GOT metallic threads?
Kreinik threads hit the big time…in the little embroidered details on Game of Thrones costumes
The headline on BuzzFeed caught our attention: "These Close-Ups Of “Game Of Thrones” Fashion Will Take Your Breath Away: The level of detail is staggering. Costume embroider Michele Carragher
takes her job very seriously." Here at Kreinik, we are fans of many
shows and movies, and get excited to see a needlepoint pillow on a set,
or see a movie star knitting. The Buzzfeed article, however, takes you
closer than ever before to Textiles-On-TV: straight to the detailed
embroidery work on costumes worn by Game of Thrones actors. Three cheers
for embroidery! We all know how cool embroidery is, right? Now the
world can see it too.
Read Donna Dickens' article on BuzzFeed when you have a chance, and look at
the stunning embroidery work. At the end of the article, there is a link
to the costume designer's website, where you will find additional
photos of gorgeous costumes, fiber art, and embroidery. Even more, the
designer, Michele Carragher, shares videos of how she makes certain
embroideries for the show. This is must-see internet-tv for all
needleworkers. Michele has worked on costumes for tv and movies for 15+
years (specializing in hand embroidery and surface embellishment), and
has an extensive background in historical textiles and restoration work.
We can all learn a lot from Michele. She is really nice, too, which we
found out when we contacted her.
It
is truly a blessing to see up-close work of a talented needle artist,
but also to have her show you step-by-step how the work is created. You
will recognize some of the stitches she uses and the designers who
influence her work. You probably own some of the same needlework books
that she has in her studio. From looking at her website and viewing her
tutorials, you feel connected to Michele through the fellowship of
embroidery, and extremely proud that needlework made it to the big time
like this. A quick search of "Game of Thrones costumes" on Twitter
reveals a bunch of people who want to be Michele (and a bunch of people
dressing like GOT characters for Halloween this year). This costume
designer from London is bringing needlework to the masses in a very
creative, fun, and HBO way.
To
make a long blog shorter, we contacted Michele to tell her how much we
admired her work and to thank her for sharing tutorial videos for
needleworkers. Her assistant wrote to us, "I have passed your
email onto Michele, she will personally reply to your email at the
weekend...she very busy working away from her London base in Belfast on
Game of Thrones season 4." Oh, how cool.
Michele
contacted us when she had a chance, and said she has used Kreinik
metallic threads on the embroidery in the costumes. "WOW, COOL," was the
collective shriek from Kreinik staff. Catch Season 2, for example, and
zero in on the insects which were created with Kreinik metallics.
Michele's assistant, Franco, sent a video of one of these insects for us to share with everyone. Thank you Franco and Michele! Here is a link to
the clip in which Kreinik threads are used in the details to recreate a
grasshopper. Note: this isn't a real bug - it's embroidered!
Michele commented to us, "Thank
you for visiting my site and I am glad you enjoyed it, apart from being
my Online Portfolio for my film work I hope that it encourages others
to embark on embroidery projects of their own, be they great or small."
What wonderful inspiration for needleworkers of all levels and all ages.
Spend some time on Michele's site today. Be sure to look at how she
created the effect of dragon scales on a dress. Let's hear it for
embroidery!
