Special Angels

During the Christmas season, references and images of angels are as pervasive as Santa Claus. They appear on greeting cards, holiday attire, tree ornaments and home decorations. It is not surprising that there are so many embroidery designs and projects that reflect the public’s interest and fascination with these celestial beings.

In literature, angels are equally prevalent. There are Biblical references, such as, “For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11

And tongue in cheek references, “A baby is an angel whose wings decrease as his legs increase. ~Author Unknown

We just can’t seem to leave angels alone.

A variety of antique pearl buttons appears to hold the pillow cover closed.

The pictured, open ended pillow is used at Christmas. It began as a white linen guest towel, hemstitched at either end. It is embroidered with an angel, from Brother’s Christmas Card #28, and surrounded by a lace 1. wreath or 2. Cloud–whichever you choose to call it. The ecru, antique lace is a lovely, dense pattern which, when cut and stitched back together with a feather stitch, looks almost as if it were a single wreath/cloud lace motif.

The straight stitches of the narrow machine hem along the long sides was removed, then the hem was starched and re-pressed for crispness. Antique lace edging was simply butted up to these long unstitched sides and joined to the linen with a tiny zig zag. Then the hem was held in place with a tiny feather stitch in 50 wt. ecru silk thread.

The angel embroidery is from an early Pfaff embroidery card.

The short ends were overlapped and closed with a variety of small pearl buttons. Because the open ends expose the pillow, one was made of ivory poly silk.

Other times, this design was stitched on silk dupioni and quilted for a holiday wall hanging. A bow was applique’d at the top.

The design, however, is suitable for a number of occasions and situations. Made up as a baby pillow, it is a guardian angel. One Christmas for each of the PlayGroup Mamas, I made a banner by stitching the lace wreath and angel on linen guest towels identical to the one used for the pillow. Gold silk ribbon, 1/8″ wide, was woven through the hemstitching below the angel and a dowel was through the top hem. It was an angel of friendship.

For our cabin in the mountains of North Carolina, I made a country version of the lace angel, using green calicos and an applique’ angel.

The angel applique’ is a free download from Alice Carpenter’ Pea Patch Designs, at www.peapatch.com

At the mention of angels, I can’t help but recall yet another quote, a favorite of mine.