Blackwork embroidery kits and patterns

Ever have those moments where you're itching to stitch something beautiful, but you're short on time? Or maybe you just want a quick creative burst without committing to a huge project?

That's where these weekender designs come in!

Think of them as bite-sized bursts of stitching joy. We're talking designs that are:

Colorful: who says blackwork has to be black?

Exciting: Ready to try a new stitch or dust off an old favorite? These designs are your chance to experiment on a small scale.

Whimsical: Think tiny critters, landscapes or flowers that bring a smile to your face (and everyone else's!).

And the best part? They're perfectly portable so you can take your stitching adventures anywhere!

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Red Butterfly

Rich burgundy and gold make this spectacular blackwork butterfly really stand out.

The top wings use a light fill, the bottom a heavier one. Then stitch the solid areas in cross stitch using two strands of floss.

Mounted with a burgundy matt and a gold frame to pick up the sparkly thread, it will catch the eye when hanging on your wall.

• Downloadable, detailed pattern instructions and chart

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Red Roofed Cottage

Stitch a Slice of English Countryside

ThIs Clarice Cliff style farm cottage sits among the fields, each blackwork pattern mapping the textures of rural life. You can almost imagine the scene through the kitchen window, with a kettle warming on the Aga.

Nine distinct patterns - some dense like sheep-cropped grass, others open like freshly-ploughed earth. Each stitch adds to this pocket-sized slice of countryside, small enough to fit in your hands but wide as the Yorkshire dales in spirit.

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Blackwork Snail

The snail's shell spirals inward like a maze of tiny black tiles, each filled with variations of the same pattern. Add extra stitches to some sections to make them appear darker. It will amaze you how many ways you can change a single fill pattern!

The snail glides forward, topped with two simple cross-stitched antennae, a stark contrast to its elaborate home. This pocket-sized creature, carries its sampler of eleven different blackwork patterns wherever it goes.

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Tommy Tortoise: A Shell-ebration of Blackwork

This little tortoise pattern sits patiently on your hoop, waiting to come alive with each careful stitch.

Unstitched highlights give a hint of 3-dimensionality to his shell. Further enhanced by adding extra stitches where it turns away from the light.

His stumpy legs peek out beneath, stitched densely in dark floss. Whether destined for a child's pillow or framed on a wall, Tommy's gentle expression invites you to pick up your needle and begin stitching.

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Calla Lily - A Modern Twist on a Timeless Classic

Who says blackwork has to be black on white? The opposite colourway looks really effective in this little calla lily design.

Use thicker thread and more stitches to create the areas that look brighter. Work fewer stitches and allow the black fabric to show through to contrast.

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