Blackwork is a form of embroidery that is sometimes known as Spanish work. It was thought to have been brought to England from Spain by Catherine of Aragon when she married Prince Arthur, the eldest son of King Henry VII. It was often used to decorate shirts, cuffs, ruffs and smocks for both ladies and gentlemen. Blackwork is a counted thread technique and, as the name suggests, is traditonally worked in black thread on white fabric. Today it is often worked in multiple or other single colours. A bit of metallic thread can add something quite special to a design. Many modern blackwork designs are geometric but also often create a picture. The geometric patterns are perhaps a better starting point if you've not tried the craft before - especially those worked in blocks as the beginner kits from Doodlecraft Design are. Blackwork traditionally uses two types of stitching - outline and filling. Back stitch and Holbein stitch (a double running stitch - go one way and return to fill in the gaps) are popular for working outlines. The filling stitches generally consist of a single motif which is repeated to form a pattern. Many stitches are used - sometimes cross stitch or running stitch.

We stock blackwork embroidery kits from a variety of suppliers, including Bothy Threads, The Steady Thread and Doodlecraft Design.

• Bothy Threads