Home » Home & Style » Embroidery » Blackwork Embroidery

Blackwork Embroidery

© Sharon Washam

Blackwork Embroidery has its beginnings probably in Africa, where it moved up to Spain and then gained its popularity in England during the 16th Century. The following sites on the web provide a brief to detailed version of the history of this beautiful technique:

http://member.aol.com/lclacemker/blkwk1.... http://www.pacifiicnet.net/~pmarmor/bwar... http://www.planetc.com/users/derwyddon/b... http://www.sca.org.au/riverhaven/Act/meg...

The technique involves two types of design: the filling in of designs using a variety of templates and stitches or the design itself becomes the work of art on linen. The stitches used in Blackwork include double running, back stitch, cross stitch, Algerian Eye, darning, double cross stitch, satin stitch, stem stitch, chain, couching, eyelet filling stitch and coral stitch. The designer will create a geometric design with a combination of the above stitches.

The materials that the embroiderer needs for this technique is evenweave linen or cotton, generally in white or cream colors. The threads should not show through the fabric. The thread used in this technique should have a smooth texture. The tapestry needle should be of an appropriate size to work with the thread and fabric.

The embroiderer should work the stitches over an even number of threads so that he/she can perform the centering process with ease. If the design is a "filled" one, then the embroiderer will want to work each motif with a new thread. If the design covers the fabric in geometric symmetry, the embroiderer will work the project in rows.

To view some of the designs using Blackwork, please visit the following sites:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Crete/15... http://www.leadershipmanaagement.com/jaz... http://www.brucepub.com/blackwork/ http://www.designsofjoy.com/patterns.html

If you are interested in a more indepth lesson on Blackwork, you may want to purchase or borrow from your library the following two books:

Blackwork Embroidery by Elisabeth Geddes & Moyra McNeill Dover Publications, NY 1976

Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. Pleasantville, NY 1995

The copyright of the article Blackwork Embroidery in Embroidery is owned by . Permission to republish Blackwork Embroidery in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.