GP & J Baker | Ormesby

Ormesby is one of six new designs in the Keswick Embroideries collection, GP & J Baker's range of exquisite embroidered cloths. The stitch is worked in a single tone across a linen-cotton-viscose ground, giving the pattern a raised, textural presence that a print cannot match, and it catches side light in a way that changes through the day. The repeat is generous, at 78 by 63 centimetres, close to square, which gives the motif room to sit properly across a width of curtain rather than crowding into a small, busy scale.

Composition is 80 per cent linen, 10 per cent cotton and 10 per cent viscose, the viscose largely in the embroidery thread, which gives the stitch a slight sheen against the matte linen ground. It is 126 centimetres wide, with a 78 centimetre vertical and 63 centimetre horizontal repeat, and GP & J Baker specify it for curtains. There is one colourway, Soft Blue, a gentle, powdery tone.

We use Ormesby for a pair of curtains in a bedroom or sitting room, where the generous repeat and single soft colour keep the effect calm rather than busy. It also makes a good pair of cushions cut from an offcut, picking up the blue without overwhelming the room, and a length laid along a bench seat gives a hallway a touch of quiet pattern. Pair it with plain linens in the same tone or a warm cream. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light.

Embroidered cloths need a full lining and, for curtains, an interlining to support the stitch and protect it from strong sun. With a 78 centimetre repeat, allow a full extra repeat per drop when calculating quantities, and match carefully across widths. Ask your maker to press from the reverse over a soft cloth so the stitching is not flattened. It is not rated for upholstery, so keep it to windows and cushions rather than a chair seat.

• Composition: 80% linen, 10% cotton, 10% viscose
• Width: 126 cm (50 in)
• Pattern repeat: 78 cm vertical, 63 cm horizontal
• Suitable for: Curtains
• Care: Dry clean only; do not wash, bleach or iron.
• Collection: Keswick Embroideries, GP & J Baker
• Colourways: 1 (Soft Blue)