How to Do Japanese Blackwork

So, what is Blackwork embroidery? Blackworking embroidery goes back to at least the 13th to 15th centuries and had become a staple in many countries, from Egypt to Japan. The earliest known stitch was the double-running stitch that was used on linen and garments all throughout Egypt well into the Tudor era. It can create a variety of delicate effects and filling patterns. Blackwork is a form of embroidery that uses black threads on a white or cream ground, and the stitches are used in various thicknesses to add special effects to the linen.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Black silk DMC thread
• 14-count white cross-stitch material

1. Learn the Holbien stitch, which is one of the main stitches. It is the most traditional stitch, used to create a continuously stitched line on the front and back of the fabric. It was named after a 16th-century artist, Hans Holbien, who painted beautiful blackwork details within portraits of people.

2. Try to create small octagon shapes that connect to each other in a row of three, using three strands of black thread. (A Holbien stitch can be any pattern that you keep in continuous form.) Then create three rows of gold octagons in two layers of thread. Continue this pattern several more times to get the effect of shadowing. Remember that the stitches on the front must be the same on the back. It's like having two good sides.

3. Come up from the bottom in that same spot to make a French knot, then, at an angle, go over to make the first side of the octagon shape. Go down and come right back up near the same spot and make another French-knot stitch. This should be done for all sides of the octagon shape. You can vary the size of the octagons, if you like, but only in a different row.

4. Stick to just a few colors. The modern-day version on blackworking lets you use different color threads and different backgrounds. But using just a few can still make beautiful pictures, bags and edging for clothes.

5. Use it with all of your embroidery stitches. For example, a parasol would be beautiful in a long stitch that crosses one with another, but has a decorative edge. A rose might get some shading effect with a tent stitch. A tent stitch is a small, diagonal stitch that crosses over the intersection of one horizontal and one vertical thread on your piece, forming a slanted stitch at a 45-degree angle. It is also known as "petit point."

Tips & Warnings

• Just remember that is has to be a continuous pattern that shows up on both s ides.