A new blackwork and cross stitch design by Valentina Sardu is featured in the latest issue of RicAmare, out today in Italy.
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Pictures left and above:
RicAmare – May 2016
The chart for the Long-tailed Rosefinch design
is currently available exclusively
in this month’s issue of the magazine
UPDATE – June 2017
The design is now available as a single chart here: Long-Tailed Rosefinch
We are pleased and proud to see the new blackwork design by Valentina Sardu, “Amaryllis”, featured in the March issue of the Italian magazine RicAmare.
The original model, stitched personally by Valentina, will be on display from 3rd to 6th March 2016 at the Creattiva craft fair in Bergamo, Italy, at the stand of the magazine’s publishing company (Edizioni Femminili, stand 64, pavilion B). For more details about this event, visit: http://www.fieracreattiva.it/bergamo-creattiva/en/
UPDATE – January 2017
The design is now available as a single chart here: Amaryllis
Cookie cutters are very versatile tools: not only useful for shaping delicious cookies, but also great as templates in craft projects, including blackwork embroidery!
For this tutorial I embroidered two classic Christmas characters, Mr and Mrs Gingerbread, but you can use cookie cutters in any shape you desire :-)
Here is a list of what you will need:
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Lay out your cookie cutters on the fabric and try different arrangements until you find one you like.
Draw outlines around each shape with an HB pencil.
Mount the fabric into the frame.
Choose one or more fill-in patterns suitable for your project, and work them in the shapes, using backstitch or double running stitch (Holbein stitch).
You can use one strand of black cotton floss or, why not, a fine metallic thread (mine was a shiny black and gold thread: Aurifil Brillo #646)
Free-form designs like this can be outlined in many ways using different embroidery stitches, like stem stitch or chain stitch, but for this project I decided to use a thick gold cord secured with a simple couching stitch.
Choose a starting point and secure the couching thread (a fine sewing thread) on the back of the fabric.
Lay the metallic cord along the pencil marks and hold it in place with the finer thread, making tiny regular stitches.
The gold cord in the pictures was couched using a 50wt thread in a yellow-orange colour: Aurifil Makò Cotton #2145.
When all the outline is done, tie the two unsewn ends of the cord in a bow. Secure the centre with the sewing thread and trim the excess cord.
As an alternative to the bow, if the couched cord is not too thick, you can pull it to the back of the fabric, using a large needle or a crochet hook. Buttons, beads or other charms can be added to the design, if desired.
Now the embroidery is finally ready to be framed!
The model used in this tutorial was mounted in the lid of a wooden box, perfect for a Christmas gift!
Here is the blackwork filling designed for the occasion:
This pattern, combined with metallic threads, will give a festive look to your projects :-)
Happy stitching, and happy holidays!
The World of Cross Stitching issue 231, out today in the UK, contains an exclusive blackwork and cross stitch project titled “Blackwork Hummingbird”, designed by Valentina Sardu for Ajisai Press.
Our little hummingbird is also featured on the front cover of the magazine.
In addition, on page 76 you will find a wonderful interview to our designer, Valentina Sardu.
Don’t miss it!
UPDATE – March 2016
The design is now available as a single chart here: Hummingbird
