I recently released a new line of patterns. One of these patterns is the Welcome Banner, a wool appliqué pattern on a linen background.
Though I am most frequently inspired by classic American folk art, I draw inspiration from many sources. The Victorian era was full of fascinating crafts, many mass-produced. One such craft was the paper punched pattern, a piece of paper filled with holes that had a pattern you could stitch on, usually words or mottos.
Photo courtesy of Mary Corbet, Needle 'n Thread: https://www.needlenthread.com/2010/07/victorian-perforated-paper-embroidery.html
When you go antiquing enough, you will see things like these around. And while they were a mass-produced craft, I enjoyed the idea and style of them. It is what began the inspiration for the Welcome Banner.
I turned to my daughter Kelsey for some assistance with the lettering. We figured out the best way to create wool applique lettering that did not look childish but had the look of Victorian mottos with the calligraphy-style lettering.
This style often included naturalistic motifs, especially leaves and flowers. I am very fond of oak leaves and acorns, so I chose those to be the background for this piece. I first taught it as a class, and moved into the line of patterns. I have stitched it in two colorways, and I hope they give you some inspiration for your own Welcome Banner.
I love the idea of this hanging in an entryway to greet guests to your home (which is where I hung mine). It would be a lovely addition above a door, too! I can’t wait to see what you make with this design. Find a retailer here: www.rebekahlsmith.com/find-a-retailer
