GBH Openvault

Erica; Applique

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

02/15/1972

Appliqué simply refers to sewing one piece of cloth onto another. Erica shows examples of appliqué from West Africa and from India. The main project for this episode is an appliquéd potholder, with the pieces of appliqué cut out of felt. Since felt will not fray, the edges of the appliqué may be unfinished, or as Erica demonstrates, finished with a variety of stitches, including chain stitch, stem stitch, buttonhole, or couching. Taking inspiration from the Indian piece that she showed at the beginning of the episode, which has appliqué edged with cord, Erica demonstrates how to make cord for edging out of wool. Next, Erica shows a quilt made in Belfast, Maine in 1840 of appliquéd velvet on silk and done with a variety of different embroidery stitches, including feather stitch, herringbone, and double feather stitch. She turns back an edge of the appliqué and reveals that there is paper backing the velvet. Reverse appliqué is also discussed in this episode. Summary and select metadata for this record was submitted by Amanda Sikarskie.


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Series
Erica
Program
Applique
Program Number

119

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

Appliqué simply refers to sewing one piece of cloth onto another. Erica shows examples of appliqué from West Africa and from India.

The main project for this episode is an appliquéd potholder, with the pieces of appliqué cut out of felt. Since felt will not fray, the edges of the appliqué may be unfinished, or as Erica demonstrates, finished with a variety of stitches, including chain stitch, stem stitch, buttonhole, or couching. Taking inspiration from the Indian piece that she showed at the beginning of the episode, which has appliqué edged with cord, Erica demonstrates how to make cord for edging out of wool.

Next, Erica shows a quilt made in Belfast, Maine in 1840 of appliquéd velvet on silk and done with a variety of different embroidery stitches, including feather stitch, herringbone, and double feather stitch. She turns back an edge of the appliqué and reveals that there is paper backing the velvet.

Reverse appliqué is also discussed in this episode.

Asset Type

Broadcast program

Media Type

Video

Subjects
Needlework – Instruction
Maine – Decorative Arts
Wilson, Erica
Reverse Appliqué
Quilting
Appliqué
Embroidery; West Africa – Decorative Arts
India – Decorative Arts
Genres
Instructional
Topics
Crafts
Creators
MacLeod, Margaret I. (Series Producer)
Contributors
MacLeod, Margaret I. (Producer)
Atwood, David (Director)
Wilson, Erica (Host)
Mahard, Frances (Other (see note))
Publication Information
Copyright © 1971 Erica Wilson and WGBH Educational Foundation
Citation
Chicago: “Erica; Applique,” 02/15/1972, GBH Archives, accessed December 22, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_8EF5AB4C5705463F861D77ECB8E3C047.
MLA: “Erica; Applique.” 02/15/1972. GBH Archives. Web. December 22, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_8EF5AB4C5705463F861D77ECB8E3C047>.
APA: Erica; Applique. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_8EF5AB4C5705463F861D77ECB8E3C047
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