honeybeestitches

[honeybeestitches]

yall know that post with all of those absolutely stunning crochet flowers? well i just bought a pattern from the shop those are from and Good Fucking Lord.

I was expecting a like a Chart or two, maybe some written instructions. not Seventy Seven full color pages for One type of rose.

this was like 8 bucks???? obviously i did some redacting but Good Lord. if you are even a little bit into crochet go throw money at this absolute Mad woman its Definitely worth it.

[honeybeestitches]

When you go, your footprints will fill with grass. Moss shall cover your tombstone, and as the sun rises, green shall spread over all, in all its shades and hues. This verdigris will overtake your swords and your coins and your battlements and, try as you might, all you hold dear will succumb to it. Your skin, your bones. Your virtue - The Green Knight 2021

Portrait of Dev Patel in his role as Gawain in The Green Knight. Acrylic paint and embroidery floss on Cotton. 17 inches diameter.

[honeybeestitches]

Reblog for a bigger sample size

[honeybeestitches]

Just finished. I'm so happy with how this one turned out! At just over 17" (43cm) in diameter this is my largest design to date. Each section uses only 2 thread colours (white + 1 other). Blackwork embroidery on 14-count Aida cloth.

Pattern here.

#blackwork #this is so cool

[honeybeestitches]

if we all spent just six hours a day working on some kind of complex tapestry in contemplative silence nobody would have the problems they currently have

[honeybeestitches]

@mishi_embroidery

[honeybeestitches]

anoth finish!!

Pattern by PeppermintPurple

#cross stitch #blackwork #completed #finished projects

[honeybeestitches]

hi! this is embarassing but i'm trying to learn how to embroider, and i wanted to ask: how many threads are we supposed to put in the needle hole? i wasn't sure wehre to find this information...the tutorials show one thread but the thread from the embroidery spool is so big and won't fit when i try to thread it through the fabric :(

How many embroidery floss strands

It's okay, we all have to start somewhere.

A lot of us feel like everything we do has to be perfect on our first try, but that's just not realistic. It leads to us feeling embarrassed about messing up, and then giving up altogether.

Mistakes are an important part of learning any skill, and so is asking for help when you run into trouble.

And you know what? Asking questions you're embarrassed about is really brave, so good job on sending this ask in the first place!

Embroidery floss:

Most embroidery floss consists of six separate strands. (This may vary depending on which type you use.)

(Image source) [ID: a bunch of green embroidery floss looped around a plastic tag labelled "320", lying on a white piece of fabric. One of the floss threads has been loosened up, showing the different threads it consists of. Text: "needlenthread.com".]

By having multiple strands at your disposal, you can choose how many to use. Using all six will give a bolder look than using just one strand. It's kind of similar to drawing: lines made with a big marker will look different than those of a fineliner.

(Image source) [ID: six short lines in stem stitch embroidered in light blue floss. Each line is numbered from one to six, indicating how many strands of floss were used per line. Text: "How many strands of thread to use? stitchfloral.blogspot.com".]

And just like how a fineliner or a bold marker will result in different effects, the amount of strands you use will effect what your embroidery looks like.

(Image source) [ID: two sets of an embroidered red and yellow flower paired with a green leaf. The set on the left has been embroidered with six strands of floss while the set on the right has been embroidered with only one strand of floss. Text: "© Sarah's Hand Embroidery".]

How many strands to use depends on the look you're going for and the fabric you're working on.

How many threads?

So, how do we decide how many strands to use? Ask yourself the following questions:

What visual effect do you want to achieve? A bold design, or something more delicate?

How much thread do I have? Can I afford to use six at the same time, or should I use my floss sparingly?

Do I want my embroidery to lay flat on the fabric, or do I want something raised?

Do I want to work fast and bold, or slow and detailed?

What's the most comfortable amount of strands to work with for me personally?

What's my fabric like? Can it handle six strands, or would that result in damaging it? Does my thread count match the needle I want to use?

Which amount of floss is the most appropriate choice for the stitch I'm using?

