The art of the canarian drawn thread work
The Casa de Los Balcones is the true temple of the canarian drawn thread work. This carried out faithful to tradition, pampering the secular techniques with the desire to transmit them to future generations in the workshops developed in it and where the name of Eladia Machado remains.
Mrs Eladia Machado
This master craftswoman, in the 1940s, had her workshop in the current Eladia Machado Craft House, on San Francisco street (La Orotava). From his mastery, the current canarian typical costume was born, whose origin dates back to the mid-nineteenth century of the Monteverde family – one of the wealthiest families in La Orotava-.
Eladia Machado explaining how the typical drawn thread work is made
From the safe and expert hands of these artisans, authentic works of art are born, ranging from the rich tablecloths, suitable for decorating important occasions, to the centerpieces of all measures, within the reach of any pocket.
The drawn thread work and the Rosette are the two most used artisan techniques in the Canary Islands. The first is an embroidery, consisting of unraveling a cloth tightly attached to a wooden frame while the rosette consists of forming drawings with threads, which are crossed between pins placed on a small circular cloth support.
Embroiderers in the Patio of La Casa de Los Balcones
From La Casa de Los Balcones we want to share centuries of history and tradition with our entire community. That is why we gather our best artisan works made by our master embroiderers. Below we summarize the different types of drafts, the techniques used and the materials that are developed day by day in our Craft Workshop.
Making drawn thread work
What is the slow, painstaking and exhausting task?
Putting the canvas on the frame, and under the protection of the tension, some threads are extracted; others, which remain, are grouped in different drawings.
Canarian drawn thread work tablecloth
Types of drawn thread work motifs
- Camelia
- Caracol | Mariposa
- Colcha
- Corbata
- Corona | Flor
- Coronilla
- Cruz del Teide | Culantrillo
- Flor | Corona
- Flor | Masa Coral
- Flor | Trébol
- Flores de 4 pétalos
- Galleta Vieja
- Galleta | Trébol
- Garañón
- Garañón | Soles
- Madrigal
- Marañuela
- Mariposa
- Masa Coral
- Masa Coral | Randa
- Randa Mixta
- Soles
Techniques
- Drawn thread work: Tying of strands and filling of empty spaces adorned with drawing.
- Marking: Extract as many threads from the fabric as necessary for the execution of the stitch you want to make, forming a pattern in which holes and threads are alternated.
- Spikelets: Continuous stitches that are knotting several threads and that border the drawing, finishing off the fabric that is inside in contact with the drawn thread work spaces.
- Past of threads: Set of threads that are passed geometrically and that support the drawing to be made
- Randa: It consists of removing threads from the fabric in a single direction, in which the threads are grouped and knotted up and down in a zig zag shape, forming rhombuses in the center of the cutwork.
- Bartack: Finishing of the outer edges formed by a cord of stitches very close together that prevent the cutwork from escaping and undoing.
- Sardine sprigs: Crossed strand in the shape of an eight.
- Point: Straight line formed by continuous knots.
