Free Blackwork Tutorial
Written and Designed by Janet M. McDonald - New Zealand
Blackwork embroidery was first thought to have come from Spain to England; where Catherine of Aragon, the wife of Henry the VIII made the embroidery style most popular for cuffs and collars etc during the Tudor period. This style of design was brought about as a cheaper version of lace around the period of 1509, as taxes on lace were high.
An even weave fabric (same amount of threads per weft and warp in a 1 inch measurement) is needed for Blackwork. Open or closed even weave fabric can be used. If stitching on a closed weave fabric, but wanting an open look to your stitch fillings, a stitch can be made over more fabric threads for each stitch made. Contemporary designs have been done on uneven weave fabric with a waste canvas being placed over the fabric first as a guide for the stitches. Then the canvas is removed when stitching is complete.
Thread thickness used depends on the final appearance of the design you require. A selection of thread thickness can be used in one design to produce perception of depth. Silks, Stranded Cottons, Cotton a Broder and metallic threads can be used. What is used depends on the look you want to produce for your design and the thread count of your fabric or stitch length used. Metallic threads are used to highlight a design. Also beads add to a design.
Traditionally Black thread was used with a highlight of gold metallic thread on white fabric. But today colours have been introduced. A light coloured fabric with a dark thread gives the best impact to a design. Personally, I do not prefer to many colours in one design. The filling patterns and thread thickness are the main design emphasis in Blackwork embroidery. But hey, if you want to add lots of colours or use variegated thread, then go for it….. it’s your design and it’s all about what makes you happy. www.jmddesigns.co.nz
There are three main styles within the Blackwork category.
1. Motifs and Borders: Motifs are small designs on their own, not made of fillings stitches, but more of lines. Borders can be made with a length of design made of lines not fillings.
2. Design areas are outlined and then fillings are stitched inside the design areas: The design outline is stitched either without following the grain of the fabric or following it.
3. A variety of filling patterns are used to show design edges, using different density in the fillings chosen. The outline of each element in a design is not stitched first, but the density of filling stitches in the overall design is different, to give depth to parts of the design and to show where design elements start or finish or merge into each other.
An even weave fabric (same amount of threads per weft and warp in a 1 inch measurement) is needed for Blackwork. Open or closed even weave fabric can be used. If stitching on a closed weave fabric, but wanting an open look to your stitch fillings, a stitch can be made over more fabric threads for each stitch made. Contemporary designs have been done on uneven weave fabric with a waste canvas being placed over the fabric first as a guide for the stitches. Then the canvas is removed when stitching is complete.
Thread thickness used depends on the final appearance of the design you require. A selection of thread thickness can be used in one design to produce perception of depth. Silks, Stranded Cottons, Cotton a Broder and metallic threads can be used. What is used depends on the look you want to produce for your design and the thread count of your fabric or stitch length used. Metallic threads are used to highlight a design. Also beads add to a design.
Traditionally Black thread was used with a highlight of gold metallic thread on white fabric. But today colours have been introduced. A light coloured fabric with a dark thread gives the best impact to a design. Personally, I do not prefer to many colours in one design. The filling patterns and thread thickness are the main design emphasis in Blackwork embroidery. But hey, if you want to add lots of colours or use variegated thread, then go for it….. it’s your design and it’s all about what makes you happy. www.jmddesigns.co.nz
There are three main styles within the Blackwork category.
1. Motifs and Borders: Motifs are small designs on their own, not made of fillings stitches, but more of lines. Borders can be made with a length of design made of lines not fillings.
2. Design areas are outlined and then fillings are stitched inside the design areas: The design outline is stitched either without following the grain of the fabric or following it.
3. A variety of filling patterns are used to show design edges, using different density in the fillings chosen. The outline of each element in a design is not stitched first, but the density of filling stitches in the overall design is different, to give depth to parts of the design and to show where design elements start or finish or merge into each other.
Loyalty and Purity
Design Size (each): 13.5cm x 17.5cm ( 5 1/4 x 7”). Fabric: #28 even weave or 14# Aida.
These Celtic Zoomorphics (creatures) where once found in texts Illuminated among the first letter of the first word in a chapter. These two particular designs would have been minute and came from scripture in the eighth century. The dog has the meaning of loyalty and the bird the meaning of purity. The interlaced knot work had the meaning of the entwined identity we have in the universe. I see these two designs framed as a picture side by side, or enlarged with each design on a pillow. Click here to purchase these individual designs
Design Size (each): 13.5cm x 17.5cm ( 5 1/4 x 7”). Fabric: #28 even weave or 14# Aida.
