Blackwork Summer Beauty
BLACKWORK PATTERN READY TO DOWNLOAD, DESIGNED BY Lesley Teare Designs

She looks as if she were dancing barefoot, a light silk scarf floating in the breeze, and a cloud of butterflies following in her wake.

She's wearing a bare shoulder top and a gipsy style skirt, a loose belt hanging from her slender waist. 

The embroidery of the dress is very elaborate, with various fabric patterns delicately worked in Blackwork, with golden thread covering the cross stitch base in parts. Her pendant and ankle bracelets are rendered in golden seed beads.

Black and grey hues dominate, but the stitched piece is lightly colored using gold and mauve tones. Different thicknesses of black thread are used for the outlines, with a light touch for the face and body, and heavier fabric contours to create a more textured feel. You can render these heavier lines in 1 strand of DMC Pearl cotton size 8 and 12 thread. Alternatively, if you'd rather stick to embroidery floss, use 2 and 3 strands respectively.

This motif is part of a collection of 4 portraits of women, one for each season (see below for autumn).

Like cross stitch, Blackwork is a counted thread technique, with stitches represented on a grid. A majority of stitches are backstitch, with some cross stitch filling certain areas. The chart comes with an extensive Stitching Guide detailing all stitches including fractional stitches.

A Blackwork pattern by Lesley Teare Designs.

>> see all Blackwork patterns by Lesley Teare Designs
 

Chart info & Needlework supplies for the pattern:
Blackwork Summer Beauty

Chart size in stitches: 168 x 196 (wide x high)
Needlework fabric: 14ct Aida or 28ct Linen/Evenweave
>> View size in my choice of fabric (fabric calculator)
Stitches: Cross stitch, Backstitch, French Knots, fractional stitches
Chart: Color
Threads: DMC, Pearl cotton size 8 and 12 (optional), Kerinik Gold Fine Braid #4 or metallic of your choice
Number of colors: 10

Themes: portrait, lady, woman, seasons, summertime, butterfly

>> see all patterns with portraits (all designers)

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