something small and
simple before tackling a larger figure. |
| When making your choice, think about how much time you will have as it
needs to be finished before the linen can be moved in the frame. |
| If you decide to share a figure with another embroiderer, make sure you
have agreed who does what and the colours you plan to use. |
| You can work from both sides. Working upside-down takes a little practice
but please give it a go. |
| Maintain the same colours throughout for each important character. If
necessary select the threads you will need and put them in a bag reserved
for your character, as it might not be possible to reproduce the colours
exactly in the next batch of dyes. |
| It is best to start in the middle of the linen and work towards the edges
because this prevents rubbing-damage to the work already done. You might
find it convenient to lay a cloth over parts that are likely to be abraded. |
| The choice of clothing you wear to cover your arms when working is worth
considering. Rough fabrics will abrade the wool and bare arms risk dirtying
the fabric and the wool. Please remember that the blue dye has a slight
tendency to rub so might affect your clothing. |
| It might be also worth covering a previously worked area if you cannot
avoid rubbing it when working a new area. |
| Aim for a flat finished surface without the ply of the wool being visible
from normal working distance (30cm). |
The
advantage of the frame was that it held the cloth in the correct tension. We
were told it was difficult to keep the lines straight if the cloth is stretched.
But it turned out to be much easier to work with the loose cloth and just
follow the line that was marked on the cloth.
During the winter months when the museum were often closed, sections could be taken home and small
embroidery frames used for individual figures.
And when the time came to join the panels together, the need was for a
large hall and a long table.