Tudor Rose & Pomegranate by Cynthia Jackson

Back in All Stitched Up! issue #223, we met the young, nervous Katherine of Aragon as she waited on the beach, newly arrived from Spain and destined to become wife to a king.

We can only imagine what was going through her mind at the time, but one of her thoughts would probably have been about her ability to produce heirs for the British throne.

In terms of symbolism, the House of Aragon had adopted the pomegranate which was very apt in this situation. The pomegranate had long been a symbol of fertility, and when Katherine married Henry, Duke of York, soon to become Henry VIII, her symbol was combined with the Tudor Rose to celebrate the union.

Pins showing these two symbols were worn in the first years of Katherine and Henry’s marriage to display the bearer’s loyalty to the new King and Queen.

History, as we all know, did not play out well for Katherine, but the combined symbol at the time was one of hope and change for the people of Britain.

Cynthia Jackson’s Tudor Rose & Pomegranate is the latest project in our Handpicked collection and is a beautiful silk and goldwork rendition of this famous symbol that radiates a sense of hope, capturing a moment in time perfectly.

Cynthia’s trademark style is employed to perfection in this piece. The sinuous weaving of the stalks and leaves speaks to how strong Katherine and Henry’s union was at the beginning of their marriage. The focal points of the piece – the head of the rose and the golden pomegranate, shine from the frame, highlighted in metal thread and carefully worked in shimmering silk.

From a distance, there is an exquisite balance between the two elements, but the real effect is appreciated when it is examined closely.

It is only up close that one can really appreciate the delicate curls standing proud from the centre of the rose, the chipping which gives the centre and top of the pomegranate its texture, and the hint of gold plate beneath the brick stitch on the leaves.

These fine details provide Tudor Rose & Pomegranate with a clever combination of subtlety and opulence – something that Cynthia Jackson is renowned for.

Tudor Rose & Pomegranate celebrates strength, love and hope. No matter what happened subsequently, one shouldn’t discount this meaning. In creating this project, we encourage you to think about the symbolism while enjoying every delicate stitch.

Make Your Own Tudor Rose & Pomegranate

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Tudor Rose & Pomegranate by Cynthia Jackson from our Handpicked collection features superb goldwork embroidery showcasing a compelling variety of techniques and metal threads.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Tudor Rose & Pomegranate includes everything* you need to re-create this superb study: Fabric (unprinted), silk & metal embroidery threads and needles.

*Please Note: To cater for flexibility of purchase, instructions are not included with our kits. For step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to the printed/digital pattern.