Completion and gift of faldstool covers to Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane

 Many members will recognise these faldstool covers, which have been under construction for many months. They were completed during lockdown, and when lockdown 2 was lifted, we were able to take them in person to Maiden Lane to present to Fr Alan Robinson. They were needed for the Second Sunday in Advent, when the parish was expecting a visit from Bishop Robert Byrne of Hexham & Newcastle Diocese.

To my relief they fitted the faldstool as they ought, and looked beautiful in the magnificent setting of Corpus Christi, which Fr Robinson has lovingly restored. He has been spending his lockdown in making as many improvements to the church and its furnishings as possible, and the church is a fitting place for pontifical liturgies for which the faldstool is needed.

We have enjoyed making these covers enormously, and many Guild members have learned a lot about the traditional methods of vestment making in the process. I know that Fr Stephen Morrison OPraem, of the Chelmsford Norbertines, is particularly looking forward to assisting at a Pontifical Mass at which the black set will be used, as he himself contributed largely to the making of it.

Our next commissions involve making stoles, maniples, chalice veils and burses to complete Low Mass sets belonging to the Latin Mass Society. This will make use of the same skills that we have honed in the making of the faldstool covers: after this, I hope we'll make short work of them.

Sewing and lace-making lessons in London

 Claire Fitzgerald, one of our generous and dedicated volunteers, is offering sewing classes for children and adults: for more information or to get in touch with Clare, click here.

Vestment Mending in December

We are happy to confirm that our vestment mending day on 12th December will go ahead as planned, at the church hall of St Gregory & St Augustine, Oxford. For further details, including our Covid 19 protocols, or to book a place, please email Lucy at lucyashaw@gmail.com . 

Claire's Carickmacross Lace

One of our skilled members, Claire Fitzgerald, has recently completed work on some Carickmacross Lace, a technique new to her. Carickmacross is a needlepoint lace which was introduced to Ireland in the early nineteenth century. It's often used in making communion and wedding veils (including that of HRH the Duchess of Cambridge whose Carickmacross wedding gown was made at the Royal School of Needlework).

Claire used the harp and shamrock pattern designed by the Carrickmacross Lace Gallery in Co. Monaghan, Ireland.

Claire says: "The base layer is a net, with organdie laid on top. The design is then applied using a series of couching stitches and then the organdie is cut away in the background areas to expose the mesh. A fine thread is weaved in between the net to create a lacy look. This creates an illusion of depth and layering of the design (i.e. foreground, middle-ground and background). It’s finished off with a few eyelets in the mesh and loops around the edges to give it a nice finished border."    

James completes his Jacobean Crewelwork

James Sharpe, the first winner of the Guild of St Clare sponsorship to the Royal School of Needlework, has finished his first piece of embroidery for the Jacobean Crewelwork technique, and will submit it in December when the mounting is complete.

James already had a background in art and design when he began the RSN Certificate course, and his design is laden with symbolism. The top represents the kingdom of Heaven, the thistles the pains of Hell, the central vine the vine of Christ and the narrow way, and the oxen the determined disciple. This exciting piece combines the English tradition of embroidery for upholstery and domestic furnishings with familiar liturgical symbols, using it to tell a story.

Many congratulations to James on this achievement: I am sure the assessors will be as impressed as we at the Guild of St Clare are!

Fr Stephen makes a tabernacle veil

Fr Stephen Morrison has used some of his rare leisure hours to make a new tabernacle veil, upcycled from an old one, to match the priory altar frontal. It's backed with moire, and Fr Stephen has added some couched work down the front.

Not just beautiful, but thrifty!

New member's project: Platinum needles and needle boxes

James Sharpe, the Guild's first winner of the Royal School of Needlework sponsorship, has discovered these fabulous platinum-plated needles (which he describes as "the best £2.62 I have spent for a long time") - for a Rolls Royce sewing experience, they are highly recommended. 

To single them out among his other needles he has created these special needle boxes, using Russian matchboxes.

It's all about the sewing stash!