Simple Geometric Borders

Folk Art in many countries includes simple embroidered garments. Usually stitched in Cross Stitch, the motifs are similar even though the colors, the arrangement, and the placement of the embroidery differs.

These simple motifs are a rich source of needlepoint inspiration because they are wonderfully adaptable. You can add these as a border to a design, combine them into a sampler, or even make them larger by using a different stitch.

I love them.

Rainbow Border Sampler

Today I’m going to present to you 12 borders, put into the form of a rainbow sampler. The sampler goes from red at the top to red-violet at the bottom. Depending on the width of the motif, one or more repeats of the pattern may be shown.

To make the sampler, pick 12 skeins of floss or other thread in colors as close to the pure hues as possible. You’ll want one each in: red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange, yellow, yellow-green, green, blue-green, blue, blue-violet, violet, and red-violet.

Because you are using pure hues, this sampler will just glow on black canvas.

Decide the width you want the sampler to be and baste the holes just outside the edges with a light-colored pearl cotton. At the top of your canvas, mark the center with the light thread. Each border will be centered there.

Stitch the borders as charted, leaving three open holes between the borders.

The borders

The chart is shown with each border in a different color on white. This is to make it easier to see. Each border is shown in a slightly different color to give you an idea of the finished project.

There are always three open threads between each border.

In this chart one square block represents one Tent Stitch.

Chart is at the top of the article. Click for full size.