19 March 2009

Spanish Inventories Wiki

I have recently created a Spanish Inventories Wiki for the purpose of posting vocabulary words found in the old Spanish Marriage and Death Inventories. My focus has been textiles, but I have also included household items. Each page contains a word and a Spanish definition, English translations and photos of items will be added later.

The site is found at: http://inventories.wetpaint.com/

Please feel free to use and contribute to this wiki.

11 March 2009

Stitches I found used in Spain

Deshilado - Embroidery on linen or on an even weave fabric. The fabric threads are counted, cut and removed leaving open spaces. Any remaining threads are wrapped to create open designs.

Drawn Thread in Linen - The stitches are pulled in such a way as to draw the thread into a design or pattern.

Punto de Red or Puntillas or Encages, Crochet - This style of crochet is used on the edges of cloths and scarves or between two pieces of fabric. The design is usually open and boxed shaped.

Punto de Cruz, Cross Stitch and Black Work - Small slanted stitches are formed into crosses and used to create a design. This stitch is native to Spain and was first created with black silk thread on linen.

Red de Nudos Planos - Similar to macrame, loose fringe or edges of shawls are tied together in a pattern to create an open netting look.

Lace - Handmade lace edging is made with bobbins and pins held in place on a cushion. The thread is knotted in a complicated pattern to create delicate designs.

Bordar, Embroidery - Embroidery can include multiple stitches and is often the term used generally when describing any needlework.

10 March 2009

Women and Textiles

Women around the world make and use textiles. There are many traditions associated with rituals and life events. Textiles are not only functional but they also communicate individual identity and spiritual beliefs.

Catherine Amoroso Leslie. Needlework Through History: An Encyclopedia. (Greenwood Press, CT: 2007), pg. xi (summary).

Specific life events that would be celebrated with textiles are: birth/baptism, first communion, marriage, death/burial, religious worship/mass, fiestas.