Turkish Delight by Corrine Jones

I chose this class project by Rachel Atkinson because of its unique charm and timeless beauty. It proved to be a bridge to me from stitchers of the old Ottoman Empire and gave me an unexpected new perspective on historic needlework from another culture while still quite contemporary in its finished appearance. This small arabesque is true to its early Islamic origins and depicts only floral and geometric themes with no animal or human forms. In spite of the uncomplicated design, it is created with complex and intricate Turkish stitches, including variations of Duz Sira, Atki, Balik Sirti, Sarma and Locum. These are traditional stitches found in old Turkish embroideries that are still used today. A variety of threads are incorporated, including silk which is appropriate to the origins of the piece.