There are lots of Blackwork books out there, but not too many that have the unbeatable combination of lovely patterns and free. This new book on Blackwork, ENSAMPLARIO ATLANTIO (Atlantic Sampler), is by Kim Brody Salazar and features Blackwork fillings.
Kim is making the book available free for download in four parts on her blog, String or Nothing. It has over 220 fillings and they are lovely.
If you page through the books you may be confused by the charts, they do not have the familiar lines we see in grid paper. Instead there are dots. This makes the stitches, which are drawn as stitches very easy to see. It also means that stitch sizes are all relative. If you want a bigger pattern, one stitch could be over three threads instead of two, the chart will still look the same.
To stitch from these kind of charts decide on the length of your stitches before doing anything else. In needlepoint, this is usually two threads (because straight stitches over one thread are unstable. Knowing this you can consider the patterns and see how big they are. by finding a repeat and counting.
Once you have found your pattern you can begin to stitch.
I’m planning on using some of these as the backgrounds on the ornaments I’m stitching this year.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Thanks for the kind words! The charting method using dots and voided lines is my own invention, and I use it for all of my books. I’m delighted to see that its advantages are seen by others, too! I’m looking forward to seeing what new mischief the Pattern Children attempt at the hands of your followers.
I’m looking forward to using at least one in an upcoming project.
Keep stitching,
Janet