These Celtic Zoomorphics (creatures) where once found in texts Illuminated among the first letter of the first word in a chapter. These two particular designs would have been minute and came from scripture in the eighth century. The dog has the meaning of loyalty and the bird the meaning of purity. The interlaced knot work had the meaning of the entwined identity we have in the universe. I see these two designs framed as a picture side by side, or enlarged with each design on a pillow. Click here to purchase these individual designs
Elizabethan Dance
Design Size: 23cm x 28cm (9 ¼ x 11”). Fabric: #28 even weave or 14# Aida
In the Elizabethan Era designs with flowers and fruit entwined in vines could be found on clothing and household fabric decoration. The Blackwork style of embroidery could also be found at this time using this design layout. In this period there was also an embroidery method named Padded Needle Lace that was incorporated in a design layouts similar to this. The Elizabethans loved to celebrate the flora and fauna of the world in their designs. Click here to purchase this individual design
Design Size: 23cm x 28cm (9 ¼ x 11”). Fabric: #28 even weave or 14# Aida
In the Elizabethan Era designs with flowers and fruit entwined in vines could be found on clothing and household fabric decoration. The Blackwork style of embroidery could also be found at this time using this design layout. In this period there was also an embroidery method named Padded Needle Lace that was incorporated in a design layouts similar to this. The Elizabethans loved to celebrate the flora and fauna of the world in their designs. Click here to purchase this individual design
Tree of Life
Design Size: 24cm x 16cm (9 1/2 x 6 1/2”). Fabric: #28 even weave or 14# Aida.
This design is based on Schwalm designs that originated in Germany and are named after the river Schwalm and its surrounding area. I have used the traditional Schwalm design symbols, but instead of filling the design areas with cut and pulled stitches I have used Blackwork Filling stitches. The Buttonhole Scallops stitched around some of the design symbols are a Schwalm aspect also. Originally Schwalm designs could be found as early as the 17th century.The design depicts the Schwalm 'Tree of Life', with life growing out of the mother earth. Love multiplying; the sun shining down on you; the flowers of nature and the dove of peace. Originally the dove was a crow, but over the centuries this has been modeled into a dove.
Click here to purchase this individual design
Design Size: 24cm x 16cm (9 1/2 x 6 1/2”). Fabric: #28 even weave or 14# Aida.
This design is based on Schwalm designs that originated in Germany and are named after the river Schwalm and its surrounding area. I have used the traditional Schwalm design symbols, but instead of filling the design areas with cut and pulled stitches I have used Blackwork Filling stitches. The Buttonhole Scallops stitched around some of the design symbols are a Schwalm aspect also. Originally Schwalm designs could be found as early as the 17th century.The design depicts the Schwalm 'Tree of Life', with life growing out of the mother earth. Love multiplying; the sun shining down on you; the flowers of nature and the dove of peace. Originally the dove was a crow, but over the centuries this has been modeled into a dove.
Click here to purchase this individual design
Pacifica Paradise
Design Size (each): 16cm square (6 1/4 inches) Fabric: #28 even weave or 14# Aida.
Pacifica entails for me New Zealand and all the other smaller Pacific Islands close by. Over the years New Zealand has come to identify itself by the Silver Fern which can be found in our native forests. Neighbouring Pacific Islands have come to identify with the Frangipani flower. Each can be found in various forms of artwork in the South Pacific area. Click here to purchase these individual designs
Design Size (each): 16cm square (6 1/4 inches) Fabric: #28 even weave or 14# Aida.
Pacifica entails for me New Zealand and all the other smaller Pacific Islands close by. Over the years New Zealand has come to identify itself by the Silver Fern which can be found in our native forests. Neighbouring Pacific Islands have come to identify with the Frangipani flower. Each can be found in various forms of artwork in the South Pacific area. Click here to purchase these individual designs
Neptune's Steed
Traditionally Blackwork is stitched on white fabric with black threads. I have given a contemporary feel with sea green fabric and multi colour threads. Beads also make the filling designs stand out. This is a great design to practice 10 different filling stitches. Even weave fabric such as Aida or Linen can be used to stitch on 28 count or #14 count fabric. When choosing the colour fabric and threads you are going to use, remember to have quite a contrast shade between the fabric and thread so stitching will show well. Click here to purchase this individual design
Traditionally Blackwork is stitched on white fabric with black threads. I have given a contemporary feel with sea green fabric and multi colour threads. Beads also make the filling designs stand out. This is a great design to practice 10 different filling stitches. Even weave fabric such as Aida or Linen can be used to stitch on 28 count or #14 count fabric. When choosing the colour fabric and threads you are going to use, remember to have quite a contrast shade between the fabric and thread so stitching will show well. Click here to purchase this individual design
My World
It is hard to imagine our world without some type of stitching happening. Janet has written this verse herself. This design can be stitched on Linen or Aida fabric. Design Size when stitched on #14 Aida: 14 x 15 cm (5 1/2 x 6 inchs) Click here to purchase this individual design
It is hard to imagine our world without some type of stitching happening. Janet has written this verse herself. This design can be stitched on Linen or Aida fabric. Design Size when stitched on #14 Aida: 14 x 15 cm (5 1/2 x 6 inchs) Click here to purchase this individual design
Nature's Critters
There are two charming Nature's Critters design widths included. Even weave fabric such as Aida or Linen can be used to stitch on 25 count or #14 count fabric. Click here to purchase these individual designs
There are two charming Nature's Critters design widths included. Even weave fabric such as Aida or Linen can be used to stitch on 25 count or #14 count fabric. Click here to purchase these individual designs
All design photos have been
designed and stitched by Janet M. McDonald -Davies This page is not to be copied or cut and pasted into other websites. Links to this website are more than welcome. Thanks |