Tartan Liturgical Stole

[Alan H]

Mods, this post does touch on "religion"...in a vague sort of way, I guess so if you think it has to go, then I won't have a problem with it.

I'm doing something very odd. I'm...well, I guess the closest thing to what I'm doing is quilting. That's right, Quilting.

We have a Seminary Intern at church, her name is Maggie. She's a sweetheart, a remarkably insightful and honest young woman and she's been a totally perfect fit for our congregation. She's also 23 years old, a child of her generation and she uses analogies which I find refreshing...things like comparing her childhood and teenage impression of what the Magi looked like, to Dumbledore. I just find it refreshing to be hearing from a newer generations insights, you know?

Anyway, so her years internship is up in August and I'm making her a kilt out of some lightweight Lindsay, modern tartan that I have lying around. We were having lunch the other day and I asked her if she wanted me to use the excess tartan to make a liturgical stole for her. She got quite excited about this, so I took on the project. I've never done anything like this before, and honestly I probably won't do it again but it's been an interesting process designing something, then figuring how to make it happen with bits of fabric. Her friend (and my friend) Maija will be adding some beadwork to the design as well, so it will be a joint present to Maggie from us both.

I find it entertaining that before work, 4 mornings a week I'm "sewing"...how UN-manly...but after work three days a week I'm throwing trees and boulders. the contrast - I enjoy it.

Here's a pic of the "in-progress" part of the design....grapevine wrapping around a cross on a tartan background. The vine will have embroidered leaves and beaded grape clusters. I've since trimmed down the thickness of the vine branches a bit, and stitched them down. The majority of the stole is dark heather green, this is just the decorative panel.. Green is the liturgical color that gets used the most during the Lutheran liturgical year, but I figure that the stole has blue and purple in it, too, so she can wear it during those seasons as well.

[sydnie7]

Very nice work and a thoughtful gift, Alan.

[Alan H]

PS: she's not a "Lindsay" and honestly if I had more time and some more $$ to devote to the project I'd pick a different tartan. Clan Cian would work wonderfully on Maggie, and Stewart Blue, Dress would also be very nice. However, Lindsay is what I had so that's what she's getting!

[Alan H]

Very nice work and a thoughtful gift, Alan.

Thanks, sydnie. Now the next project will have to be a kilt for our Pastors wife, Gwen, who also happens to be an ordained Lutheran pastor. Pastor Greg's kilt is a Campbell tartan, which I also had lying around. He's Spanish and Portugese, and the dark tartan looks good on him. Gwens family is Robertson. I think I have some projects coming up!

[Father Bill]

Nicely done! I'm impressed!

[piperdbh]

Is it safe to assume she's a student at PLTS? I'm a grad of Lenoir-Rhyne College, a Lutheran school on my side of the continent. When will she be ordained? It would be an honor to you if she wore that stole for her first Eucharist, whether it's in Ordinary Time or not.

[TheOfficialBren]

Very nice but I would say it's more like embroidery.

Source: mother is a professional quilter (so were grandmothers and many aunts) and I've been around quilting my entire life.

[Alan H]

Yes, Maggie and her husband both go to PLTS. I'm just figuring out this Lutheran Hierarchy thing, somehow I have the impression that you're not actually ordained until you receive your first call to a church. Is that right?

I would in fact be thrilled to pieces if she wore this stole to her first Eucharist! For now, I'll settle for a big smile and a hug and the sight of her wearing it on her last Sunday, which is August 3rd. I suppose that technically, since she's not ordained, that means that she's not supposed to wear a stole at all...she never does...but I figure, sometimes rules are made to be broken. She can wear it on August 3rd and I dare the synod office to call us out on it!

[Alan H]

Very nice but I would say it's more like embroidery.

Source: mother is a professional quilter (so were grandmothers and many aunts) and I've been around quilting my entire life.

Maybe the best word is "applique"?

I cut out the grapevine stems for the other panel this morning and figured out how I'm going to do the leaves. The leaves are going to be time consuming and the clock is ticking. *gulp*

[MacRobert's Reply]

Nice job and a most appropriate gift.

Have you considered using Clergy green tartan for a stole?