Exploring Historical Embroidery: An Intro to Blackwork 

That photoshop trick to make your own pattern is crazy! I love this I wish there was more historical embroidery content, I always thought black work was kinda boring and this totally changed my mind

It's nice to see the difference between this and the embroidery I'm learning. Russian embroidery called rospis (роспись) is based on the double running stitch as well. Designs used tend to be a bit different than those done in Western Europe though. Colors are commonly red but in some Slavic areas, especially towards the south, black is also very common. Russian embroidery is usually actually thread counted but home weave fabrics tend to be easier to count and also evenly woven (warp and weft same weight and count). Your eyes get trained to the fabric threads over time so they get quicker to count. You can also use the feel of your needle tip going over the fabric thread to help count.

In Norwegian, “blackwork” is always done in a single contrasting colour, but not always black. Black counted thread embroidery on black fabric is considered “whitework” because embroidery in the same colour as the fabric is traditionally most often white on white.

Excellent! Feeling like my Tudor smock will be beautifully adorned now. Thank you!

This was incredible! I had no idea blackstitching existed! :) Thank you! I have a new found appreciation and wonder at this art form

excerpt from Lady Roxanne's Blackwork Article "Blackwork is black, except when itís not. Blackwork is reversible, except when itís not. Blackwork is a counted thread technique, except when itís not. Blackwork is called ďblackwork,Ē except (you guessed it) when itís not." ...🤣 Your opening description of blackwork reminds me of that quote 👆 Thanks for the introduction to blackwork and a peek into your creative process. I’m just now trying my hand at blackwork - I’m an avid embroider (lots of interest from basic needlepoint to elaborate to crewel embroidery and the art of drawn and pulled threads... I can say that while I agree to some extent that you can “eye” the work, as hard as it is to imagine, there are those of us who work counted stitches on high count linens and yes... really count each stitch out. I think it’d be almost impossible to have a consistent fabric at the end of a project of one didn’t actually count counted work... I really think it depends on the design and expected outcome of the fabric in question.

I couldn't find this video at a better time! I've only just discovered blackwork embroidery for myself and wanted to try making some of my own pieces. Thank you for this video!

Enjoyed this video, has made me wanna start embroidering again (used to do a lot of it when I was in high school - AU high not the tertiary schooling like some other countries) and thank you for the cute badge!

Thank you very much for this wonderful introduction. I had no idea this type of embroidery even existed.

This was so informative! Thank you! Black work is so beautiful.

This was interesting. I loved how you went into the history of it all. Your explanations were very clear and informative. Thank you!

Amazing comprehensive video. Wow. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 immediately subscribing.

This is fantastic! Thank you for the history as well as the tutorial, definitely a skill to add to my embroidery tool box

Oh my! So beautiful and now I have sooooo many ideas where I want to do some blackwork embroidery. Thank you for the video!

I've been looking for more resources to learn the craft! Thank you so much for this video

Now I want to do this on my every day clothing

Delightful. Thank you so much.

Loved seeing your design process Thank you.

WOW!! A lot goes into that. The design process is interesting. Counting could get tiring... But it looks amazing when finished. I hope I get to try it sometime soon. Thank you for a very informative video.

Very well presented. Thank you so much💐

Thank you, this was interesting and helpful. I especially appreciate your details and planning.

🖤 Thank you your wonderful video 🖤

this is such an interesting video, thank you for this lovely introduction to a new topic.

Really enjoyed this, thank you! Stay safe and best wishes from the Aussie Sunshine State🇦🇺😎

Thank you so much for this video, I've been admiring those Henrician/English renaissance men's smock with incredible black works on them, and of course, wanting to make them as sleepwear haha. Your video really answers a lot of my questions, as information on this type of garment is quite scarce out there.

Thank you so much for this terrific introduction.

Great video. An enjoyable introduction!

Wonderful video! Thank you!

Awesome lesson! Thank you so much!

