the spaces between the squares with long straight stitches.
How to Stitch the Blackwork Sampler
A pretty picture which demonstrates the different effects of six filling patterns within a geometric border.
You will need
12½ x 14 in (32 x 36 cm) 25-count white evenweave linen
Pins
Colored basting thread
Embroidery hoop
DMC pearl cotton No. 8, 1 reel in black
Tapestry needle
7 x 8¾ in (17.5 x 22 cm) stiff white cardboard (or to fit your frame)
Picture frame (optional) or two curtain rings
The following embroidery may also be used with blackwork:
• Beadwork
• Chain stitch
Key
All stitches worked in DMC pearl cotton in black
Preparing the fabric
1 Bind the edges and find the center of the fabric (page).
2 Using pins and then basting thread, mark out six 1½ in (4 cm) squares, each 40 x 40 fabric threads, in two rows of three with six fabric threads between each square.
Stitching the sampler
1 Mount the fabric in an embroidery hoop.
2 Following the chart below, fill each square with the appropriate filling pattern. Take care not to pass long lengths of thread across the back of the work, as they will show through on the front.
3 To work the border, count 16 fabric threads out from the outer edges of the patterned squares to give the inner edges of the border. Mark this line with basting stitches.
4 Start at the center of one side, one thread up from the horizontal center line of basting, with a row of running stitch, working the corners with two stitches at right angles as shown in the border pattern diagram. Build up the border with three more rows of running stitch spaced two threads apart. Join the two center rows with straight stitches to make little squares. Join the remaining pairs of rows with cross stitches, working a three-quarter cross stitch at each corner of the border to give it an angled line.
Mounting the sampler
1 Remove all the basting threads. Press the embroidery with the right side down on a padded surface.
2 Place the sampler right side down and place the cardboard centrally on top of it. Lace the fabric over the edges of the cardboard (page).
3 Place the mounted embroidery in a picture frame if you wish or sew two curtain rings to the back for hanging.
For a printable PDF of the patterns used in this book, please contact Fox Chapel Publishing at [email protected], quoting the ISBN and title of this book, as well as the pattern or patterns required.
Border Pattern
Blackwork sampler chart. Enlarge on a photocopier for ease of working.
Corner detail of the border pattern for the sampler.
Huck Weaving
Huck, or Swedish, weaving is a simple form of pattern darning. A surface embroidery technique, huck weaving uses simple running and looped stitches that are worked under and over the floats on the surface of the fabric. The working thread is very rarely taken to the wrong side. Huck weaving designs are usually geometric and can take the form of repeat pattern borders or single motifs.
Tessa Dennison
FABRICS
Huck weaving was traditionally worked on Huckaback linen, a towel fabric with very obvious floats (threads that lie on the surface of the weave) but in fact it can be worked on any evenweave fabric such as Aida (which also has floats) or linen. The higher the fabric thread count, the finer the finished effect will be. A special fabric called Monk’s cloth is also suitable and available in a wide variety of colors. It has eight squares to 1 in (2.5 cm) and has floats only on the right side of the fabric.
THREADS
Stranded floss and pearl cotton can both be used for huck weaving on Aida or Monk’s cloth. On more openweave fabrics such as heavyweight linen or Binca, tapestry yarns can be used to great effect.
NEEDLES
Use blunt-ended tapestry needles that will pass easily under the floats without catching on them.
USES
Huck weaving can be used for a variety of household items such as tablecloths, napkins and throws. Worked on Aida band it can also be used to create pretty borders for towels, dishtowels and bookmarks.
PREPARING THE FABRIC
