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Sunday 3 June 2012

Half a Million Golden Buttons for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Banner


Thirty-one miles of thread were needed to stitch half a million gold buttons on to the banner that was hung on the Queen's barge, which we saw glide down the Thames today on the occasion of the Queen's Jubilee. What a thrilling occasion it has been. The sight of all those small boats, flags flying was just so unbelievably pretty.

It took a team of hardworking seamstresses four months to sew on all the buttons following the design by Miss Carrington, who designed the banner.

Here you can see just how tiny some of those buttons were that were used for the detail.

World famous Hand & Lock had the privilege and honor to produce the embroidered banners, throne embroideries and cyphers on the Royal Barge. Based near Oxford Circus in London, Hand & Lock is the most prestigious Embroidery-Design-Brand in the world. In its near 250 years of existence, the company has worked for kings and queens around the globe. Hand & Lock covers a wide range of niche markets from civilian and military regalia through to ecclesiastical and couture, specialising in bespoke individually crafted embroideries.
Now it's off to have some strawberry sandwiches - forget the jam, just layer sliced strawberries on your bread (spread with butter, cream or, throw caution to the winds and hit the Philly!), sprinkle with a little castor sugar (caster sugar is even nicer!)and enjoy with a nice cuppa or a glass of crisp vinho verde.

5 comments:

  1. Why thank you for this little blip on the banner.... was that not an amazing flotilla... and now I know what a flotilla is... in this day and age where peeps have seen it all... I bet a flotilla is new to most!

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  2. What a gorgeous banner, it must be very heavy, the bar has quite a bend in it!

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  3. Thank you for giving us the insight, the parade was wonderful even with the damp weather.

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  4. I'm actually envious of all those who had the privilege to work on these embroideries. While in London a few years ago, it was one of my favorite parts of the visit to see some of the older regalia and the embroidery up close.

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  5. Hail to thee blythe needlepersons! What an
    achievement and privilege~

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