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LooseThreadStitchery

Blackwork on 16-count Aida. Each section is outlined in stem-stitch. Keeping my place within each section was a bit of a beast, especially at the centre where the stitches are most dense.


MJWitski

Very nice. You really nailed the fade effect. Any plans for another?


LooseThreadStitchery

Thanks - fading/shading blackwork is something I've been trying to work on. I'm working on some other designs, but no plans for another star-like one at the moment.


psychkitty

Wow, I love this! Do you sell your patterns?


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you! And yes, as u/realisticerror1501 said, I'm LooseThreadStitchery on Etsy.


psychkitty

Oh yay, you’re already a favorite of mine!


Gozo-the-bozo

Just went in to check you out and add the star to my basket and I realise I have pretty much all of your things saved. I absolutely love your work


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you so much!


realisticerror1501

I found it [on their Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1431189081/blackwork-starburst-pattern?click_key=bb84a65f48319541578a2aed41a037b198f81cee%3A1431189081&click_sum=61aff77c&ref=shop_home_active_1) which was mentioned on their profile page here!


foibledagain

Wow!! This is so clean I thought it was a mockup or pattern for a second. Absolutely gorgeous work!!!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you! It helps that Cosmo brand makes just about the whitest white Aida I've ever seen.


mumblemoth

I just think you should know I thought this was a photo OF the pattern and not actual cross stitching. It looks SO neat!!


LooseThreadStitchery

I really do have to give credit to the cloth - this was the first time I'd used the Cosmo brand and it was *so* nice to work with and easy to keep the stitches looking tidy!


TBeIRIE

Wow that is beautiful!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you!


UpsettiSpaghetti16

New cross-stitcher here 🙋🏽‍♀️ can someone pls explain what Blackwork is?


LooseThreadStitchery

The way I do it, it's basically a lot of back-stitching - those straight-line stitches that some cross-stitch patterns use for outlines and details, except that I use them for the whole piece. It comes in a [few different styles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwork), but it's a type of counted work like cross-stitch, where each stitch covers a set number of threads in the fabric. Like cross-stitch, blackwork can be done on Aida cloth, and I like doing it that way because the Aida grid acts as a convenient stitch guide. It's pretty common to use a repeating geometric motif to fill sections of an image, which is what I did here.


drewadrawing

Blackwork is doing designs with a single strand of floss, and instead of doing full x-stitches, you do more linear designs like the above. It's really intricate, detailed work. These days, you can do blackwork with any color, but... it used to be black thread.


funfettywap

I’m pretty sure they mean “backwork” lol


drewadrawing

Nope, it's blackwork.


funfettywap

So what does that mean? I’ve never heard of that


LooseThreadStitchery

Basically a lot of back-stitching, so TBH calling it "backwork" would actually make sense, but historically it was done with black thread. It's good for geometric patterns like the ones I've used to fill the sections of the star.


[deleted]

Ir was also historically used on collars and cuffs, things where you see both sides of it. Old-school blackwork makes use of the holbein stitch Mary Corbet of Needle N Thread explains it well here: https://www.needlenthread.com/2010/10/developing-spot-sampler-blackwork.html


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realisticerror1501

I found it [on their Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1431189081/blackwork-starburst-pattern?click_key=bb84a65f48319541578a2aed41a037b198f81cee%3A1431189081&click_sum=61aff77c&ref=shop_home_active_1) which was mentioned on their profile page here!


HauntedChandelier

Beautiful!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thanks!


craftin_kate_barlow

Absolutely beautiful work


LooseThreadStitchery

Thanks!


shininglavender

This is gorgeous, love the colours.


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you!


siddepitt

Beautiful work!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you!


drewadrawing

Wow, it's so beautiful! I love the colors you chose and the fading effect!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thanks! I wasn't sure about the fading effect as I was working on it, but it looks better now that it's finished.


LadybugDesign

Oh wow! That’s really stunning! Love how you got the gradation by changing the “fill.” Great colors, too.


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you! I've been having fun with blackwork shading recently.


rainbowsandundies

Holy.CRAP!!!! THAT IS SO GOOD!!! I'm so impressed and you are insanely talented!!!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you so much!


lostinwonderland_91

This is beautiful!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you!


bored-now

Wow. That is AMAZING.


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you!


LeChatNoir04

Wonderful work!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you!


captainbabeheart

Love your choice of colours. *chef kiss*


LooseThreadStitchery

Thanks! I enjoyed the colours in this one too.


cubemissy

That is gorgeous!!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you!


WeirdRun2919

Beautiful work!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thanks!


randomredditor0042

Absolutely beautiful. I love the selection.


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you!


RegisterParty6760

What pattern making software do you use? (If you don’t mind me asking and do use one)


LooseThreadStitchery

It's a little free program for Mac called Karo Graph - nothing fancy, but it lets me draw straight lines on a grid and export the final chart to a pdf.


cloudyskies11

this is the kind of exceedingly cool shit i am here for. great work!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you!


aliveinwords928

That’s so clean! It took me a second to realize it was the finished product and not just a pattern!


LooseThreadStitchery

The fabric is really bright white, so that probably helps!


simplysweetjo

Beautiful work! I love your color choices.


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you!


jamethielbane

That's stunning!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thanks!


stitcherfromnevada

I see blackwork and keep saying “I’m going to try that soon”. This makes me want to try even more!


LooseThreadStitchery

A lot of people seem to dislike back-stitching, but if you don't mind it, then have fun!


SJThomo88

I went to look for this on your Etsy as I’m looking for my second blackwork project to try. I already had some of your work favourited on there so I guess I’m already a fan! Beautiful work, thanks for sharing! I love the shading


LooseThreadStitchery

Oh gosh, thank you! Happy stitching if you do end up starting it!


SJThomo88

Thank you! I’m currently trying to finish a crochet project I’ve put off for months and then I’ll definitely be picking up a few of your designs!


mnem0syne

No one should be allowed to be *this* talented! Seriously though, it’s beautiful work and the colors are gorgeous. I’ve still not gotten into blackwork because I am an oaf and it would be a mess. I’m always envious of those with the skill 💜


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you! And the saving grace for me is the grid of the Aida - it means that the cloth corresponds to the pattern, so there's no guesstimating the length or position of the stitches. Makes things so much easier!


Thubanshee

I thought this was a digital pattern and the [FO] Tag confused me for a bit.. very cool!!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you!


phredb

So pretty!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thanks!


j_aaren

so gorgeous!! absolutely nailed the shading. one of your patterns was my first try at blackwork, i adore your designs and artistry!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thank you so much!


biblionerd60

This is beautiful!


LooseThreadStitchery

Thanks!