Ann Boylen Needlework
By marie2052
@marie2052 (3691)
United States
August 16, 2011 9:39pm CST
I delve a lot into the past of history as those that know me well here know I have an ardent love of History.
Combine this and my love of Cross Stitch, or needlework in general, I had read a book when my son and I did his year report on the History of Needlework.
While my son and I spent hours and hours to find maybe just a sentence or two in history books where we could find something on cross stitching, or needlework, we did find out that King Henry VIII first wife Catherine of Aragon did blackwork very well and brought that to England when she married King Henry.
While I was searching on something for cross stitch, never did I believe I would find this link on Anne Boylen. From what I can find this piece was made for King Henry. I can only imagine how long it took her to work on this and if you get the chance to visit England it is said it hangs in one of the towers today.
As far as I know this is the only piece she did.
Enjoy the brief history of needlework.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8561740@N08/2209263865/
3 people like this
6 responses
@francesca5 (1344)
•
17 Aug 11
thats interesting. i remember reading somewhere that embroidery was quite a common way for upper class women to spend time, once.
i think mary queen of scots did it as well, i tend to find lots of useless bits of information, and not remember where i got them from, but i am sure i read that somewhere.
2 people like this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
18 Aug 11
Yes she did with quite an interesting past that included her embroideries.
I will start a discussion on it for you and others that are interested in stitching
Thanks.
@Princessjn764 (76)
• United States
17 Aug 11
Wow. I have read many books about King Henry VIII (my favorite era to read about) and never heard about Anne Boylen doing cross stitch. They always focus on the seduction of King Henry and all that. I love learning new things like this. Thanks for sharing.
2 people like this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
18 Aug 11
You are most welcome
I am going to start a discussion on Mary Queen of Scots and you will be able to read about her and see her pieces as well.
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
18 Aug 11
That is really interesting, and done so long ago - of course, noble women (or nearly noble) had more time on their hands than the lower classes, so they could do beautiful things like that. Not really my cup'a tea, but interesting none the less... not my favorite age in history either... much to recent...
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
18 Aug 11
Old stuff, REALLY old stuff, like Rome is about as late as I like my European history, I'll go up to the coming of Europeans in the Americas and I'm pretty much interested in Asia... tho anything after the 20th century is a yawn to me...
1 person likes this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
18 Aug 11
Whats your favorite era of history?
I have been able to delve in all types of history since teaching my son for the 3 years at home in his high school.
Honestly for all I learned, I expected another diploma for myself!
But they gave him his I did not get one but its ok I know I did good when I saw a 3.42GPA average.
But gotta say sure don't want to ever do that again!
But they gave him his I did not get one but its ok I know I did good when I saw a 3.42GPA average.
But gotta say sure don't want to ever do that again!1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47667)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
17 Aug 11
Well, what else did she have to do?
1 person likes this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
18 Aug 11
OH Barb I can always count on something humorous from you LOL
WE need to do lunch!
I am just amazed with no good lighting like we have today all our little extras for comfort to do our craft that things were made of this size with no pattern and can you imagine the lighting in a castle back then?
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
20 Sep 11
That looks really nice! I almost wish I could do something like that. I bet it took a long time to finish it. I'm not into history that much, but seeing that makes me almost want to get into it more. Thanks for sharing!
1 person likes this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
20 Sep 11
You are very welcome! I need to study more so I can tell more stories.
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
17 Aug 11
I have never thought about the history of cross stitching. I am surprised to learn that it goes back that far! It shouldn't surprise me, as there wasn't a lot of things to do then and in movies women are always shown doing some kind of sewing, I guess I just never thought about what kind.
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
18 Aug 11
It goes back farther than that. I have even been able to find things that the Egyptians did.
But just had to share this piece that Anne Boylen did.
I can't imagine doing a piece of that size without a pattern.
And there were no patterns back in that day.
Not like the comfort we have in making ours today.
Thanks for reading!
