GBH Openvault

Erica; Thinking Bigger

Part of From the Vault. Part of Erica Wilson: The Julia Child of Needlework.

01/11/1972

Traditional embroidery stitches can look very contemporary when done in huge scale. In this episode, Erica encourages viewer to “think bigger” by using huge, thick rug wools to create a large, embroidered wall hanging on embroidery fabric. Erica suggests embroidering woodland motifs, and the project for this episode is embroidering a large-scale owl in thick wools. She shows the viewer how to draw an owl, trace it onto netting, and then transfer the drawing to the upholstery fabric using permanent marker. She then demonstrates various stitches for the different parts of the owl, starting with the eyes in satin stitch with fine, black wool. She then does the face in stem stitch, the body in laidwork, and some additional feathers in open fishbone, which she says “should be called owl’s feather stitch because it’s just perfect for doing owl’s feathers.” Summary and select metadata for this record was submitted by Amanda Sikarskie.


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Series
Erica
Program
Thinking Bigger
Program Number

114

Series Description

Needlework series with Erica Wilson. “Erica Wilson, noted American authority on needlework, invites the viewer to explore the exciting possibilities of indulging his creative and artistic talents. In this series of color videotaped 15 minute programs she illustrates the wide vocabulary of stitches used in many types of embroidery including traditional crewel, needlepoint, bargello, and crewel point.

As well as demonstrating these stitches, Erica gives professional hints on creating useful and decorative objects. She encourages personalizing an original or derived design through the selection of motif, materials, stitch, color, texture, and size. C. 1971-2 Series release date: 1971

Program Description

Traditional embroidery stitches can look very contemporary when done in huge scale. In this episode, Erica encourages viewer to “think bigger” by using huge, thick rug wools to create a large, embroidered wall hanging on embroidery fabric.

Erica suggests embroidering woodland motifs, and the project for this episode is embroidering a large-scale owl in thick wools. She shows the viewer how to draw an owl, trace it onto netting, and then transfer the drawing to the upholstery fabric using permanent marker. She then demonstrates various stitches for the different parts of the owl, starting with the eyes in satin stitch with fine, black wool. She then does the face in stem stitch, the body in laidwork, and some additional feathers in open fishbone, which she says “should be called owl’s feather stitch because it’s just perfect for doing owl’s feathers.”

Asset Type

Broadcast program

Media Type

Video

Subjects
Needlework – Instruction
Owls – Decorative Arts
Wilson, Erica
Embroidery
Genres
Instructional
Topics
Crafts
Creators
MacLeod, Margaret I. (Series Producer)
Contributors
Wilson, Erica (Host)
MacLeod, Margaret I. (Producer)
Mahard, Frances (Other (see note))
Field, James (Director)
Publication Information
Copyright © 1971 Erica Wilson and WGBH Educational Foundation
Citation
Chicago: “Erica; Thinking Bigger,” 01/11/1972, GBH Archives, accessed March 29, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_AB47BE8FDB9C498389C0B012E9358C23.
MLA: “Erica; Thinking Bigger.” 01/11/1972. GBH Archives. Web. March 29, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_AB47BE8FDB9C498389C0B012E9358C23>.
APA: Erica; Thinking Bigger. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_AB47BE8FDB9C498389C0B012E9358C23
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