Turkey Work; Erica; Erica: Turkey Work

Mahard, Frances · November 23, 1971

Turkey work is a form of knotted embroidery that was popular in England during the 17th century. It was meant to be imitative of the pile and designs of Turkish carpets. Erica suggests using a thick wool thread and a very large needle. Turkey work is begun with a series of backstitches, leaving loops packed tightly together. The loops are then cut for a shaggy, tufted effect, or occasionally left intact, as with an embroidery of peonies that she did. Turkey work can be used today to add texture and three-dimensionality to flora and fauna in embroidery, such as bumblebees or the centers of flowers. The project for this episode is an embroidered bumblebee with a turkey work body. Erica cautions to use straight stitches?not turkey work?for faces, and shows a turkey work Owl and the Pussycat embroidery that she did, but with satin stitch eyes. She also shows a Victorian turkey work cockatoo from the Smithsonian collection. Summary and select metadata for this record was submitted by Amanda Sikarskie.