The Crewel Work Company Shakespeare's Bird & Strawberries Kit

Featuring Crewel and Elizabethan Stitches, this vibrant design replicates a section of a 17th century embroidered Bible cover, part of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Museum textile collection.
The exquisite bible cover was embroidered in brightly coloured and extravagantly-dyed silk floss, which has aged gracefully to a soft sheen. The designers have used very fine embroidery wools to create this subtle effect. Gold and Silver metal threads are used for the stems and silver spangles add sparkle and light.
This design is suitable for beginner to advanced embroiderers, especially those who wish to try Elizabethan Braid Stitch for the first time. The step-by-step instructions include two variations of this exciting stitch, one for beginners and more challenging version!

This historic design is now produced as a kit by Lady Anne’s Needlework on behalf of and by kind permission of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon, England.

Design size: 6 x 6 inches, 15 x 15 cm

Linen size: 12 x 12 inches, 30 x 30 cm

Stitches: Crewel Stem, Satin Stitch, Laid and Couched Work, Long and Short, Bayeux, Seeding and Elizabethan Braid Stitch.  

Included in the Kit: 

• Easy-to-follow, detailed and illustrated, step-by-step instructions drawn from Phillipa’s extensive research and teaching experience
• Our booklet ‘The Essential Guide for Newcomers to Crewel Work’ – handy hints, getting started, needle threading, etc.
• Historically accurate ‘Z’ twist Jacobean Linen Twill woven in Scotland exlusively for The Crewel Work Company, and expertly printed with the design outline, stitch direction and length guide
• Detailed, full-size Stitch Chart mapping every stitch and colour
• Whole Appleton’s 2-ply crewel embroidery wools in numberred skeins to match the easy-to-follow Stitch Chart
• 2 x bespoke gold-plated needles (single thread)
• 2 x polished nickel crewel needles (double thread)
• A smart A4 box to keep everything in