silkroad16@aol.com

Priscilla Lowry MA, Silk Historian, Lecturer and Designer/Maker in Silk

Many people just love silk and are keen to learn more about the history of silk, silk in fashion, silk fabrics, sericulture and silk in the world today.

Choose one of the many talks, lecturers or seminars offered

Or choose a Workshop programme.

Go to the Clothes Gallery to see Handspun, Knitted Jackets and Jerseys, Hand-dyed Garments traditional English Christening Gowns, Trousseau and Bridal wear.

To know more about Priscilla, click CV

To contact Priscilla, click silkroad16@aol.com

PROGRAMME OF TALKS, LECTURES AND SEMINARS ON SILK

Many people would love to know more about the Secrets of Silk. Each talk is planned specifically to the special interests of the Guild or Group. They usually last in total around two hours for the talk, discussion, demonstration of silk spinning and fashion parade and may or may not include slides as the situation requires. The slides are from my own collection taken from either my silk trips abroad or from paintings and medieval manuscripts. My special interest is Medieval History, and the social history of silk, the development of silk textiles, spinning, weaving and embroidery, the history of fashion and the situation for sericulture in the world today.

Each lecture begins with an introduction, and then a review of the slides, including the symbolism and the knowledge that can be gleaned from careful study. Time is then allowed for any questions and discussion. After this, I demonstrate my particular method of silk spinning. As silk handles quite differently from wool and other fibres, and I usually read while I spin, this always creates lots of interest. Six ladies are invited to model the handspun and knitted silk jackets and jerseys and other unique hand-dyed silk garments. Around half and hour or more is allowed so the models can move around among the audience, where each garment can be examined and discussed. It is all great fun, and at the end everyone is invited to come and on try the garments and handle the different silks.

1. The Secrets of Silk. This is a general overview of the history of silk, starting with the myths and legends and tracing the way the knowledge of silk traveled to Korea, Japan, India, across Europe to England and finally to the New World. It brings up to date the situation for sericulture in the world today. Questions of care and handling, identification of different silk fabrics and their suitability for an end use are covered. This talk is not illustrated with slides and so is especially suitable where slides are not possible.

2. Marco Polo and the Silk Route This talk traces the journeys made by Marco Polo, his father and uncle and the other early travelers during the 13^th century. It highlights the conditions of life along the various Silk Routes, and the ancient textiles discovered in Central Asia. It is illustrated with slides taken from Medieval Manuscripts, of the route Marco Polo traveled and also from my crossings of China in his footsteps.
3. Opus Anglicanum, The Story of the Golden Age of Medieval Silk Embroidery. This lecture tells the story of the gorgeous ecclesiastical and secular garments decorated with silk and gold embroidery produced in England between the 10^th and 15^th centuries. It traces the history, symbolism and techniques used to make these garments and highlights the noble women and nuns, the ateliers, agents, guildsmen and women who embroidered these valuable garments, some worth a king’s ransom.
4. The Medieval Spinners Dyers and Weavers. The Rise and Fall of the Silk Businesswomen of London. From my unique Collection of slides taken from Medieval Manuscripts I have drawn together the most magical set of illustrations of the textile craftswomen of the Middle Ages. They include not only examples of many people using different kinds of spindles, spinning wheels and looms but also examples of the Virgin Mary weaving, spinning, embroidering and even knitting.
5. The History of Fashion, ‘...And the Ladies wore Silk.’ Beautiful silk garments are depicted in portraits, paintings and illuminated manuscripts and illustrate the life of the wealthy, famous and most powerful people of each age. Silk was the most luxurious and usually the most expensive fabric and was the first choice for all of the most important occasions. These slides trace and examine the development and changes of styles and fashion and how they reflect the social conditions of the times.
6. Kimono and the Art of Silk in Japan. Silk has always been part of the life of Japan. This talk follows the development of sericulture and the kimono in particular, highlighting the exquisite techniques used to decorate the fabric, and the changes over time. Beautiful kimono will be displayed and the subtle messages of each aspect of kimono will be discussed.
7. Buttons & Bows, The English Silk industry between the 17^th and the 19^th centuries. Different counties became famous for their silk lace, knitting, buttons and ribbons. This talk examines the expansion and contraction of the various silk industries in England and the effect on communities bought about by political decisions and industrial relations.
8. Old World New World, My silk hunts in Japan, Korea, India, China and Europe. This talk brings together sericulture throughout the world, both past and present. There are cataclysmic changes going on due to the effect of some pesticides. Korea for example has turned away from producing silk fibre to developing food products from mulberry and silkworms, many of which I have tasted! Also discussed are the various genome projects and the economic changes and prospects for silk producing counties in the world today.

The talks and are usually a half day, ie morning or afternoon, and the workshops a full day, or weekend and include lots of practical work. Perhaps it would be appropriate for a number of groups to get together to make it a special event.

