GBH Openvault
Erica; Graphics A To Z
Part of From the Vault. Part of Erica Wilson: The Julia Child of Needlework.
11/09/1971
In a play on the opening of public televisions Sesame Street, Erica begins this episode by saying, Todays program is presented by the letters E and W. This episode is about using monograms in embroidery. For inspiration, Erica shows an example of textual embroidery on the inside of an 18th century handbag, which reads, This was wrought by me Ruth Twitchel in the year 1793. She then discusses ways to find inspiration for designing monogrammed initials, suggesting historical sources, such as the Book of Kells, as well as flipping through contemporary magazines for typographical inspiration. Erica also suggests creating a working sampler of embroidered letters in various fonts and done in various stitches to refer back to later. She shows two items that she has monogrammeda Bermuda handbag and a tennis racket coverand then demonstrates the project for the episode, monogrammed initials on a bed sheet using an embroidery frame. Erica also shares a trick for making satin stitch (the preferred stitch for monogramming) look professionaluse split stitch to outline the satin stitches. Summary and select metadata for this record was submitted by Amanda Sikarskie.
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- Series
- Erica
- Program
- Graphics A To Z
- Program Number
105
- 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
In a play on the opening of public television’s Sesame Street, Erica begins this episode by saying, “Today’s program is presented by the letters ‘E’ and ‘W.’” This episode is about using monograms in embroidery.
For inspiration, Erica shows an example of textual embroidery on the inside of an 18th century handbag, which reads, “This was wrought by me Ruth Twitchel in the year 1793.” She then discusses ways to find inspiration for designing monogrammed initials, suggesting historical sources, such as the Book of Kells, as well as flipping through contemporary magazines for typographical inspiration. Erica also suggests creating a working sampler of embroidered letters in various fonts and done in various stitches to refer back to later.
She shows two items that she has monogrammed—a Bermuda handbag and a tennis racket cover—and then demonstrates the project for the episode, monogrammed initials on a bed sheet using an embroidery frame. Erica also shares a trick for making satin stitch (the preferred stitch for monogramming) look professional—use split stitch to outline the satin stitches.
Featured stitch: stem stitch.
- Asset Type
Broadcast program
- Media Type
Video
- Subjects
- Samplers
- Monograms
- Wilson, Erica
- Embroidery
- Typography
- Needlework Instruction
- Genres
- Instructional
- Topics
- Crafts
- Creators
- MacLeod, Margaret I. (Series Producer)
- Contributors
- Wilson, Erica (Host)
- Field, James (Director)
- Mahard, Frances (Other (see note))
- MacLeod, Margaret I. (Producer)
- Publication Information
- Copyright © 1971 Erica Wilson and WGBH Educational Foundation
- Citation
- Chicago: “Erica; Graphics A To Z,” 11/09/1971, GBH Archives, accessed April 23, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_B391FDA81BD744F5B5B0B92B149C96F8.
- MLA: “Erica; Graphics A To Z.” 11/09/1971. GBH Archives. Web. April 23, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_B391FDA81BD744F5B5B0B92B149C96F8>.
- APA: Erica; Graphics A To Z. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_B391FDA81BD744F5B5B0B92B149C96F8