In a far off town called Mountmellick, in a far off land called Ireland, Mountmellick embroidery had its humble beginnings. In the 1800s, materials were cheap, and this affordable type of white-on-white embroidery was a source of income for girls and women during the Great Irish Famine. (The heavy cotton sateen fabric isn’t so affordable or easy to come by any longer. A yard can cost $60!)
Mountmellick embroidery uses heavy cotton matte thread to form a contrast with the sheen of the fabric. Because of the durability of the fabric and its ability to stand up to laundering, Mountmellick embroidery was commonly used on pillow shams, bedspreads, and tablecloths. Traditionally, the designs are nature inspired – flowers, leaves, and berries are common motifs. Most Mountmellick pieces will include the satin (or padded) stitch, stem stitch, knots, and fringed edges.
When two of my very best friends got engaged, I decided to take a stab at Mountmellick because: 1) I wanted to give them a handmade engagement gift. 2) I like embroidering. 3) He is from Ireland. I ended up using inexpensive white denim and crocheting yarn because it was heavier than thread. I added a shamrock and bits of green to personalize the piece. I found that the yarn started to weaken as it was repeatedly pulled through the fabric, so I had to thread new yarn every so often. Other than that, I was very pleased with my “Mock-mellick” embroidery piece! (and so were they)
More information and how-to tips and videos can be found at: www.nordicneedle.net/guides/stitching-techniques/mountmellick and www.needlenthread.com
