Mountmellick Embroidery

Mountmellick Work/Mountmellick embroidery/Irish White Embroidery is a form of whitework embroidery which originated in the town of Mountmellick, Ireland.

1. First and foremost, it is not delicate in the least. It uses heavy cotton (knitting) yarn or matt cotton, not the mercerized stuff, sewn on stiff and sturdy cotton fabric, so it holds up well to lots of hard washing and is useful for household linens that are used often.

Hence, it is quick towork up something. Several weights of threads could be used on the same piece to achieve

whatever effect the worker intended. Crewel needles were preferred...and still are.

While this style of embroidery has been used on finer fabrics with finer threads

2. Mountmellick work is made up of large designs resembling actual flowers and leaves. The

designs were as true to nature as possible, large, bold, well-defined outlines and there is lots of

space between designs, helping them stand out.

3. Edges are finished in a buttonhole stitch with a knitted fringe.

4. There is no openwork. All stitching is done on the surface.

5. Stitches include the usual outline stitches: satin, buttonhole, feather, knots, and lots of

variations and combinations of these, but Mountmellick work also employs what is known as

the Mountmellick stitch.

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