Blackwork Embroidery Patterns:
From Simple to Sophisticated

Here you will find my blackwork embroidery patterns. I've sorted them into categories to help you easily find what you want. 

Below these categories, you will find out a little more about how the designs came to be. I invite you to explore the creative process and will reveal a little about both my own and your part in the story.

If you want to jump straight to that section, click here, otherwise enjoy browsing. 

Blackwork for beginners book

Blackwork for Beginners ebook

f you are new to blackwork embroidery, then I wrote this ebook with you in mind. It covers the basics and includes eight small patterns to get you started.

Blackwork kits for beginners

Blackwork Beginners

Cute, simple charts with coloured guidelines to help the beginner learn the basics. Choose from an owl, rocking horse, or rabbit.

Blackwork red butterfly

Weekenders

Here you will find a mix of smaller designs. There are patterns for a butterfly, snail, and tortoise, along with a Clarice Cliff style landscape.

There is also a flower that is worked in reverse (white on black).

The designs are quick and easy to stitch. 

robin coaster

Christmas designs

This set has four festive coasters. It also has a pretty blackwork star. They are all easy to stitch for the holiday season.

blackwork rose pattern

Blackwork flowers

Start simple with the rose, irises, or bellpull.

Then learn blackwork shading techniques by tackling the fuchsia and waterlily.

blackwork elephant

Blackwork animals

Pick a simple rooster or oriental dragon. 

Or expand your skills with a shaded elephant or rhino. 

The barnacle goose will introduce you to designs without an outline. 

Japanese lady in blackwork

Oriental blackwork

Take a trip to Japan for this pair of beauties. They incorporate metallic threads and beads. 

Empty areas add to the designs while making them quick to stitch, despite the larger design size. 

Pearl art deco lady in blackwork

Blackwork figures

Best Sellers!

Figures from the 20s and 30s include Pearl, Coral, and Jasper.

Then we have Sophie and Georgina from very different eras. 

Completing this section are a ballerina stitched in white and Marina, the mermaid

Blackwork cats needlecase

Blackwork Assisi style

These cats, dogs, and swans
replicate the Assisi work technique but with a twist. They can be made into needlecases or framed.

First published in Classic Stitches magazine.

The blackwork knight and his lady make stunning projects to stitch

Medieval designs

A knight and his lady, Gwendoline, are a great start to larger blackwork patterns.

These designs use metallic thread and beads.

Blackwork rose sampler cushion

Samplers and pillows

These designs range from a large chessboard to a small pincushion.

There are also pillows. They come in traditional black or you can choose to stitch them in colour.

A lady at her bobbin lace pillow, stitched in blackwork embroidery

Lacemakers

There are four designs in total. Three are blackwork with a bit of cross stitch. The other is just cross stitch.

The theme of these designs is craftspeople.

Mischief the cat features in this range of blackwork embroidery patterns

The Mischiefs

Enjoy the amusing antics of Mischief the cat in the sewing room, store, and garden. Explore a mix of blackwork and cross stitch.

Wisdom - fleur de lis in blackwork

Fleur de lis

3 styles of Fleur de Lis stitched in purple and gold threads. Simple but stylish.

Blackwork windmill in blues

Windmills

Three traditional styles of windmills stitched in blue and silver - quick and easy to stitch.

The stories behind the designs

Join me on a journey into the design process. I'll share the stories and inspirations that bring them to life.

By understanding their origin, you'll feel a deeper connection with the art you're stitching.

My designs draw inspiration from many sources. These include nature's shapes, cultures, and my experiences.

When you browse the categories, you'll find a brief story behind each design. The story reveals the thoughts and intentions that shaped it.

But you, the stitcher, are an essential part of the narrative. When you choose a design, you're not selecting a pattern – you're choosing a story to continue.

Your unique stitching style brings the design to life. You interpret and express the story in your own way.

Explore my blackwork designs. Let them inspire you and resonate with you. Let them spark your creativity. When you find a design that speaks to you, remember: you're starting a new stitching adventure. It's enriched by the story within the pattern.

Carol

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