Design by Elizabeth Almond

stitched on 28 count evenweave using DMC 156! It's so delicate. I wish I could sew! It would make a great pillow.

Liz Almond has been a great help to me. You can buy her designs and charts on www.blackworkjourney.co.uk She has plenty of freebies along with instructions you can download if you want to get started!

I call this Periwinkle Lace

Another design by Carol Leather

28 count antique white evenweave using one strand DMC 895 dark green

Design by Carol Leather

worked on 28 count antique white evenweave. Using one strand each of DMC 310 black and DMC 977 gold

Spring

Autumn

Winter

For Chris (my sister) an adaptation of a design by Elizabeth Almond

Chris attended Michael King's (Denise's murderer) murder trial with me. Needless to say it was quite an ordeal and I felt moved beyond words that she was there for me. Chris was also my matron of honor when I married in 1983. Love you, Chris!

For Brian

An Irish Sampler on Irish linen

chart: Letters, Leprachauns and Luck by Blue Ribbon Designs/Belinda Karls-Nace

For Avery (my granddaughter)

I stitched this over one thread on evenweave starting with the border. I used many embroidery stitches but mostly the Holbein stitch starting the design (or each row) in the center and working out to the border. It has a very simple flower motif worked in 4 basic pastel colors. I used no specific pattern and just went where my heart let me.

More practice in blackwork

I found these patterns to practice with in Lesley Wilkin's "Beginner's Guide to Blackwork". A must for beginner blackworkers. I got more out of this book than any other.

Practicing Blackwork

From Lesley Wilkin's "Beginner's Guide to Blackwork". Stitched on evenweave using scraps of DMC from older projects.

For Laura and Sean

After working with various patterns, I decided to put some of it all together. The chocolate thread matched Laura and Sean's wedding invitation which had gold print. Hence, the gold threading. Stitched using blackwork technique (Holbein) on even weave.

Christmas tags

A great way to get started on new techniques is stiching Christmas tags and bookmarks. I use scraps from older projects and they make excellent gifts.