literary inspiration

Loving Lilacs in “Jane Eyre”

June 16, 2021 Anne 6 Comments

I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you.
Charlotte Brontë, JANE EYRE

Reader, I absolutely love Jane Eyre. I first saw it in the spring of 2011. My mom and I would periodically rent period drama DVDs from our local library, and we decided to give the 2006 mini-series a go over the Easter weekend. I don’t think either of us had ever been more mesmerized by a movie, ever. We were so caught up in the story that we watched all four hours of it with no sense of passing time at all. My, but was it captivating!

Watching Jane Eyre every spring is now tradition for us (and we’ve started watching it over Christmas too) and it seems to get better every time. I’ve since seen many other adaptations, but none is as good as this one. I read the book in the summer of 2012, and fell even more in love with it than ever. I remember there being lots of rain and thunderstorms nearly every evening I read the book, which suited itself so perfectly to the atmosphere.

Jane Eyre is now forever evocative of the late spring/early summer season, of blooming flowers, rain-soaked trees, and thunderstorms.

hardcover summer special edition of Jane Eyre surrounded by fresh lilacs

I love it to the moon and back.

There’s something I’ve always found irresistible about love stories between a governess and the master of the house. And while romance is certainly not this novel’s only merit, it is rather center stage and one of the greatest love stories in English literature (probably in all literature, lol).

While researching my Honours project on the relationship between the Language of Flowers and hand embroidery in the Victorian era, I came across several examples of its use in literature as well. The wonderful Language of Flowers companion, A Victorian Flower Dictionary by Mandy Kirkby discussed the significance of the lilac flower in Jane Eyre.

Lilac: First Emotions of Love

It’s no surprise, then, that the lilac appears during the love declaration scene. (Spoiler alert if you haven’t read this book yet!!) When Jane and Rochester passionately declare their feelings for each other, they’re standing in front of a blooming lilac tree. This is the scene where you get the famous I AM NO BIRD AND I WILL NOT BE CAGED quote.

I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will; which I now exert to leave you.
Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

Ok, I was off, but it’s such an incredible moment in this story! (and one which so many of the film adaptations had trouble capturing, but don’t get me started!)

Although technically neither are experiencing the “first” emotions of love at that moment since their feelings built over time, the lilac is still significant. For Jane it’s the first time she’s ever been in love and is able to give in to her feelings. For Rochester it’s certainly the first time he’s known true love. (I make this sound like some sort of sappy fairytale, but I assure you it’s not!! :P)

And during that scene under the lilac tree, it’s the first time they finally confess their feelings. Even though you, dear reader, know they will fall in love from the moment they meet (again with the syrupy fairytale…).

real lilac branch overshadowing Jane Eyre book and embroidery

I knew when I came across that passage in Kirkby’s book that I would have to embroider lilacs in honour of Jane Eyre. I already had a project in mind, this insanely gorgeous branch from a pattern by Carol Andrews in her book Embroideries from an English Garden.

embroidered lilac branch surrounded by fresh lilac

It’s a bit ambitious, especially since I’d never tried the bullion knot before (and the instructions called for EIGHT per flower!), but I was determined to give it a go.

Lilac Embroidery

I can safely say that this is hands-down my favourite thing I’ve ever embroidered. It turned out so well, despite some insanely last-minute stitching that became pretty stressful. I wanted to turn the embroidery into a journal cover as a Christmas gift for my mom, but in classic me style I left most of the stitching until the last few days before Christmas and I was STRESSED. But I did it! And boy am I happy with it!

view of finished embroidery surrounded by fresh lilac

It’s really the beads that do it for me, they add so much charm and life to it, I just love it. I’m definitely using beads again in future embroideries!

The project is honestly not even that hard, it’s just really time-consuming because there are many layers to think of.

First, the leaves, stems, and branch. I used long & short stitch and whatever green threads I had on hand that matched the recommended ones as closely as possible (gotta do what you gotta do when the fabric store is closed). The instructions called for fancy Madeira silk threads and Appleton crewel threads, but unfortunately I had none of those. I made do with good ol’ DMC cotton floss for everything. I think I worked in 2 strands to make the process go a little bit faster.

Then, I continued with the flowers. Each petal has a layer of satin stitch underneath the bullion knots to ensure the fabric won’t show through. Again, I used whatever lilac-y mauves and purples I could find. Once I finished satin-stitching all the petal bases, it was time to attack those bullion knots.

By that point, I had tried to make a bullion knot ONCE and was only mildly successful. It was December 22^nd at this point and I was tempted to just…not.

I tried the bullion knot again and failed miserably several times. There was no way I would finish on time unless I performed a miracle.

So I did.

close up of embroidered lilac flowers and beads

(If only I could do that with anything, hahaha!)

