Stella by Starlight Biscornu
Chart 1
©Rainburst Embroidery 2010
DMC Floss Suggestions Weeks Dye Works Black 310 1311 Taffeta Mill Hill Petite Glass Beads Beads 40556 Neutral 3072 Very Light Beaver Gray Fabric shown: 28 count Evenweave Linen Approximate size: 3 inches/7.5 cm
Prepare Fabric – Strongly Recommended!
Mark center lines: Using a single thread of green, work a basting stitch over four threads through the vertical and horizontal center lines. If desired, mark additional guidelines at intervals of 10 stitches (20 threads). Whipstitch the outer edges of the fabric to prevent unraveling. Note – if using Aida, each square represents one square of fabric. If using even-weave linen, each square represents two horizontal and two vertical threads. Some patterns refer to this as working “over two.”
Scotch Stitch and Reverse Scotch Stitch Border
Scotch Stitch is created by laying diagonal threads in a block pattern. Come up at 1, as shown in the figure at left, and go down at 2. Come up at 3, and go down at 4, come up at 5 and go down at 6. Continue for the remaining lines of the block. Alternate Scotch Stitches with Reverse Scotch Stitches – Starting at the bottom left corner instead of the top left. A wavy effect is created by stitching these blocks side by side. Note: In this illustration, each line represents one thread (as opposed to the charts where each square represents two threads).
Blackwork
Work backstitches or Holbein stitches using one thread of your chosen color.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Holbein Stitch is also known as double running stitch, and was popular in the time of Henry VIII. Holbein stitch is named after the artist, Hans Holbein the Younger, who painted Henry the VIII and his children wearing clothing embroidered in this style. It creates the same pattern on the reverse as the front by stitching every other section along a line, then filling in the gaps on the return journey.
Use one strand of your chosen color to work either Holbein Stitch or back stitches.
Beading
Switch to a beading needle. Use one strand of a neutral color to add seed beads in a complementary color to the center of the squares. DMC 3072 Very Light Beaver Gray is used in the model shown.
Chart 2
©Rainburst Embroidery 2010
DMC Floss Suggestions Weeks Dye Works Black 310 1311 Taffeta Mill Hill Petite Glass Beads Beads 40556 Neutral 3072 Very Light Beaver Gray Fabric shown: 28 count Evenweave Linen Approximate size: 3 inches/7.5 cm
Finishing as a biscornu
Using two threads of your chosen color, backstitch a square around both sides – creating a square 42 x 42 stitches in size. Anchor threads firmly, as this will be the joining seam (or whip-stitching edge). Sew backing fabric to the front design and the reverse design. Stitch outside of the backstitched border, but keep the stitching close, ¼ inch or within 1 cm. Trim both squares to 1/3 inch or 1 cm from the backstitched border. Your backing fabric will still be attached. Using two threads of your chosen color tie a knot at the base of your thread and come up at the corner of the reverse design marked by the green arrow. Begin whip-stitching - Pass your needle through backstitch number 1 – as indicated on the reverse design chart, and then through backstitch number 2 as indicated on the front design chart. Bring the two sides together, wrong sides facing each other, and fold in the extra 1 cm of fabric. Continue whip-stitching a seam around the biscornu, folding in the extra cm of fabric, and matching one backstitch to one backstitch. (If two backstitches of one side are accidentally joined to one backstitch of the other side, an extra space will show up at the end.) As you work, eight sides will form, creating the characteristic shape of a biscornu. Tension is key – too loose and the line will not be sharp, too tight and the fabric can buckle. When two of the eight sides are left, fill with batting – firmly, but not so that it will be difficult to add buttons and create the characteristic dimple indentation. If you wish, dried lavender can be added with the batting. Continue whip-stitching the last two sides, and add buttons.
Photographs of how to finish a biscornu can be found at rainburstembroidery.blogspot.com. Thank you! Caroline Tippets Rainburst Embroidery
Online Tutorial Available! www.RainburstEmbroidery.blogspot.com
