Well, let's talk a little bit about blackwork. Black obviously being the color of my mood when it comes to my job, blackwork seemed particularly appropriate this week as regards to my Out Of Office time ending (very) soon. Anyways.
Blackwork is a very old and very famous counted stitch technique. It's logically worked on a white fabric with black thread (at least when respecting the initial rule #1). It had its days back in the 16th century and Hans Holbein the Younger was its official painter. Hence the other name of blackwork : 'Holbein stitch'.
But it's still quite popular today, being a very graphic and pretty 'computer assisted design' friendly a technique. Now if you follow initial rule # 2, you should blackwork using the running stitch technique; that is the front side and back side of the fabric should look exactly the same and be equally neat. But that's for maniacs like myself.
Nothing forbids you to work it as you please. Still if you're interested in doing it the perfect exact way, be warned that each pattern should first be decomposed into lines of uninterrupted running stitches, that this is applied mathematics (most precisely : algorithms) and that the theory behind it all is quite NOT for dummies. You can learn more about it in Joshua Holden's The Graph theory of Blackwork embroidery.
The samples I stitched are squares, because I intended to have little 'pads' for keyholders purposes. But blackwork is a rather versatile type of embroidery, basically you can use it on (almost) anything, from napkins to cushion sleeves, on garments, clothes, smartphone covers, you name it. The form that's filled with blackwork patterns doesn't even have to be geometrical either. You can stem stitch the outlines of any type of flower, leaf, bug, skull, zombie you like and then fill the form with any blackwork pattern you fancy.
If the fabric is too tight to count the stitches, you can even use little patches of water soluble Aïda canvas cut to fit the form you're blackworking in. The only No No being to end the stitches too far away from the edge : the blackwork pattern should blend into the edge of the surrounding form (well, supposedly so, nothing forbids you to experience what it looks like when not respecting the rule).
Blackwork patterns being composed of lines of uninterrupted running stitches, you can also play with its graphic properties when not completed. Mrs Becky Hogg in her book about blackwork explains how useful blackwork is when shading forms. Depending on how complete the pattern is, the stitches get darker (finished pattern) or lighter (not completed pattern). By the way : do buy her book, it's an absolute must read (published by the Royal School of Needlework).
Please feel free to ask any question; I'll do my best to help (but not as regards to the mathematics I'm afraid, being myself an absolute dummy).
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The Rinart
1/4/15
A Blackwork stress reducing experience - Keyhangers
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