I thought I would post these guys up here. This is how I practice my counted black work and experiment with stitches. This is a small blackwork sampler that is eventually going to be chopped up and made into pincushions, to be given as largesse (Yes, I know that pin cushions made like this aren’t really pre 17th century, but these gifts are handy for B&B’s to have). In this form it’s small enough folded up that I can pop it into my pocket (with the needle safely hidden inside the fabric) and practice pretty much anywhere. The patterns I will often take a photo of on my phone and reference from it. At a certain point, I will stop checking my phone picture to force myself to remember the pattern that I have been using which is a fantastic skill to build up. It’s also about learning how to tension without using a frame. Practicing like this is not only a perfectly medieval thing to do (samplers are seen in lots of paintings) but means that you build up skills without having to worry about ‘ruining’ something special. You will notice from the pictures I’ve taken of the back that I have played around with different stitches and occasional become completely confused with how to make it work.
Plus, embroidering in public starts the most awesome conversations and shows people that embroiderers are not just granny’s. Not that I don’t love granny’s, but everyone should be embroidering. Everyone. I also love embroidering in my lunch breaks (with an amazing bunch of colleagues who have slowly started bring their projects in as well) and while at the games table. Lastly, if you like reading, try listening to audio books while embroidering! It leaves your fingers free to work while listening to amazing books. My current favourite at the moment is John Scalzi books read by Wil Weaton!
:)