Blackwork - Valentine Celtic Heart

Blackwork has changed a bit over the years, but the concepts and techniques have not.  Blackwork dates back to the Moorish influences in Spain and was later brought to England in the 1500's by Katharine of Aragon, Henry VIII's Spanish wife.

The Elizabethans would decorate their clothing with elaborate and beautiful floral designs.  Worked with black silk on white linen, the strong outlines would be filled with lacy stitches.  Today Blackwork refers solely to the technique, as we incorporate other threads and colours, and I love the effect of variegated threads.

But the technique is still the same, and the stitches unchanged.  Some popular stitches for Blackwork are double running (holbein) stitch, backstitch and stem stitch (for outlines).  What makes blackwork so intriguing to me is that it can be (but not always) reversible with a pattern on the front and on the back.

Carol Storie, the designer we are exhibiting this month at the shop, has a few wonderful Blackwork designs.

 This is her Blackwork Medley, and it features some wonderful Blackwork patterns that can be applied to other designs.  With Blackwork, the openness or density of the repeating filling stitches creates different shades.

Carol's designs will remain on display until Saturday. I will be putting up our "Designer of the Month" for February on Monday.

To commemorate Blackwork and Carol's designs, I have designed a Blackwork Celtic Heart as a Valentine's gift to you.  I also wanted to share one of Carol's Blackwork tips with all of you.  As not all Blackwork patterns show the stitch path to ensure it is reversible you yourself must plan the path.  Carol suggests to highlight every second stitch to make the path more visible.

Click here for the Blackwork Celtic Heart chart

Designer of the Month: Carol Storie

Carol Storie publishes her designs under Heartfelt Designs.  She has been designing for over 25 years and has sent us a wonderful selection to display at Gitta's for the month of January.

Carol designs and teaches all kinds of needleart techniques - hardanger, canvas work, blackwork, pulled thread, cross stitch and embroidery.  One of my favourite is her inspirational design "Wind beneath your wings.  I love her colour choices, layout and finishing.

She creates designs in many techniques of counted thread including hardanger, canvas work, pulled thread, and cross stitch, incorporating specialty threads and a wide variety of stitches. - See more at: http://heartfelt-designs.com/?page_id=2#sthash.EDjLgCIi.dpuf

Carol Storie is the owner of Heartfelt Designs, and has been stitching for over 25 years.  She creates designs in many techniques of counted thread including hardanger, canvas work, pulled thread, and cross stitch, incorporating specialty threads and a wide variety of stitches. - See more at: http://heartfelt-designs.com/?page_id=2#sthash.EDjLgCIi.dpuf

Unfortunately Carol will be unable to drop by the shop so I will teach a beginner Blackwork workshop at the end of the month using one of her designs.



While in the shop don't forget to pick up Carol's free pattern  for the "Designer of the Month" Collaboration Sampler.  If incorporates several stitching techniques, canvas work, cross stitch and blackwork.  The wings were fun to stitch.

Unable to visit Gitta's?  Then please visit her designer page on our website and order your favourite.  With every on-line order of Carol's designs we will also include her free pattern.

Carol Storie is the owner of Heartfelt Designs, and has been stitching for over 25 years.  She creates designs in many techniques of counted thread including hardanger, canvas work, pulled thread, and cross stitch, incorporating specialty threads and a wide variety of stitches. - See more at: http://heartfelt-designs.com/?page_id=2#sthash.EDjLgCIi.dpuf

Carol Storie is the owner of Heartfelt Designs, and has been stitching for over 25 years.  She creates designs in many techniques of counted thread including hardanger, canvas work, pulled thread, and cross stitch, incorporating specialty threads and a wide variety of stitches. - See more at: http://heartfelt-designs.com/?page_id=2#sthash.EDjLgCIi.dpuf