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It's stunning Serinde! a real work of art and so delicate! fantastic

EXCELLENT finish!

Soooo lovely Great work

Absolutely beautiful!! I love this design!

Just wanted to add my penny's worth - this is really beautiful! I am smitten, it's just so 'enchanting' - I keep wanting to just look at it!

BEAUTIFUL!

Wonderfull
Congrats on the finish of your great work

Serinde, I don't remember seeing it, did you say what fabric you used for this?

I have just started it on 32 count linen, and I am a bit worried about the backstitch. I am not so sure if I do the weaving in of the thread's end correctly, but there are small ends sticking out at the back, and you can see through the linen. Also, it is not so easy to follow the lines of the backstitch from the back, especially at the corners.

I don't know if it makes sense at all, anyway, I will start a SAL as soon as I can borrow the camera again, and will show you.

Apart from this, I am really happy to work on this.

Agi, I stitched this on 32ct Belfast antique white linen.

I tackled the design by doing all of the cross stitch first, so that the Celtic knots were all done and I was sure the layout was correct. Then I tackled the blackwork. This also meant I was able to start and finish most of the blackwork threads in the cross-stitching.

Once you get your eye in, starting the small designs becomes easier, and, of course, you will be doing all of them at least 4 times, so practice does make perfect. I used quite a combination of back stitch, running stitch and Holbein stitch (also known as double running stitch) on this piece to avoid taking any threads behind empty white fabric.

WARNING: keep an eye peeled for two eccentricities in the blackwork designs:
1. some designs start as a 'half' stitch
2. some of the blackwork designs do not follow the obvious line: sometimes you will take a thread over two threads and up four... (for instance)
Really study the designs before you start one! was a great friend of mind for a bit with this design...

Serinde wrote: Agi, I stitched this on 32ct Belfast antique white linen.

Mine is Permin 32 count, and it is called white, but it look a bit cream to me.

I tackled the design by doing all of the cross stitch first, so that the Celtic knots were all done and I was sure the layout was correct. Then I tackled the blackwork. This also meant I was able to start and finish most of the blackwork threads in the cross-stitching.

I prefer doing a little bit of cross-stitch at a time, and when a block is formed, I like to fil in the blakwork, so it doesn't get boring. But I didn't think of starting in the cross stitch, since there is one or two blocks between them, I thought it would look through. But it sounds a good idea to me, it anchors the thread more securely. I will do that from now on.

some of the blackwork designs do not follow the obvious line: sometimes you will take a thread over two threads and up four... (for instance)

Yes, I have already realized that, and had to frog a few stitches .

Thank you for the tips, they helped a lot. I am enjoying this piece so much, but I am a little afraid that I won't be good enough... I will try my best!

I'll be very interested to know which your favourite blackwork motif is. I have a definite favourite!

Not good enough!?! Forsooth, woman. It will look wonderful, you wait and see if it doesn't.

That is SO pretty! I love blackwork, anyway, but this has such lovely, suble colours as well. Beautiful!

Oh now have we got to guess Serinde's favourite blackwork motif - naaaa too difficult to choose they are all lovely.

Thank you, Serinde

I have only done two, so can't decide yet...

I've just caught up with this - what a great design

You should be really proud of this one, it does look fabulous. Have you thought on how you will get it framed yet?

I have, and I'm saving my pennies I'd like to have it double matted, catching the colours of the maroon and forest green, as a cut-out following the lines of the Celtic knots, then framed, probably in oak. As I say, saving my pennies!

It's worth saving up for that -- it sounds like the perfect framing for this piece!

This is gorgeous I really love it!

Look forward to seeing this framed.