To contact Priscilla regarding possible dates, diary commitments, fees etc.

click on her email address silkroad16@aol.com,

1 Working with Silk,

The aim of this one or two day workshop is to expand horizons and demystify working with silk. It is focused towards all textile workers, weavers, embroiderers, patchworkers, braid, felt and paper makers who would love to be able to make their own silk threads, of different styles and thickness, but who have no intention of learning to spin. We start by making cocoons from Mawata caps, and then go on to make fancy yarns from other silk fibres and possibly dye these silks, using the microwave method. It is a wonderful opportunity to enhance and individualize your creative work. Also included will be discussions on identification, care, tests and the selection of different silks for different end purposes. No prior experience required

2 Handspinning and Plying Silk

This Master Class workshop of one or two days is for reasonably competent handspinners and focuses on the many special ways to spin and ply all the different types of silk fibres. The emphasis is on learning the different techniques to get just the unique effect you want for a specific project, whether for a warp or weft, for handknitting, embroidering or decorating textiles. We include fancy spins and textures and cover handling the different silks and their care. The time is spent on joyfully discovering new skills to enhance and individualize your creative work.

1. Dyeing silk.

This workshop can be an extension to workshop 1 or 2 and will cover dyeing silk fibre, yarn and fabric, using the microwave method. It is one of my most popular workshops. Using small amounts of acid dyes, mixed to a powder with water, the silks are heat set in the microwave. It is so quick and produces magical and surprising colours and effects. It is really safe and easy and enormous fun and can enhance and expand your own unique and original designs.

Other than a microwave, you need plastic sheeting to protect the table, small paint brushes to apply the dyes, water to wash out the brushes, and an iron or a hair drier to quickly dry the yarns.

4. Knitting and Designing with Silk and Drafting knitting patterns.

This 1 or 2 day workshop uses the silk we have spun we design and knit a garment highlighting the unique properties of silk. We start with taking measurements and doing easy calculations to get the right number of stitches and the correct tension, followed by a discussion of aspects of knitwear design and colour. We knit a scale model garment and incorporate all the special knitting techniques to give your knitting the professional look and perfect finish.

5. Sewing Silk for Patchworkers, and Quilters and Embroiderers

This workshop focuses on handling different silks and utilizing their special properties to make patchwork quilts and garments. Silk is beautiful to use for quilting, and can expand the overall effect wonderfully. We trim the different silk fabrics and embellishing the quilts with handmade silk yarns and fibres to attain special effects. We include lots of techniques to deal with the special nature of silk, ruching, gathering, pintucking, goffering, fraying and singeing etc.

6. 6 Sewing Fine Silk Lingerie,
7. This two day workshop starts with pattern drafting and includes the techniques for making silk lingerie. We begin with a discussion of suitable silk fabrics, and elements of design and go on to take measurements and draft the pattern onto paper. This pattern is then cut out in muslin and tacked together to make a toile. The fit is checked, and then cut out in silk and sewn, using all the special techniques, like french seams, pin tucking, insertion etc. We plan to make both a camisole and knickers, and possibly a half slip or summer top. It is enormous fun. Each person needs to bring their sewing machine.
8. Pattern Drafting

One of the most worthwhile workshops is pattern drafting. Working from a basic pattern, we can design and cut any style at all, make all the alterations to get the best fit, widen backs, alter waist lines, put in pleats and pockets, make flared skirts and different sleeves. The possibilities are endless and it is so easy, once you know how.

For most of the workshops I supply each member with a silk kit, £7.50 each of all the silks we will be using during the course.

It is my greatest joy to share my love of silk and I would be guided by you as to what would be of most interest to your members. Please let me know how I can best fit in with your programme.

To contact Priscilla regarding possible dates, diary commitments, fees etc.

click on her email address silkroad16@aol.com,

All my life I have been teaching and working with silk. After training as a teacher of Home Economics, I attained my first degree, majoring in Art History. I taught textiles, including all the techniques related to sewing, embroidery, pattern drafting, colour and design. After some years of exhibiting my unique handspun and woven garments, I established Gallery St John, where I focused on Wearable Art in silk. As well as exhibiting my own work, I was invited regularly to exhibit at other Galleries around New Zealand. I commissioned art work and silk clothing from the best and most original textile artists and traveled abroad to buy unique silk items for my Gallery. I was regularly invited to give lectures and talks on silk.

In 1988 I left New Zealand and came to London where for another seven years I was the Director of the Schuster Gallery. This gallery specialized in antique prints, antiquarian books and illuminated medieval manuscripts. It was during this time that I attained my MA in Medieval History from London University, the dissertation was entitled the ‘The Medieval Silk Women of London 1368-1495’. I then went back to my first love, working with silk, researching, lecturing and giving workshops on silk textiles, spinning, dyeing, knitting and designing clothing in silk and making fancy silk yarns for embroidery and quilting. Each year I produce a new collection of silk garments, handspun, knitted, dyed and hand-painted. Garments from this Collection are presented in a fashion parade as part of each talk, lecture or seminar.

I spend the months March to November teaching, doing travelling around the UK giving talks, lectures and seminars to a wide range of Guilds and clubs on all aspects of the history of silk. I also give workshops lasting between one to five days, sharing imaginative techniques for spinning, dyeing, designing, knitting, sewing and embroidering silk. Between December and March, I return to New Zealand via Japan, Korea, India, Thailand and Europe and other silk producing countries where I have had the privilege to be the guest of many of the people involved in the many aspects of sericulture, research and production. I have been invited to be a member of the International Silk Association and will be going to the Congress in Bangalore, India.

To contact Priscilla regarding possible dates, diary commitments, fees etc.

click on her email address silkroad16@aol.com,

CLOTHES GALLERY

PICTURE GALLERY IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Handpainted silks

Christening Gowns

Trousseau lingerie

Bridal

Latin Cardigan

To contact Priscilla regarding possible orders, commissioning garments, fees etc.

click on her email address silkroad16@aol.com