Thank you , 1st time visiter and beginner embroiderer. you did a wonderful job teaching this lesson :-) I am inspired

Very cool! Thank you for sharing!

This was really interesting, thank you!

Some accessories for the traditional folk costumes of Sweden have blackwork decoration, at least the costumes from the place I grew up (Leksand). I’ve seen it in ribbons around certain caps, and as decoration on the fichu that was worn over shoulders and bust and closed in front with a brooch. Blackwork was mostly on accessories for formal and special occassions though. Swedish folk costumes are very interesting as a historical/modern practice. They’re all clearly influenced by historical fashion trends and habits of dress but even at the point where they were documented and ”frozen” (late 1800’s to early 1900’s mostly) the costumes still contained more than traces of earlier centuries. The Leksand costume for example is still largely in the 1700’s with pieces of 1600’s and 1800’s. The men’s embroidered long coat is gorgeous and I want to make one for myself one of these years... The women wore no stays though, just the shift, shirt, bodice, skirt, apron and fichu to keep it all in place, which actually seems to work pretty well even without boning. Some folk costumes from areas closer to the bigger cities look more early to mid 1800’s, even though they were documented at about the same time. Here’s a good overview image if anyone is interested thebeautifultimes.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/swedish-folk-costumes/ . In some places, it happens that some people still show up to celebrations, graduations and folk music gatherings in the traditional costume, but it is getting very rare. Leksand (and a lot of the county Dalarna) is kind of a place where ”living history” and crafts are tourist attractions, and so it happens more often there. I don’t live there anymore though, so maybe it is changing.

Thank you. Very interesting and well done. Just a thought for future--since a few people are red/green colour blind, perhaps a different choice of contrast colours might be helpful to differentiate your threads. Thanks gain for your instructive video.

My passion is hand embroidery and I thank you for sharing your videos on this subject. However there are those of us who can not fully pay attention in listening because the music is very distracting for the elderly who have hearing problems. Thank you for your consideration.

WHOA. Im so jazzed for this Zelda outfit

Very interesting video, thank you ! Blackwork is fascinating and it was great to have a complete video on the matter. Loved to see your process ! If you choose to make any other videos on the matter, I'll gladly watch !

This was a lot of fun to listen to! I just finished a pair of "psuedo" blackwork cuffs (Not counted stitches, entirely done in backstitching, with non-historically recognized motifs) but I had a lot of fun playing with the form of it and researching!

I love the content. Wish it wasn't so much read from a screen or paper beneath the camera because it's a bit distracting. Thanks for sharing the info!

Thank you for this! I’ve had a bit of difficulty trying to figure out where to start with and finding solid resources for black work, but your video made it all so much easier and accessible!

This was very informative, and you delivered it very well! My only critique is that you should add examples of what youre explaining so we can get a better picture of it. But awesome job!

I know it's possible to do stitches that look the same on both sides of the fabric, but how do we know that Holbein just didn't want to paint a slightly messy reverse side?

12:08 The Holbein Stitch sounds like the saddle stitch.

If you secure the sewing thread with backstich instead of a knot the whole process can look the same with either stich.

As I remember *The Scarlet Letter*, Hester Prynne's ornately embroidered letter A might have been a form of blackwork.

Thanks❤️. What program were you using??? Sorry, but music was too loud for me!!

The procreate process was helpful, since I work in procreate. Thanks!

Just discovered blackwork and am really interested. I really enjoyed seeing your design process. I have two questions. First, about the tension of the fabric. In your hoop, the fabric seemed not very taut. Is that typical or a result of filming being an awkward business? Second, are knots necessary or can you just catch the threads under your stitches like when cross stiching?

There is another stitch called Holbein stitch which is a complex kind of braided chain stitch.

Great post! I think you'd like my content too. Keep up with your great work! 💖💕

background music too loud. Can't concentrate on words.

I cant hear your voice over the loud music. D: shame because I'm really interested in what you're talking about.

The music doesn't help.