Beginner's Guide to Blackwork, Paperback/Lesley Wilkins

Description Blackwork is a timeless, classic embroidery sixteenth century embroidery technique in which beautiful designs are created by stitching geometric designs on to evenweave fabric. Inspired by the past, Lesley Wilkins illustrates her techniques with a whole host of wonderful designs - flowers, plants, birds, animals and figures. She covers everything - from what materials to use and working with a chart, to getting started and how to stitch. Patterns are created by small stitched units which are combined in many different ways - some heavily textured, some delicate and light. Borders can be built up by repeating and joining motifs Clear step-by-step photographs accompany the author's comprehensive instructions, and the motifs, borders, fill-in patterns and images are all charted, with inspirational pictures of embroideries showing how to build up finished designs. About the Author Lesley Wilkins discovered blackwork samplers on a school visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and has been hooked ever since. Her fascination with the craft has led her to become not only an embroiderer of extraordinary skill, but also an expert in the history of blackwork. She has collected thousands of patterns from all over the world, and her own work is inspired by historical motifs, patterns and borders. Her designs have appeared in Needlecraft and Needlework magazines. When she is not working in local government, Lesley runs a website for blackwork and Victorian cross stitch enthusiasts, providing custom-made kits and charts of her own designs.