An Endlessly Versatile Medieval Vine to Embroider

Participating in World Embroidery Day reminds us of our common bond with stitchers from all cultures in the past who created magic using only a needle and thread. I love the timeless appeal of a meandering vine, and this pretty design lends itself to many variations—I think it would be stunning in rich colors and metallics on velvet, dainty in white on white stitched with fewer strands of floss, and trendy in greens with an accent color on a denim jacket. Simple stitches make this pattern beginner friendly; I urge you to try it for a World Embroidery Day project! —Pat Olski, PieceWork editor

This graceful embroidered vine is adapted from the angel that Juliette Hamelecourt designed for Cartier’s 1974 Christmas window. In a telephone conversation with Juliette, she explained that the fruit was representative rather than a realistic rendering of a specific fruit. Juliette worked the vine portion of the original with three rows of double threaded DMC metallic floss; she worked the leaves with red embroidery floss using the detached chain (also called daisy) stitch; she used a tiny chain stitch, worked in a spiral, to create the fruit.

The medieval vine motif can be worked on a collar or cuff. Portions could be placed on a pocket, the flap of a purse, or down the front placket of a dress or blouse. Find the pattern and the article in the November/December 1999 issue of PieceWork, or current subscribers can log in and access this bonus subscriber-exclusive PDF below.

Decorate cuffs, collar, or the flap of a bag with this graceful vine pattern. Photo by Mary Staley Pridgen

Juliette’s Medieval Vine pattern