How to Knit Blackwork Coaster

Blackwork is a form of embroidery that uses black threads on a white or cream ground and the stitches are used in varies thicknesses to add special effects to the linen. Blackwork goes back to at least the 15th century. The earliest known stitch was the double running stitch that was used on linen and garments all throughout Egypt beginning in the late 15th century. It can create a variety of delicate effects and filling patterns. Read on to learn how to use this technique to create a coaster.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Black Thread
• White Yarn
• Plastic Canvas
• Sewing Needle

How to Create a Knitted Blackwork Coaster.

1. Using white yarn of your choice, cast on the number of stitches that will give you about 4 inches. Knit in stockinette until the piece measures about eight inches in length.

2. You will need to determine the picture that you want to create on the front of the coaster. For the sake of illustration, let's say you are doing a daisy with leaves and a small stem in the right corner.

3. Take your black embroidery threads and use all the strands to make the solid stem and use a straight-line stitch.

4. Use the same amount of thread to do an outline of the flower and the daisy. Once that is complete, use only two strands of the black and fill in the daisy petals. You can use any stitch you like. You can even create a patterned daisy by making each petal have a different design.

5. Once the daisy is complete, use just one strand of the black thread and create a design pattern for the background that would still allow the white to show. Remember that in black working the whole are is covered, but in different weights of thread to allow the background fabric to shine through.

6. Cut a 4 x 4 inch piece of plastic canvas.

7. Turn your knitted piece with the embroidery side facing the inside and sew up the two sides. Now, turn the piece inside out and slide in the piece of plastic canvas.

8. The next step is to whip stitch the top closed. You can repeat the above process to make a complete set of coasters.