Embroidering a Coffin!

[AgathaMystery]

Yup.

Well, not quite. The funeral director did offer me the whole coffin to embroider but it’s quite large!

My friend is to be buried a woolen coffin in 2 weeks time & I’ve just picked up the name plate which her husband had asked me to embellish.

You can see it here. Her name plate is quite a bit bigger to allow for embroidery. I just wondered if anyone has ever done similar? I’m pretty adept at needlework and enjoy hand embroidery (find x stitch boring) & it was something my friend and I did together.

So I’m looking for top tips or anything to avoid or be sensitive to. And some solidarity I think.

I don't embroider, but perhaps something linked to a project you worked on side by side or together and some simple flowers in a favourite colour? If the flowers were on a vine type thing, it could be fairly spread out, look 'complete' but not overwhelming in terms of either work or emotional investment.

This is a lovely thoughtful thing you are doing. Good luck.

I've got absolutely no advice whatsoever - just wanted to say that I think you're doing the most beautiful, wonderful thing

I'm so sorry for your loss

What a wonderful thing to do for you friend! I think you need to ask her family what they would like in there, maybe offer a few suggestions so you are not asking them to think too much about it but ultimately it probably should be their choice.

Such a difficult task, but pp suggestions are good.
Just offering a hand hold, and a bump for people to offer ideas.
I’m so sorry for your loss

I have but for far smaller fabric baby coffins.

I recommend checking on any committal requirements with the funeral directors before starting. Eco burials often prefer you to stick to environmentally friendly biodegradable materials. a good wool thread like those used in crewel work should work well

Concentrate on embroidering the most important elements and keep any design simple and honouring of your friend’s life. Something simple that is well worked is far better than starting something that takes weeks to complete. I would set the fabric in a slate frame to avoid creasing the fabric.

I suggest using ponce to outline your chosen embroidery design unless you have a suitable transfer design that you could use instead.

If the family are still hoping for a textile worked coffin cover Bellacouche may be able to help. Costs start at £75 for a plain wool cover and go up to £300+. There covers are suitable for most woodland/ natural committals.
Hope that helps.

Perhaps google embroidered name plates and also look for images/patterns for embroidery for new borns and weddings - that should give you lots of ideas that could be adapted for your friends name and dates.

Sorry for your loss but what a lovely thing to do for your friend. Maybe think about doing a second one for her husband to keep?

Thank you all so much - you’ve made me feel in definitely thinking along the right lines.

Her husband has asked for a tree, as they have an amazing Acer in their front garden, so I think I will use that to go across the top, then I am going to add a lighthouse (Helen was an animator and a lighthouse featured in her final film)… she was an accomplished fiddle player and also a committed Christian and a staunch feminist so I know I can work that in. She also loved Michael Jackson when she was a teenager (who didn’t) so I need to find a little nod to that somewhere. She was a gifted headwork artist too so I have asked for some of her heads to work into it.

It sounds jumbled right now but I’m confident I can make it work. I’ve been to see the coffin and it’s great. It looks really beautifully made. I will update with progress pics once I’ve got a design.

thank you all x

Beads not heads.

Very rough draft. Just wanted to get some scale. I don’t know whether to go inside the blanket stitch or over it.

I feel I’ve got a bit of decision paralysis.

She was so young! I'm so sorry.

The blanket stitch is quite dominant so I'd go over and soften it a bit if it were me.

My thoughts exactly. The backside of the blanket stitch is actually much nicer and more subtle.

Nothing practical to add, but I think it's an absolutely beautiful thing to do for a loved one.❤

I thought I’d update as I hate it when people don’t!

I unpicked the blanket stitch as it wasn’t needed and it was quite ugly. She wouldn’t have liked it! I used some of her beads from her beadwork box to embellish the lighthouse (I wanted it to glisten).

It looked really lovely on the day.

It's beautiful ♥️

That's beautiful. I'm getting teary.

That is gorgeous OP, what a beautiful tribute to your friend.

Thank you for updating - its lovely. A wonderful last service to a friend

That is absolutely gorgeous and what a very lovely thing to do!

That is beautiful.
You are very talented and a very good friend.
Sorry for your loss, RIP Helen 💔🙏

It's beautiful OP. I remember you talking about your friend earlier this year on the Christmas Chronicles thread. She was lucky to have you as a friend. I'm sorry for your loss.

That's absolutely stunning OP

I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend ❣️❣️

You are all terribly kind. She was a wonderful person and a gifted animator.

I hope everyone loves Arthur Christmas, Ron’s Gone Wrong, That Christmas & the early Aardman work. She was the best.

Oh it’s absolutely beautiful, you have done a wonderful, wonderful thing x

Oh, I don't know what to say, other than that's gorgeous