You want to know what blackwork is? GREAT! Pull up a chair and get comfy.
You do like history, right?
No? Umm... okay. That's okay. Its not like history history.
Anyway...
Blackwork is exactly what it sounds like. Embroidery done in black thread. While it existed before then, the general date for the major appearance of Blackwork is usually given as being during the reign of Henry VIII. It also gets hard to pin down a starting date because the black thread was often made with iron dyes, which eat away at the fabric over time, so there just isn't much left to see.
Katherine of Aragon, Henry's first wife, was Spanish. And she brought this type of embroidery with her, which is why you will also see it called Spanishwork. Later on if it was done in all red thread, they called it Redwork.
No one said they were great at names, okay?
It is usually stitched with black silk thread, in geometric counted patterns. Frequently it was used on the edges of garments because it was relatively easy to stitch and keep the front and back looking almost the same.
At its most basic, its backstitch. You can use running stitch. You can also use the "traditional" method, which is called Holbein stitch.
I'm going to publish a YouTube video that explains all this in more depth and gives you a look at all of them in action. But at the end of the day, there really isn't too much difference in the way it looks.
Here's an example from a 16th century portrait of a gentleman.
You do like history, right?
No? Umm... okay. That's okay. Its not like history history.
Anyway...
Blackwork is exactly what it sounds like. Embroidery done in black thread. While it existed before then, the general date for the major appearance of Blackwork is usually given as being during the reign of Henry VIII. It also gets hard to pin down a starting date because the black thread was often made with iron dyes, which eat away at the fabric over time, so there just isn't much left to see.
Katherine of Aragon, Henry's first wife, was Spanish. And she brought this type of embroidery with her, which is why you will also see it called Spanishwork. Later on if it was done in all red thread, they called it Redwork.
No one said they were great at names, okay?
It is usually stitched with black silk thread, in geometric counted patterns. Frequently it was used on the edges of garments because it was relatively easy to stitch and keep the front and back looking almost the same.
At its most basic, its backstitch. You can use running stitch. You can also use the "traditional" method, which is called Holbein stitch.
I'm going to publish a YouTube video that explains all this in more depth and gives you a look at all of them in action. But at the end of the day, there really isn't too much difference in the way it looks.
Here's an example from a 16th century portrait of a gentleman.
Is he wearing that collar, or is it wearing him? Either way, its blackwork and its beautiful!
But it didn't have to be quite so in your face. This portrait of a noble woman (it had been argued about. Some say it is Catherine Howard, but general consensus now says probably not.) has blackwork on the cuffs. if you look closely, you can also see that these are double sided, so the one who embroidered them took care to make it look as similar on both sides as they could.
But it didn't have to be quite so in your face. This portrait of a noble woman (it had been argued about. Some say it is Catherine Howard, but general consensus now says probably not.) has blackwork on the cuffs. if you look closely, you can also see that these are double sided, so the one who embroidered them took care to make it look as similar on both sides as they could.
So, why blackwork? Isn't it just like regular old embroidery?
Well, yes and no. To me, it is still a counted stitch, so I lump it with cross stitch. Just a sort of specialty cross stitch. I love blackwork. I love the way you can use it in so many places and the way that it can be as modern or as historical as you like. There's no limit to what you can do. And the stitch is SO. BASIC. ANYONE can do this stitch. You don't have to make it perfect on both sides. If you want to, or you're making a garment or historical costume, then you go ahead and drive yourself bonkers. LOL. I am one of those weirdos that thinks backs don't matter as long as the front looks like what you want.
Even if you say you hate backstitching, give this a chance. There's a big difference between backstitching your cross stitch and creating a piece using a stitch similar to backstitch.
I think you'll love it.
Well, yes and no. To me, it is still a counted stitch, so I lump it with cross stitch. Just a sort of specialty cross stitch. I love blackwork. I love the way you can use it in so many places and the way that it can be as modern or as historical as you like. There's no limit to what you can do. And the stitch is SO. BASIC. ANYONE can do this stitch. You don't have to make it perfect on both sides. If you want to, or you're making a garment or historical costume, then you go ahead and drive yourself bonkers. LOL. I am one of those weirdos that thinks backs don't matter as long as the front looks like what you want.
Even if you say you hate backstitching, give this a chance. There's a big difference between backstitching your cross stitch and creating a piece using a stitch similar to backstitch.
I think you'll love it.