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How to keep your place on a Blackwork or Cross Stitch chart
{DIY Chart Marker tutorial}

How to keep your place on a Blackwork or Cross Stitch chartSome charted designs for counted-thread embroideries, especially Blackwork, are very intricate and it’s easy to lose track of stitches.

To avoid this, you can:

– make a photocopied “working copy” of the pattern and use a highlighter to mark the completed areas

– fix the original chart on a metal board, and surround the area where you are working with magnetic strips and rulers (see photo to the right)

Alternatively, here is a simple and inexpensive chart marker that you can easily create by yourself:

DIY Chart Marker

DIY chart marker - Ajisai Press

DIY chart marker 3


You will need:

  • cardstock (preferably in a dark contrasting colour)
  • ruler
  • paper cutter
  • decorative-edge scissors (optional)

 

Cut a strip of cardstock, about 4,5 cm wide, and about 1,5 cm longer than your chart page on each side.

If you want, you can also decorate the two lateral edges using a pair of scalloped scissors. DIY chart marker 4Then, following the template below, cut two horizontal lines with the same width of the pattern sheet.

Chart Marker template - Ajisai Press

Your chart marker is now ready to be used: insert the chart through the two openings, and slide and position the marker where you need it.

You can use it alone or combined with another marker, with single sheets or with books and magazines.

DIY chart marker for cross stitch patterns - Ajisai Press

DIY cross-stitched chart marker - Ajisai PressOf course, you can make many other markers in any size, colour and material.

You can also add a personal touch using a colorful patterned cardstock or, why not, a piece of perforated paper worked in cross stitch.


 

The chart marker below was stitched on 18-count burgundy perforated paper with stranded cotton threads, using a floral motif from the book “Vintage Cross Stitch Borders“.

cross-stitched chart marker - Ajisai Press7

 

 

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Birth of a design: Blackwork orchids

blackwork orchids - design

… Inspiration …

orchids 1

orchids 2

orchids 3

orchids 4

… Ink Sketch …

blackwork orchids - Ink sketch

… Final Design …

blackwork orchids - design

… Embroidery …

blackwork orchids - embroidery

ORCHIDS
A blackwork design by Valentina Sardu for Ajisai Designs

____________

… From our Blackwork Patterns Collection …

 

ORCHIDS & WATER LILY
by Valentina Sardu for Ajisai Designs
Product type: A set of two blackwork charts.
Stitch count:
– Orchids: 136 x 93
– Water Lily: 136 x 119
Stitches: Holbein Stitch
Instructions in English, French and Italian

Click here for MORE INFO.