As you can see, the result is highly satisfying and looks just like an actual bullion knot. But of all the knots pictured here, only ONE was made using the actual bullion-knot way. The rest, I just magically willed into existence 😉

I came up with what I think is a GENIUS hack for those dreaded bullion knots. Doubtless others before me have thought of it, but I was pretty happy for coming up with a solution by myself.

I’ve prepared a lovely little tutorial for you all, in which I spill the beans on my genius hack so that you too can tackle bullion knots with no fear whatsoever.

See this post if you want to learn it: Awesome Bullion Knot Hack.

You’ll never be scared of bullion knots again, and no one will be the wiser.

close up view of embroidered lilac branch

All in all, I think I did one of my favourite books justice with Carol Andrews’ incredible pattern. This was totally worth it, but next time I’M STARTING IT AHEAD OF TIME. I say this every single time and never learn. *sigh*

Useful Links

If you’re interested in more of my fangirling over Jane Eyre, head on over to my Goodreads, where I reviewed the book in which I set the spooky atmosphere and tell you imagine Jane walking down a misty path and bewitching a man’s horse.
The absolutely gorgeous summer hardcover special edition was a gift from one of my dearest friends, and it’s from Chapters (or Barnes & Nobles, if you’re in the USA).
If you want to read Jane Eyre for free, you can download a free copy at Project Gutenberg or borrow it online at Open Library.
Carol Andrews’s Embroideries from an English Garden: Chapters or Amazon US.
A Victorian Flower Dictionary: The Language of Flowers Companion by Mandy Kirkby: Chapters or Barnes & Nobles.

And with all this, let’s end on this fabulous quote:

The soul, fortunately, has an interpreter – often an unconscious but still a faithful interpreter – in the eye.
Brontë, Jane Eyre

May it inspire you in turn to stitch some blooming flowers and read (or re-read) Jane Eyre. For the best film adaptations and which ones to avoid like the plague, don’t hesitate to get in touch any time. DM me on Insta @northernbellediary or leave a comment or send me an email (anne.marie@diaryofanorthernbelle.com)😊. Also be sure to subscribe to my newsletter so you don’t miss my awesome bullion knot hack!

Fondly,

Embroidery inspiration lilacs from Jane Eyre — Pin to save for later!

FREE Embroidery Pattern & Tutorial: Wisteria Branch

June 12, 2021 Anne 4 Comments

Who’s ready for a hand embroidery pattern freebie? 🙂

Read on to download this sweet wisteria embroidery pattern & see the tutorial. 🙂 Last week, I introduced you to one of my new favourite novels, The Enchanted April, by Elizabeth von Arnim. We talked about how dreamy and escapist it was, and how much flower inspiration there was to be found in it. The wisteria in particular, proved to be a wonderful subject for embroidery!

If you haven’t seen that post, check it out here.

I showed you a bit of how I embroidered my wisteria-inspired project, and if you liked it then the good news is that I have more wisteria for you this week!

embroidered wisteria branch finished side view

embroidered wisteria branch finished view from top

I created this pattern so I could share my newfound love of wisteria with you all. Now you can stitch your own! May it bring you sunshine and happiness as promised in The Enchanted April.

The pattern is super simple and accessible to beginners. I only used three basic stitches: the split stitch, the lazy-daisy stitch, and a form of leaf stitch. Simply click on any of these for a full tutorial on how to work them.

Tutorial:

I used DMC floss, but you can use another brand if you like. You can find a good conversion chart here. I used 2 strands throughout the whole project.

#153 (Vy Lt. Violet)

#210 (Md. Lavender)

#470 (Lt. Avocado Green)

#553 (Violet)

#3011 (Dk. Khaki Green)

#3042 (Lt. Antique Violet)

1. Branches

Begin by stitching the branches (or stems?) with #470 . Since the leaves and the flowers will go over it, it’s easier to start with it first. I used the split stitch, but feel free to use any other outline stitch that you like, such as the backstitch or the stem stitch. Stitch all the way down the middle of the flower cluster. Some of it will show through once the flowers are stitched. You can also stop the branch before the cluster if you don’t want it showing through or you want to make your flowers very tight together.

2. Leaves

There are many ways to embroider leaves, but I kept it super simple here and just stitched mine with a simple leaf stitch. The method I use is kind of a cross between satin stitch and fishbone stitch. Using 2 strands of #470, make a small straight stitch from the top of the leaf to the top of the guideline running down the middle vein.

Work your way down the leaf by starting your stitches on the outline of the leaf and ending on the middle guideline for the central vein. Make your stitches at a diagonal angle to keep the shape of the leaf. I like to work one side at a time (usually I start with the right).

leaf worked in straight stitches one side at a time

If you’re satisfied with the look of the leaves as they are after this step, you can skip the next step! I just wanted to add a bit more colour and texture to mine.

