Cross-Stitch Meets Blackwork - Berlin Embroidery

Cross-Stitch Meets Blackwork – Hummingbird Haven by Tanja Berlin © Berlin Embroidery Designs Page 1

No part of these instructions can be copied or shared without obtaining permission from Tanja Berlin at www.berlinembroidery.com

Cross-Stitch Meets Blackwork – “Hummingbird Haven”

The cross-stitch meets blackwork design can be worked on any count fabric. Design size on 14 or 28 count fabric: 7 inches (17 ½ cm) wide by 9 ¼ inches (21 ¼ cm) high Design size on 16 or 32 count fabric: 6 ¼ inches (17 cm) wide by 8 ¼ inches (20 ¾ cm) high Embroidery Requirements: One piece of counted fabric 14 inch by 16 inch One skein of DMC floss or other embroidery thread One No. 28 Tapestry Needle Recommended Equipment: Small embroidery scissors 12 inch by 14 inch stretcher bar frame and brass thumb tacks Highlighting pen Floss: From a skein of embroidery floss cut a 20 inch (50 cm) length of thread. Separate one single strand of thread from the 20 inch length (there are usually six strands in a length) and use the single strand to stitch the embroidery. Chart: The design comes as four separate charts on pages 8 to 11 of the instructions.

Starting and Finishing Threads

Start a thread with an away knot – leave a 4 inch (10 cm) length of the end of the thread off to one side of the embroidery which can later be threaded onto the needle and finished by weaving back and forth through the stitches at the back. To ensure that the thread is securely fastened work a few backstitches over the stitches at the back of the work whilst weaving in the thread. When beginning a new thread, if there are already stitches, then start the thread by weaving back and forth through the stitches at the back of the work taking care not to cross over open holes of the counted fabric.

Starting a Thread Method #1 Starting a Thread Method #2 and Finishing a Thread

1a.

Working the Embroidery 1b. 1c. The embroidery is worked from the large chart provided. One line of the graph represents one thread of fabric when working on 14 or 16 count fabric or two threads of the fabric when working on 28 or 32 count fabric. The oval border is worked first and then the other patterns are worked in any order using the oval border as a starting point for the pattern. Read the instructions prior to stitching so you can decide the order in which you would like to work the patterns after the oval border.



Oval Border

Find the center of the fabric. On 14 or 28 count fabric, measure 4 ½ inches (11 ¼ cm) from the center to the top of the fabric. Mark the hole in the fabric with a pin. On 16 or 32 count fabric, measure 4 ¼ inches (10 ¾ cm) from the center to the top of the fabric. Mark the hole in the fabric with a pin. The marked hole in the fabric represents the top center of the oval border. Work the first octagon at the top center of the oval border in running stitch and back stitch over one thread of the fabric on 14 or 16 count fabric (see diagrams 2a. and 2b. below) and over two threads of the fabric on 28 or 32 count fabric (see diagrams 2c. and 2d. below). Finish with the cross-stitch at the center of the octagon.

Octagon on 14 or 16 count fabric – worked over one thread of the fabric

2a. 2b.

Octagon on 28 or 32 count fabric – worked over two threads of the fabric

2c. 2d.

Work clockwise around the oval border. Carry the thread from the cross-stitch to where the next octagon touches the previous octagon (see the black stitches on diagrams 2b. and 2d. above). The positioning of the octagons change as you work around the border, you will begin with either a diagonal, a horizontal or a vertical stitch. Finish with the cross-stitch at the center of the octagon. The top diagonal of the cross-stitch should always be in the same direction. Use a highlighting pen to mark off each octagon on the large chart when it has been stitched. When one half of the oval border has been stitched check that the bottom center octagon lines up with the top center octagon. The last octagon on the oval border should exactly meet with the first octagon as on the large chart.



Flowery Bush: Left Side

The bush on the left is made up of flowers with cross-stitch in-between. Follow the large chart to work the flowers and cross-stitch and use the diagram below as a guide for the order in which to work the stitches. The flowers are worked in running stitch and back stitch over one thread of the fabric on 14 or 16 count fabric and over two threads of the fabric on 28 or 32 count fabric (see diagram 3a. below). Pattern on 28 or 32 count fabric – worked over two threads of the fabric

3a.

You can change the sequence of the stitches to be in position to work the next flower or cross-stitches – plan ahead. Note: If you are working on 14 or 16 count remember to work the pattern over one thread of the fabric and not two.



Cross-Stitch: Between the Flowers on the Bush and the Hummingbirds The cross-stitch will not entirely cover the threads of the fabric as in traditional cross-stitch as only a single strand of floss is used. When several rows of the cross-stitch are worked a very neat little diamond pattern is created adding to the interest of the embroidery. The cross-stitch is worked over one thread of the fabric on 14 or 16 count fabric (see diagrams 4a. and 4b. below) and over two threads of the fabric on 28 or 32 count fabric (see diagrams 4c. and 4d. below). Some portions of the hummingbird wings and the eye are worked in half cross-stitch with the diagonal stitch at the same angle as the top diagonal of the cross-stitches.

