I’ve occasionally seen work described as Brazilian embroidery on facebook but I’ve never known really what it entailed. Last week at Skipton Stitchers monthly meeting we had a mini-workshop run by one of our members, the lovely Claire Ketteman. She does regular stitching workshops in the area and is a great teacher.
Apparently Brazilian embroidery is so named not because it originated in Brazil but because the thread used was originally manufactured there. The thread is a rayon stranded thread, very silky and shiny, slippery to use for your usual embroidery, but brilliant for knots, as the rayon thread just slides into beautiful curls. The thread was used without being split so we did need a fairly chunky chenille needle.
Claire had designed a mini embroidery which covered the main knots, French knots, bullion knots and cast-on stitch. I think I’ve only done cast-on stitch once before but with clear demonstrations from Claire we all got the hang of them. Cast on stitch looks a bit like covering a couple of threads with buttonhole stitch, but it’s formed on the needle so you can make it into lovely curls, the yellow flower is in cast-on stitch.
Our piece of Brazillian embroidery is only little – a perfect size for a mornings workshop. I think I might make it into a pincushion or a needle case. It was great learning how to use the thread, so often I buy threads because they look gorgeous and then wonder how to use them!
If any of you are within striking distance of Skipton, we have an exhibition next weekend of work we created during lockdown. I’ve a few pieces on show, and there’s lots of amazing embroidery from all our members, all sorts of styles too, modern, traditional, abstract… the rainbow of squares will also be on show…
The exhibition is at Christchurch, Skipton, just over the bridge on the road towards Keighley. It’s on Friday and Saturday and should be worth a visit 🙂
thecraftycreek 
Love the combination of Brazilian embroidery with ribbon embroidery. Very pretty.
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Thank you for introducing me to something new. Your piece is delightful.
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Ooh, very pretty and the squares look amazing,
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Years ago I bought a set of 40 Marlitt threads. They looked so bright and silky and felt so soft but yes they are a rayon thread. I have never been able to stitch well with them so this post has been great. I also love doing French knots but Bullion knots etc. always end in knots (no pun intended), so after reading this post and seeing your beautiful knots I will have to find a chart that uses these stitches and try with my Marlitt threads once more. Thank you Margaret.
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Claire did say that they are awful to use for any other type of embroidery 🙂
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wow – looks like a great show – sad I live across the ocean 😦
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The leaves are really good. Love it.
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About 30 years ago I did a lot of Brazilian embroidery, but I can’t for the life of me find the book I had about it nor can I remember many of the techniques. Your post, however, makes me want to have another go – it is so lovely.
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They look lovely. I have lots of hand dyed rayon’s which are a nightmare to use but it was a magpie moment. Looks like a great exhibition too, have fun.
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Your piece and those other pieces are so amazing!
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