NOW FULLY REVISED AND EXPANDED
Mountmellick embroidery is a highly texured form of whitework embroidery, originating from the town of Mountmellick in Ireland, around 1825.
While it is sometimes referred to as Montmellick, Mt Mellick, Mountmellic, or even Montmellic, Mountmellick is the correct spelling as it is taken from the name of the town in County Laois (pronounced leash) in Ireland.
Mountmellick embroidery uses floral motifs and heavily knotted and padded stitches. The plants featured are traditionally those that grew in the township of Mountmellick itself, such as oak, blackberry, dog rose, and ivy.
Mountmellick embroidery is highly textured with many knotted and padded stitches used. Part of the fun of working Mountmellick embroidery is playing around with the stitches and working variations of them. On some historical examples of Mountmellick, there were only a limited number of stitches used. However, due to all their variations, the effect produced was highly patterned and varied.
Table of Contents
The following features are regarded as being characteristic of Mountmellick work:
- It is worked in white matt (no shine) thread on white cotton satin jean fabric.
- The shapes are big and bold and usually floral - the leaves and flowers are usually at least life-size, if not larger.
- It has a buttonholed edge, usually with a knitted fringe attached. Lace is not used.
- It is highly textured with many knotted and padded stitches employed.
- There is no openwork, such as eyelets.
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About Yvette Stanton
Yvette Stanton is an Australian embroidery historian and author, internationally recognised for her dedication to the documentation and preservation of traditional embroidery stitches and techniques. Yvette’s publications are grounded in rigorous research and are essential resources for both contemporary stitchers and those interested in traditional embroidery techniques.
Yvette’s work, with her clear step-by-step instruction, bridges the gap between academic-level research and practical embroidery education. Through her books, research, and public engagement, Yvette Stanton plays a vital role in ensuring that historical embroidery stitches and practices are not only remembered but revived, understood, and enjoyed by new generations of stitchers and scholars around the world.
Yvette lives in Sydney, Australia.
Visit Yvette's:
Website at www.vettycreations.com.au
Facebook: vettycreations
Instagram: @vettycreations
YouTube channel: @yvettestanton
About Prue Scott
Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers
Sep 05
...Mountmellick is perhaps the chunkiest form of whitework embroidery, worked with thick cotton thread on a heavy cotton jean fabric. If authentic materials cannot be got, even from the list of suppliers in the appendix, then it does give some suggestions for substitutes. A short history of the technique is followed by a materials list. The section on stitches is clear and has a good combination of words and diagrams...This is a useful resource book.
NEW STITCHES
March 05
This book begins with a fascinating history of Mountmellick embroidery in which the authors share their discoveries and observations of historic examples of this technique found during their research. After outlining fabric and thread requirements there is a collection of all the stitches used to build up Mountmellick motifs with clear, detailed instructions on how to work each one.
The projects are varied as Mountmellick can be used for many applications as it is robust and, being all white, can be hot washed. There are traditional projects such as doilies and mats as well as contemporary applications such as bolsters and lampshades.
