Combined offer: Printing (or stamping) tool set for Tudor style 16th century textile embossing PLUS Pinking (or slashing) and buttonhole tool set for Tudor style 16th century fabric cutting

Combined offer: Printing (or stamping) tool set for Tudor style 16th century textile embossing PLUS Pinking (or slashing) and buttonhole tool set for Tudor style 16th century fabric cutting

Product 1

Printing (or stamping) tool set

• Brass with turned wood handles
• Set of 3 tools (see product dimensions)
• 5¾in (15cm) long each
• Made in the United Kingdom
• Made exclusively for The Tudor Tailor

The Tudor Tailor has specially commissioned this bespoke set of three hand made brass tools with wooden handles suitable for embossing designs onto fabrics using heat.

Stamping or 'printing' fabrics was a popular technique used in the 16th century in which metal tools were heated and then pressed into fabrics, creating permanent embossed designs. These designs could transform an otherwise plain fabric with an all-over pattern, or could be used artistically to emphasise the lines of a specific garment, such as a doublet.

Our tool kit comprises three 5¾in (15cm) long tools with the following designs, which can be used individually or in combination:

• 1 'flower' design measuring ⅞n (2.5cm) across
• 1 'sun' design measuring ¾in (2cm) across
• 1 'bar' design measuring 1 ½in (4cm) x ½in (12mm)

All you need is a heat source (an electric hotplate or a heavy-bottomed metal pan like a cast iron skillet work nicely) and a clean cloth to stamp on. No other specialist equipment is required to create stunning permanent designs on silk, cellulose or synthetic fabrics. Instructions are included in the set.

Product 2

• Steel
• Set of 4 tools (see below)
• 2½in (6cm) long with blades from ¼in to 1in (7mm to 26mm) wide
• Made in the United Kingdom
• Made exclusively for The Tudor Tailor

The Tudor Tailor has specially commissioned this bespoke set of four hand made steel tools suitable for slashing fabrics and cutting buttonholes. They have been specially developed to withstand the force of repeated striking. Be careful, though, as the blade ends are very sharp!

Slashing or 'pinking' was a popular technique used in the 16th century in which sharp metal tools were used to cut slits into fabric, often in a repeating pattern. The resulting design could transform an otherwise plain fabric with an all-over pattern, or could be used artistically to emphasise the lines of a specific garment, such as a doublet or sleeves.

Our tool kit comprises four 2½in (6cm) long tools with the following blade widths, which can be used individually or in combination:

• 1 inch (26mm) blade
• 1 inch (26mm) curved blade
• ⅝ inch (16mm) blade
• ¼ inch (7mm) blade

All you need is a mallet or hammer and an appropriate cutting surface (16th century tailors would have used a sheet of lead over a block of wood, but we've found that a craft mat works nicely). No other specialist equipment is required, and no finishing of the slits is needed.

These tools can also be used to cut quick and consistent buttonholes in a garment. Simply mark the position of the buttonholes, cut along each line with a tool, and finish with buttonhole stitch.