Blackwork...?

[HeatherMelissa]

:?:

Does anyone else do blackwork and have patterns they might like to share?

Thanks!

Heather

[Belladonna]

YOu can actually find patterns online now if you do a search.

Not to mention there are a couple of books out on it if you look at crafts stores. If you can find any that specialize in stichery, even better. Wish I could give you some titles, but I'm drawing a blank right now.

[HeatherMelissa]

Thanks... I've done online searches and the like - I'm just trying to expand my resource base and find other blackwork buddies... :)

There are two great sites, one of them being the obvious www.blackworkarchives.com, and the other one escaping me right now... :cry:

[Bonnie]

I'm actually looking to start trying it. I am going to look for a book this week, and then perhaps we'll have something to chat on. :)

It just looks soooo fabulous and beautiful. Now that I'm sewing more and more garb, I'm gettting the point where I want to embellsih it. I'll keep everyone posted on my attempts.

[Beatriz]

Bonnie

You're going to start doing blackwork, too? That's the last straw. I'm moving to Florida! Gonna move down the block from you so stitch and bitches will be e-z as circles skirts with tape waistbands.
:bananada:

[Bonnie]

You can stay with me while you apartment hunt, job hunt, man hunt, hell....you can stay with me!!!! :)

Don't get fed up with me yet....I haven't started blackworking, and who knows....maybe I won't want to after all.

But my new cloak is looking good!

[Bonnie]

about this blackwork stuff...

so far, what I've learned is that I HAVE to have specific fabric or somesuch to work this technique....I don't have a book yet, so if this is elementary, forgive me....

how does one go about blackworking regular fabric? I have heard of waste canvas...do i need that? or do I use cross stitch fabric and applique the finished product to my garb?

[Morte]

i'm not a needleworker myself.. but my best friend (a sister wench)designed the wee pattern found here:

http://www.dreamseeker.org/vol01/issue03/kariskreations.html

hope you like it 8)

[cyd]

about this blackwork stuff...

so far, what I've learned is that I HAVE to have specific fabric or somesuch to work this technique....I don't have a book yet, so if this is elementary, forgive me....

how does one go about blackworking regular fabric? I have heard of waste canvas...do i need that? or do I use cross stitch fabric and applique the finished product to my garb?

Okay, are you looking to go strictly period? Period blackwork was ALWAYS done on an evenweave linen fabric. Blackwork is usually done over two threads of the fabric.

HOWEVER, if you're doing it on a fabric where that thread count is hard to tell, then waste canvas will work.

Blackwork in period was ALMOST always done with black silk thread on white linen. Occasionally they used red or gold (also known as spanysshe work) instead of black, but it was nearly always done on white linen. (you can substitute an eavenweave cotton). Occasionally it was done on another color linen, but that has been rare in my experience.

Something that WAS done in period was to make a band of blackwork, and then sew it to whatever shirt you were currently wearing. That way, when the shirt wore out, the band could be transferred to a new shirt, without having to repeat the effort of doing the blackwork itself, since it took so long.

I wish I had something in front of me right now to show you, but I don't. I'm at work. :)

Happy new year, and good luck with the blackwork!

Cyd

[Bonnie]

I think I have the idea, now...I'm just waiting on my book to arrive. I haven't embroidered since I was ten, and have NO memory of how to go about it...just give me some time, though, and I'll be back at it.

[Theresa Grant]

Wow, and to think I just saw this thread...

I do a lot of blackwork, as does Cyd. Every now and then Cyd and I get on IM and do the 'did you see this pattern?' 'no, did you see this one?' ad nauseum, but it's fun. :)

I belong to the Embroidery Guild of America and their magazine(s) usually include blackwork. There are also several books out there with authentic patterns about 'blackwork' that ranges from 13th century Japan's method to Elizabethan to modern.

The thing with blackwork is that it's not just a pretty design; if you do it correctly it should be fully reversible, which means that if I turn over the fabric it's a mirror image of the design.

I see you're one of my CA wenches; hit me up at faire. I usually carry an early sampler with me that I use as a handkerchief (horrifies my husband but I did it on fine linen and I meant it to be used for general cleanup and water-soaking and such).