OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern: by Esther Franken of Brodeuse Bressane, border by Dessins DHC
• Materials: 22 count white hardanger, DMC in 4 colors
• Size: 13″ x 16.5″
• Time to stitch: 16 days

I’m pleased to start out the month with a finish, and the result is quite satisfying!  

The pattern(s), were fine, released monthly for free though preview images were published at the beginning of the year (I don’t do mystery SALs, as a rule).  The entire pattern will be available for purchase in the new year.  Each one was 40 stitches square, and only took an hour or two to stitch up.  The project was complicated by my decision to add a border at the 11th hour.  I tested a few different ones and ultimately decided to go with something I’d seen on Instagram.  The border pattern was from a Dessins DHC chart titled “Blacwork Oriental” and I don’t think it’s commercially available anymore, but it is out there on the internet.  

I tried to match each design, thematically, to the various months.  It makes sense in my head!   One of my favorites is the the one at bottom right, in the December slot, this one seemed regal and celebratory and reminded me of Christmas.  As for the materials, I wanted this to be sizable so after testing a few fabrics, I decided on 22 count hardanger, which I stitched 2 over 2 (effectively 11 count). While blackwork is commonly done with 1 strand, I didn’t think 1 was sufficient for 11 count.  And with 2 strands, I could use the loop start.  I did use 1 strand for the border since the corners looked really muddy with 2.  A subtle color graduation was my goal so I picked 4 DMC tones from medium gray to black: 317, 413, 3799, 310.  The top line is the lightest; each line darkens, to black at the bottom.   The border follows along with the colors.  

The third row, far left, was the last one I stitched, on December 1st, but I put in the July slot because it made me think of fireworks and the July 4th, American Independence Day.  The second row, far left, seemed perfect for Spring with flowers and butterflies and I decided it was right for the April slot, April being a lovely spring month, and my birthday month.  

I really enjoyed stitching this blackwork and I’m looking forward to a bigger blackwork project next year… Save the Stitches by Elizabeth Almond!