Vladimir smooth surface - old Russian embroidery. How to embroider with satin stitch?

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:46

Vladimir stitch is a well-known embroidery in which stitches are applied to the material, completely filling the entire surface of the fabric. In another way, it is called Vladimirsky Verkhovoshov. It was invented by the masters of the Vladimir region. In ancient times, there were no other ways to decorate your clothes other than embroidery. Russian craftswomen used a simple needle and thread to create unique patterns. This is a complex art that requires perseverance and attentiveness. In each family, the wife and daughters provided their entire family with clothes, and each girl prepared her dowry in advance in a chest.

For each locality in Russia there was an original embroidery, inherent only in this territory, which had its own characteristics, color schemes and ornaments. Over the years, embroidery techniques have improved and acquired new details, but the originality and features have been preserved.

History of Vladimir embroidery

Stitch embroidery with the Vladimir seam has ancient historical roots. During excavations carried out by archaeologists studying the history of the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, fragments of clothes with beautiful embroidery were found. The front side was trimmed with longstitches, however, only contours or light dotted lines were visible from the inside, and on some details there were even elements of the smooth surface attached. This is when long stitches were attached with smaller ones.

On linen products, sewing was done with gold threads. The study of the history of the region led to the conclusion that it was made in the XVIII-XIX centuries by the nuns of the monastery of St. John the Merciful, located 100 kilometers from the city of Vladimir in the village of Mstera. It is these craftswomen who are considered the founders of the Vladimir seam with a satin stitch.

Residents of nearby villages and cities were trained by these nuns in the art of embroidery. But ordinary people no longer sewed with gold threads, which were very expensive and valuable, but replaced them with red ones. The patterns contained large flowers and leaves, which were embroidered with long stitches, the middle was filled with false nets.

Red flowers were combined with centers made of other bright shades of blue and green. Yellow, brown, black and beige elements were allowed.

Embroidery features

In ancient times, expensive gold threads were used to embroider clothes of noble people. In order to save money, most of the threads were on the front side of the product. On the inside, small dotted lines were visible, barely visible to the eye. That is why the Vladimir expanse was called the top.

Its main difference from the rest is one-sided sewing with small stitches. Elements are both large and small stems or thintwigs.

Different elements are made in a special way. For example, leaves, birds, flowers and other large details are embroidered with satin stitch, nets are used for the middle, the stem is made with a stem stitch.

Distinguishing Features

Although since ancient times, the Vladimir smooth surface has been slightly improved by craftsmen, but still retained its main feature - the one-sidedness of embroidery. The theme has also remained the same. These are mainly plant elements, sometimes you can meet birds. The color scheme is also quite recognizable. The most common floral ideas are red and white. Dilutes such monotony with small elements of blue, green or yellow.

Masters of Vladimir smoothness use woolen threads, floss, which are folded in several layers, you can also find iris threads.

In most cases, at work, they make a border of crosses or other ornaments, such as bushes or tassels and other repeating elements.

Types of stitches

• Smooth. Sewn with long stitches on the front side.
• Double-sided surface. It is sewn with floss threads in the same way, both on the front side and on the wrong side.
• Smooth flooring. If you want to make the element voluminous, before embroidering with a satin stitch, a flooring is made with stitches, that is, the material is sewn along the contour of the pattern with simple stitches, then a smooth surface is sewn on top of them, directing the thread from the middle of the element to its edges.

• "Paws". This is an embroidery that resembles bird tracks (hence the name of the seam). They often fill gaps in large details.
• The "forward needle" seam is made as a flooring for bulky parts.
• "Stem" seam. In embroidery with Vladimir stitch, this type of seam is used to make thin twigs or stems of flowers. The needle pierces the fabric at the top and diagonally.
• "Goat". Very similar to cross stitch. The stitches intersect at the top and bottom of the previous and next stitches. The master chooses the size of the stitches spontaneously, at will.

How to embroider stitch

For the Vladimir smooth surface, white embroidery is used and the smooth surface is one-sided and two-sided. As the name implies, only white threads are used for white embroidery. Embroider a pattern over the flooring. To do this, first, all the contours drawn with a pencil are stitched with a “forward needle” seam, then the flooring is stitched, completely covering the surface of large flowers or leaves with stitches. A pattern is applied over white threads. Stitch embroidery "Vladimir sewing" is used to decorate bed linen: duvet covers, sheets, pillowcases, towels, etc.

Satin stitch in this embroidery stitches all large elements. Start sewing from the sharp end of the leaf or petal and go in the direction from the center of the part to the edges. You can clearly see examples of seams on the old Russian embroidery "Vladimir smooth" on a sample of seams onpicture in the article. However, when forming the shape of a flower, the stitches of the smooth surface are directed from the contour of the part to the center.

Overlay nets

Flower images have a large hollow center, which in this type of embroidery is filled with overlay grids. The middle of the flower consists of symmetrically arranged small elements: squares, stripes, wavy lines, triangles. Paws or goats can be located between them.

Sometimes the middle of the cavity is filled with long stitches, either horizontally or vertically. A cross is often formed at the intersection. A feature of this embroidery is that all elements of the grid are filled symmetrically, evenly.

Preparing for satin stitch embroidery

Before you embroider with satin stitch, you need to prepare. It is convenient to do this with the help of special tools. To choose the right thread, you need natural light. The light should fall on the left. Do not allow threads and needles to lie on the table. Everything should be stowed in its place in order to quickly find the right tool if necessary.

Required Materials

• Fabric. It is better to take linen. Traditionally, unbleached linen is used.
• Muline thread or double thread.
• A set of needles, the thickness of which corresponds to the thickness of the threads.
• Scissors.

• Hoop to keep the fabric tight.
• Soft tape measure for marking the main lines and contours of the pattern.
• tracing paper, carbon paper, pattern swatches.
• A simple pencil with a well-sharpened edge.
• Iron.

Embroidery care

After the work is finished, it is also important to properly care for the product so that the embroidery does not deteriorate or deform. Wash the fabric only in warm water. Detergents can be used, but they should not contain bleach, then rinse everything well. If you are washing in the machine, then the product with embroidery should be placed in a pillowcase or a specially designed bag for washing delicate items.

There is one little secret. In order not to spoil the thing, it is better to twist the fabric through a terry towel. You can iron with an iron only from the wrong side, using a damp cotton cloth. It is better to iron on a soft towel. You can’t fold a damp cloth, you need to spread it out and let it dry completely.