If you're unsure, try your stitch and strand combination on a scrap of spare fabric first and see what it looks like before tackling your project. Make sure to use a needle that's appropriate for your fabric and thread, too.

(Image source) [ID: four cross-stitched blue hearts on white canvas. Each heart is labelled one to four and was stitched with a different amount of thread, resulting in different fabric coverage.]

Conclusion:

How many strands to use depends on your project, your design, and your fabric. It can be hard to choose how many to use at first, but this is something you get a feel for the more you practice.

For more information, check out these strand guides by Needle 'n Thread, Crewel Ghoul, Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials, Stitch Floral, and Better Cross Stitch Patterns.

[honeybeestitches]

Another update to this series!

Patterns by PeppermintPurple

#finished projects #blackwork #completed #cross stitch #click for details

[honeybeestitches]

Another blackwork finished!!

Patterns by PeppermintPurple

#blackwork #cross stitch #finished projects #click for details #you know tumblr it's a pain

[honeybeestitches]

this is gorgeous!! and oh, god, yes we are all too optimistic. you should be proud, this is well done! i love the fair isle patterns! 

cc'ing @honeybeestitches to say thanks for the lovely words of encouragement 😊

my first proper foray into counted stitching (name redacted, but i've left 2022 because honestly aren't we all far too optimistic about how quickly we'll get stuff finished??)

borders and pattern repeats are from alice starmore's book of fair isle knitting, alphabet from a kit i never used and name/date i sketched out myself. thread is dmc321

i'm so pleased with how it's turning out. i would like to get better at placing the patterns ~symmetrically~ but overall i'm really proud!

[honeybeestitches]

Hello! 😊 A little message to say how much I've enjoyed scrolling your blog just now. Your work is so beautiful!! I'm mostly a quilter (/knitter/spinner/crocheter... You know how it is haha) but a few months ago I saw some blackwork that led me down a rabbit hole and I ended up starting some redwork on linen which has completely revolutionised my feelings about counted stitching (i.e. it's amazing and not the devil's craft afterall!)

Anyway, I just wanted to say how inspiring your work is and how nice it is to find a blog so welcoming to newbie stitchers!

My own little tip to other people just starting out is to keep an eye out in charity shops. I found a kit with an absolutely hideous pattern for about £2.50 which contained a massive piece of linen and tons of thread. I ignored the pattern and had fun just trying different ways of stitching and bits of different free patterns. I learned that stitching in hand was way more intuitive to my quilter brain than using a hoop and from then on there was no stopping me!

Sorry for the ramble, I'm just very excited about sewing haha

ah thank you!! my great-gran was a quilter, i have so much respect for the craft! and welcome to blackwork/redwork cross stitch!! i love new people, honestly i love stitch so much and watching other people discover this joy feeds my soul so much omg <3

and this is a very good tip for newbies!! i have a piece of spare aida like this that i use to test colors on, i just fill in bits here and there. it's a brilliant idea to test a bunch of methods, try some things out (check out the peacock and fig tutorials, or cross stitch youtubers (flosstube) like notorious needle or mr x stitch) on fabric that isn't your main project and you can test some stuff without worrying about ruining something.

i hope your redwork goes fantastically my dear and do tag when you finish your project, i would love to see it!

[honeybeestitches]

“Persistance” by Margaret Solomon Gunn of Gorham, Maine. Winner of First Place Wall Quilts - Moveable Machine Quilted.

Margaret’s quilts are always breathtaking in their intricate perfection, and the richness of the fabric and colors of thread truly make this one downright luxurious. One of her most beautiful pieces ever, and that is saying something!

Photo taken at AQS QuiltWeek Daytona Beach 2019.

[honeybeestitches]

Got another one framed!

Pattern by PeppermintPurple

A Study in Hazel & Black

#blackwork #finished works #completed #cross stitch

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[honeybeestitches]

Cross Stitch Update: October 2nd 2022

Here is it, the final product of the Wonders of the Night Sky stitch-along. This pattern is not mine, I purchased it from Climbing Goat Designs

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Complete! (Click for higher quality)

Pattern: A Study in Black | Peppermint Purple

#completed #blackwork