Using #3011, make a straight stitch down the middle of the leaf for the main vein. I also added two very small stitches on either side, also on a slight angle.

3. The Flowers

The flowers are all worked in lazy-daisy stitches, sort of scattered in a downward motion and fairly close together to create the droopy cluster effect. On your pattern, the dotted line indicates the shape the finished cluster will take. You don’t have to transfer that line on your fabric as it may leave marks if it’s not entirely covered in stitches. It’s more just to give you an idea of the finished size and shape. You can transfer the straight lines going down from the stem, as those should be all covered and will help you to guide the placement of your stitches.

You want to work your lazy-daisies downward, some going straight down, and others going at slight angles from the branch. There is no specific placement for each of them though, and this is a very forgiving flower for embroidery. One stitch or two out of place will only add shape to it! Have fun with it and experiment with where you place your stitches if you want to change the shape a bit, or the way it hangs.

lazy-daisy stitches embroidered along wisteria branch to create flowers

wisteria branch being filled with lazy-daisy stitches to create the flowers

I used #153, #3042 and #210 for the smaller branch, and #153, #3042 and #553 for the bigger one.

And there you go! I decided to add a little bow at the last minute to give it a more finished look. I used a piece of narrow white satin ribbon, tied it into a bow and sewed it to the base of the branch.

view of little white ribbon bow at base of wisteria branch

It looks pretty cute I think! I really hope you have fun stitching this wisteria pattern. This is the first “real” pattern I’ve ever made so I’m pretty excited. Any feedback will be super appreciated and I would love it if you show me your results! Tag me on Instagram @northernbelle.atelier if you try this wisteria pattern! 🙂 Also don’t hesitate to reach out for any questions or comments and be sure to subscribe to my newsletter for more embroidery content!

Fondly,

wisteria embroidery free pattern — Pin to save for later!

Wisteria Embroidery: Inspired by The Enchanted April

June 4, 2021 Anne Leave a Comment

Ready for more springtime embroidery inspiration (it’s technically still spring though it feels like summer!)? This week is all about wisteria. The inspiration came from a classic novel that is now one of my favourites!

Discover the Enchanted April through embroidery

You know the feeling of being listless and unhappy, when the weather is cold and miserable and you just feel stuck in the same endless routine day in and day out? And then you scroll through social media and see travel ads for sunny beaches in the south or luxurious getaways in Europe?

What if you actually clicked on the ad and worse, actually went to the destination of your dreams? Just to escape life for a short month and be happy, for a change?

Oh, wouldn’t it be loverly!

Unfortunately, for most of us that is sadly not an option. Not realistic in the least. But hopefully, you aren’t listless and unhappy. And if you are, well this post is all about sunshine and happiness and is sure to lift your spirits up!

finished wisteria embroidery and The Enchanted April bookcover shown on iPad

You see, the heroines of Elizabeth von Arnim’s The Enchanted April were lucky enough to get their dreamy escape.

Because it’s fiction and it’s the 1920s in Europe and it’s a wonderful story, four women take the plunge and actually respond to the ad that comes their way. It promises wisteria and sunshine at a medieval castle in Italy. How does one resist?

Escaping their various dreary realities in rainy England, they journey to San Salvatore where they intend to spend a month doing nothing but recharging their batteries and admiring the lush, beautiful landscapes. And oh, is there ever something to admire! Von Arnim’s descriptions are absolutely breath-taking.

different cover of The Enchanted April shown on iPad

The setting she creates is as magical and escapist as it gets. Reading this book is like flicking through a Bliss Victoria magazine. It is all garden and flowers and relaxation and flowy tea gowns.

“[…] where the pergola ended the sun blazed on scarlet geraniums, bushes of them, and nasturtiums in great heaps, and marigolds so brilliant that they seemed to be burning, and red and pink snapdragons, all outdoing each other in bright, fierce colour.”
Elizabeth von Arnim, The Enchanted April.

finished wisteria embroidery against bottom half of Enchanted April bookcover on iPad

Oh, the beautiful, dreamy imagery!

(You can find my full review of the book (really it’s just more gushing) here on Goodreads.)

I picked up this charming novel in early April because it was the month’s selection at The Enchanted Book Club. I didn’t finish it on time, but I was inspired to create something from it as soon as I read the ad about wisteria and sunshine. The more I read, the more I realized it would be impossible to incorporate ALL the flowers mentioned in the book in my embroidery (unless I worked all year on it!), but the wisteria really stuck with me. The idea for the umbrella emerged from a sketch in my bullet journal setup for April, and I knew it would go perfectly with the wisteria!

