We are delighted to introduce the Barcelona Frame, a beautiful new embroidery kit designed by Phillipa Turnbull and inspired by a remarkable piece of Barcelona's textile heritage.
Created for our Barcelona Retreat in April 2026, the design takes its inspiration from an original late nineteenth-century embroidery pattern by Casa Sivilla, preserved in the collection of the Terrassa Textile Museum.
Hand-drawn on paper, the original design features delicate floral motifs and butterflies, arranged within an elegant frame.
Phillipa has reimagined this historic design in her own carefully chosen colours, inspired by the fresh, vibrant tones of Barcelona in spring.
First enjoyed by students at our Barcelona Retreat, we are delighted to make this beautiful project available to our wider needlework community.
A Glimpse into Barcelona’s Textile Heritage
The original design, measuring 33.5 by 27 cm, comes from Casa Sivilla, a Barcelona workshop celebrated for its hand-crafted embroidery patterns. Their designs ranged from small floral motifs to larger framed compositions, some painted on paper, others accompanied by embroidered samples.
Above, you can see the original Casa Sivilla design alongside Phillipa’s contemporary interpretation.
Alongside the work of Núria Alibés, Casa Sivilla represents the skill and creativity of a female-led artisan tradition, carefully preserved today by the museum’s conservators.
Bringing History to Life
During our Barcelona Retreat, Phillipa guided students through the recreation of this historic design, bringing her own interpretation to its beautiful floral motifs and delicate details.
Now, you can enjoy stitching the Barcelona Frame at home.
This special kit offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the elegance of nineteenth-century embroidery while creating your own interpretation of a design preserved within one of Barcelona's remarkable textile collections.
Available from Tuesday 19th September 2026 as part of our Crewel Work Collection.