If there are only one or two cross-stitches in the area that you are working then work the cross-stitch in the following two stages:

First a diagonal stitch is worked from 1 to 2 and then a second diagonal stitch is worked over top from 3 to 4. It is okay to work the diagonal stitches in the opposite order than in the diagrams below as long as the top diagonal stitch is always in the same direction. Cross-stitch on 14 or 16 count fabric – Cross-stitch on 28 or 32 count fabric – worked over one thread of the fabric worked over two threads of the fabric

4a. 4b. 4c. 4d.

If there are three or more cross-stitches in a row, it is best to work the cross-stitch in the following two stages. The first stage is to work a row of half cross-stitch - the bottom diagonal of the cross-stitch (see diagrams 4e. and 4f. below). Half cross-stitch on 14 or 16 count fabric – Half cross-stitch on 28 or 32 count fabric – worked over one thread of the fabric worked over two threads of the fabric

4e. 4f.

The second stage is to work back over the first row of half cross-stitch with the top diagonal completing the cross-stitches. Working the cross-stitch in this method results in a more even pattern. Complete cross-stitch on 14 or 16 count fabric – Complete cross-stitch on 28 or 32 count fabric – worked over one thread of the fabric worked over two threads of the fabric

4g. 4h.



Flowery Bush: Right Side

The bush on the right is made up of flowers that touch at the corners with a flower head in-between. You can begin the pattern from any position on the oval border. Follow the large chart to work the flowers and use the diagram below as a guide for the order in which to work the stitches. The flowers are worked in running stitch and back stitch over one thread of the fabric on 14 or 16 count fabric and over two threads of the fabric on 28 or 32 count fabric (see diagram 5a. below). Flower on 28 or 32 count fabric – worked over two threads of the fabric

5a. You can change the sequence of the stitches to be in position to work the next flower – plan ahead. Note: If you are working on 14 or 16 count remember to work the pattern over one thread of the fabric and not two.



Flowers: Top of the Oval

You can begin the flowers at any position at the top of the oval border. Follow the large chart to work the flowers and use the diagram below as a guide for the order in which to work the stitches. The flowers are worked in running stitch and back stitch over one thread of the fabric on 14 or 16 count fabric and over two threads of the fabric on 28 or 32 count fabric (see diagram 6a. below). There are also some diagonal lines that are worked over two threads of the fabric on 14 or 16 count fabric and over four threads of the fabric on 28 or 32 count fabric, (see the stitches 17 - 18, 33 - 34, 99 - 100 and 115 - 116 on diagram 6a. below).

Flower on 28 or 32 count fabric – worked over two threads of the fabric

6a.

You can cut across the back of the fabric from one flower to the next but try to take the shortest path so that the thread is not cutting across the back of more open holes of the fabric than is necessary. To get into position to cut across from one flower to the next you can weave the needle and thread behind the stitches of the flower head or you can work the flower pattern in a different running stitch back stitch sequence to be in position to cut across to the next flower – plan your path. Some of the flowers are missing the stitches inside of the petals (see stitches 41 - 42, 43 - 44, 83 - 84, 85 - 86, 87 - 87, 123 - 124 and 125 - 126 on diagram 6a. above) and refer to the large chart for the missing stitches.

Note: If you are working on 14 or 16 count remember to work the pattern over one thread of the fabric and not two.



Information about the Designer

Tanja Berlin trained at the Royal School of Needlework from 1990 until 1993 as an apprentice learning all aspects of hand embroidery. Tanja stayed another two years working at the Royal School of Needlework in their workroom working on commissions, restoration and conservation of needlework. In 1995 Tanja went on a world travel tour and after 3 years settled down in Canada. She teaches throughout Canada, USA and internationally. Tanja runs a website where she sells her embroidery designs at Berlin Embroidery Designs. Website: www.berlinembroidery.com Email Address: [email protected] Telephone Number: 403-274-6293 Tanja also designs in blackwork, goldwork, needle painting (thread painting), white work, Jacobean, both sides alike (two sided embroidery), Carrickmacross lace, Hapsburg lace and some other needlework techniques. Kits with detailed instructions can be purchased from her website: www.berlinembroidery.com There are group rates for six or more of the same kit purchased and discounts for $150.00 or more worth of kits purchased. Below are the designs available in the Cross-stitch Meets Blackwork Series.

Contemplation Going About Their Business Hummingbird Haven

Landscape Relaxation Swan Reflections

http://www.berlinembroidery.com/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.berlinembroidery.com/



Pattern 1 of 4, Top Left Hand Corner of the Pattern

One line of the graph equals one thread of fabric when working on 14 or 16 count fabric or two threads of the fabric when working on 28 or 32 count fabric.



Pattern 2 of 4, Top Right Hand Corner of the Pattern




Pattern 3 of 4, Bottom Left Hand Corner of the Pattern




Pattern 4 of 4, Bottom Right Hand Corner of the Pattern

Documents

Cross-Stitch Meets Blackwork - Berlin Embroidery