Flower Meaning & Significance: Wisteria

Alright, confession: I’ve never seen wisteria, and I didn’t know what it looked like when I started reading. I knew it was some kind of flower, but I had no idea what it actually looked like! Does it grow in Canada? I think it’s definitely popular in Europe and in Japan, from the images that come up when you Google it.

branches of wisteria — Photo by **Olya Kobruseva** from **Pexels**

Growing in great big vine-like clusters and filling the air with their sweet fragrance, it’s no wonder that the wisteria would be greatly enticing in that newspaper ad. Imagine it growing all over the medieval castle walls, its branches hanging by your bedroom window!

“The wisteria was tumbling over itself in its excess of life, its prodigality of flowering, […]”
Elizabeth von Arnim, The Enchanted April.

I had to dig around a bit in a few Victorian flower dictionary to find its floriography meaning. My beloved Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway did not have anything on wisteria. But I did find it in another A-Z dictionary of the same name. It was published in 1868 by Frederick Warne & Co. in London. (You can access it for free on Internet Archive here.)

The wisteria stands for welcome, fair stranger.

This meaning is very pertinent in the context of the story, since the flowering wisteria is in full bloom when the four ladies arrive at San Salvatore at the beginning of April. All being English, they are strangers to Italy, but receive a most warm welcome, not the least from the flowers. The wisteria is there to welcome them, in all its abundant purple glory. It starts to fade after the first week, just as the ladies are settling in, and makes way for the banksia roses.

finished wisteria hoop art against book cover of The Enchanted April on iPad

Other Interesting Meanings

Enough flowers are mentioned in The Enchanted April to fill a dozen blog posts and as many embroideries. I can’t discuss all of them, but of significance were also the daphne and the red camellia.

Daphne = Glory. Immortality.

Red Camellia Japonica = Unpretending Excellence.

flowering camellia bush — Photo by **Ryutaro Tsukata** from **Pexels**

I might have to do more posts on this book, and read the author’s other novel Elizabeth And Her German Garden. She was passionate about flowers, and it shows!

The Enchanted April has turned into the enchanted June at this point, but I think its overall vibe is still perfect for this time of year.

“Such a jumble of spring and summer was not to be believed in, except by those who dwelt in those gardens. Everything seemed to be out together – all the things crowded into one month which in England are spread penuriously over six.”
Elizabeth von Arnim, The Enchanted April

Wisteria in Embroidery

This project was immensely fun to work on, from the initial idea in my head to the finished piece. I will admit, there was a point where I grew disheartened with the whole thing and wanted to give up.

I wasn’t loving the colour combination. The umbrella outline was far from perfect. The lace appliqué was shifting, and my wisteria embroidery felt all over the place.

So I walked away for a hot minute, and came back deciding to add pink. There is such a thing as pink wisteria, so it works! And I like the colours so much more now.

wisteria embroidery in progress showing clusters of pink and purple flowers

This piece isn’t very hard to stitch, but it was time-consuming and I did improvise my flower and leaf placement a lot!

I really wanted to use lace for the umbrella, so I found an old curtain and cut out my umbrella shape. I ran a running stitch all the way around to anchor it, and then did the outline in yellow pearl cotton thread with a stem stitch.

umbrella template on lace to make appliqué

stem stitch outline worked around lace appliqué

The handle and branches are worked in rows of split stitch, and the flowers are done in lazy-daisy stitches. I really had to pay attention to their direction so they would look “droopy” enough. The bunch on the right side looks almost like it’s being blown by the wind!

close up of wisteria branch cluster — Lazy-daisy stitches going in different directions to create a cluster effect. They all point downward, as a real wisteria branch would look.

wisteria umbrella embroidery in progress

I’m really happy with the result, and once I got going it was easy to create more branches. You can probably see that I went way off my original markings, which is partly why I used a water-soluble pen to transfer the pattern. I only had rough guidelines as to where I wanted everything to go, and in the end I changed the placement of a few things.

view of left side of wisteria branches in progress

lazy daisy stitches to form wisteria branch

close up of stitches wisteria leaves — The leaves are done in straight stitches placed a bit randomly 😛 They were so small that I didn’t really have a solid way of doing them, and just placed stitches until I was satisfied that it looked like a leaf.

Exciting News on What’s Next

I’m still tweaking and playing around with this pattern, but I hope to make it available for sale soon! Definitely let me know if you would be interested, and be sure to subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss when it comes out 😊.

finished view of wisteria spilling out of umbrella in embroidery hoop

In the meantime, I’m also working on a freebie version still inspired from this book and my sketch! I hope to have that ready for you next week. There is already a lazy-daisy stitch tutorial available for you here, and you can also see this blog post for the other stitches I used in this project.

I hope this inspired you to want to stitch your own wisteria, or read The Enchanted April! I can’t recommend it enough. The book is available to read for free via Project Gutenberg if you’re interested! There are some typos, but it is unabridged (and free). It’s the version I read, once my library loan for a paperback copy expired.

I would love to hear your thoughts on spring flowers and dreamy escapes in the comments! Where would you go if you could escape for a month?

Fondly,

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