56 The World of Cross StitchingProject Blackwork Hummingbird
http://www.gathered.how/woxsDESIGNED BY DEBBIE HARDING
Who says that blackwork designs need to be worked in black
thread? Go beyond the traditional with a riot of vibrant hues
colour
W
hen it comes to blackwork,
we’re accustomed to seeing
intricate black backstitch,
with perhaps some occasional gold
or red highlights within the pattern.
But this happy hummingbird breaks
the mould to showcase 15 different
shades of stranded cotton, including
one iridescent fuchsia metallic thread.
These combine to create a vivid
portrait flashing with colour, exactly
as if light were being reflected off a
hovering hummingbird’s feathers.
If you have not stitched blackwork
before, you are in for a nice surprise.
Blackwork designs are essentially
worked entirely in backstitch – albeit
quite fancy backstitch. This makes it
faster to complete than a cross stitchdesign of the same size. So, you can
up the scale of your stitching without
having to increase your WIP time.
We’ve displayed the finished
stitching in a simple dark wood frame
to let the colours shine, but the
shape makes it perfect for a tea tray,
just pop into a frame with glass and
attach small handles either side.Alive with
I found it challenging combining the
different stitch patterns. Where should one
colour stop and the next begin? I worked
swatches with different combinations to help
me visualise how they’d sit side by side.Debbie Harding
Meet the designer
Stitching Time
Approx. 25 hours
Type of Stitches
Backstitch, blending
Ease of Stitching
Beginner/advanced beginnerUse a
rainbow of
Fa c t b threads