Cross-Stitch

Charts, patterns and everything needlepoint

Blackwork Basics

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Blackwork is one of my favorite styles of embroidery – of course, I usually just use backstitch when I am doing it because with cross-stitch, it’s all the same, right? Well, not really, and I read a post recently that did a great job at explaining how to do proper blackwork.  It’s all laid out in Blackwork Basics over at the Byrd’s Nest.  Jeanne explains how to do blackwork really well and I plan to print out her tips to use in future projects!

Then Jeanne does even more to help those of us with blackwork envy – she offers some fun Blackwork smalls to stitch. This is definitely a blog to add to your reader, bookmark for later – however you handle it – make sure to visit often to see what Jeanne is stitching or cooking up (she shares some great recipes too!).

Looking for more Blackwork style embroidery patterns and charts? Check out these Blackwork embroidery patterns we found on Etsy.

What defines a pattern as “Blackwork”? Blackwork embroidery is a very old form of counted-thread embroidery. Traditionally it was worked in black silk cotton on white linen. It was used to decorate clothing. Thought to have originated in Spain around the 17th-18th century. There are lot’s of modern-day variations, one being that it is most commonly produced on Aida and not linen.

Have you read?

Mini Pumpkins and Jack o’Lanterns to Cross Stitch

I just can’t resist sharing a few more Halloween cross stitch patterns when they are as cute and quick to stitch as these!

This boo cross stitch from Luzatolye was the first little Halloween cross stitch pattern to catch my eye. I love the pumpkin Os! At just 23 by 8 stitches and using four colors, you can stitch it up in no time. On 14 count fabric it measures 1.6 by.5 inches, or about 4 by 1.27 cm. 

Another cutie from the same designer is this jack o’lantern with a witch hat. Another four-color project, this one is 14 by 18 stitches, which is an inch by just a little more than an inch, or around 3 cm square, worked on 14 count fabric. 

If you like your minis a little bit bigger, this jack o’lantern with leaves is from White Protea Art and measures 47 by 28 stitches. That comes out to 3.4 by 2 inches, or 8.5 by 5.1 cm, when stitches on 14 count fabric. It uses nine colors. 

Or there’s also this little cutie from that same designer. I love the little leaf on top of the pumpkin. At 33 by 36 stitches, it comes out to 2.4 by 2.6 inches, or 6 by 6.5 cm, when stitched on 14 count fabric. I think it uses around eight colors. 

Template Love Create also has two mini jack o’lantern cross stitch patterns that I like (I swear I didn’t plan to do two from each of the same designers, it’s just the whimsy of an Etsy search!). There’s one that is more round and one that’s oblong, which I like because it’s different from most of the pumpkin patterns you see. The pattern listings say both are six colors (though they look like four to me) and 28 by 28 stitches, but I don’t think that can be true. Either way they both fit in a 3 inch hoop and would be a super cute little addition to your Halloween decor.