I’m going to share with you a pattern for a small Blackwork motif that I used recently at a workshop!

I have written out exactly how to complete it, stitch by stitch.

If you are new to Blackwork, use this as a learning experience… Not all patterns come with it written out like this, in fact, I don’t think any do!

As you work through this design, keep looking at the pattern grid and try to get the hang of counting it from there and then checking my instructions rather than the other way around.

Above is the full pattern piece. Each intersection on the grid represents a hole in your fabric. Remember, this is a Blackwork design so you will need a counted fabric like Aida or evenweave to stitch onto.

Method

Right side heart:  

• Bring your needle up through a hole in the centre of your fabric

• Count 2 holes up and one to the right and then take your needle down

• Count 2 up, 2 right and stitch (bring your needle up, then down where your previous stitch ended to form a new stitch)

• Count 1 up 2 right and stitch

• Count 2 right and stitch

• Count 1 down 2 right and stitch

• Count 2 down 2 right and stitch 

• Count 2 down and stitch 

• Count 2 down 1 left and stitch (twice)

• Count 2 down 2 left and stitch (three times)

• Count 2 left 1 down and stitch (four times)

• Count 4 left and stitch 

• Count 2 left 1 up and stitch (twice)

• Count 2 let 2 up and stitch (twice)

• Count 1 up 2 left and stitch (twice)

• Count 4 left and stitch 

• Count 1 down 2 left and stitch (twice)

• Count 2 down 2 left and stitch (twice)

• Count 2 left 1 down and stitch (twice

Left side heart 

• Bring your needle up in the same hole as you originally started in 

• Count 2 holes up 1 left and then take the needle down 

• Count 2 up 2 left and stitch 

• Count 1 up 2 left and stitch

• Count 2 left and stitch 

• Count 1 down 2 left and stitch

• Count 2 down 2 left and stitch

• Count 2 down and stitch 

• Count 2 down 1 right and stitch (twice)

• Count 2 down 2 right and stitch (three times)

• Count 1 down 2 right and stitch (four times)

• Count 4 right and stitch 

• Count 1 up 2 right and stitch (twice)

• Count 2 right 2 up and stitch (twice)

• Count 2 right 1 up and stitch (twice)

• Count 4 right and stitch 

• Count 2 right 1 down and stitch (twice)

• Count 2 down 2 right and stitch (twice)

• Count 1 down 2 right and stitch (twice)

There, that was the tricky part done! Now simply fill in the heart with a grid of stitches as shown in the pattern… I’m going to let you work that bit out for yourselves!

If you wantyou can then fill in the section section underneath the heart as I have done below

So there you have it! A small design to help you get that Blackwork bug!

If you are now wanting to try more Blackwork Embroidery, check out my shop for lots of designs available as both kits and PDFs!