#blackwork sampler

Finished the colourful blackwork sampler! Had to modify two of them (dark purple - 3rd row, and the pale green - 2nd row) as they're supposed to have 'x' in them but as it's not the following the premade holes I'm not strong enough to split the fabric and get it through consistently.

It was interesting to learn a new skill, but I much prefer the super lazy, pre-printed bases for my sewing! lol (also, hairdryers work perfectly on the frixon pens! ^.^)

Tangrams! Blackwork! Finally together! This came about when I decided to take a break and do something easy after the last blackwork project. Yes, this is my definition of simple. It’s actually done on a 6″ by 6″ Aida canvas block I found at a craft store.

This is definitely a very modern design, with the use of (seven different) colors in addition to the black outline. Fun fact: all the filling patterns were speficially designed for this and have symmetry group p4mm because I got really tired of designing and stitching patterns with smaller symmetry groups after the last blackwork project.

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Update: And it’s finally framed! The canvas blocks are prone to dirt and are effectively impossible to clean; it took a good washing after dismounting it in order to get all the stains from the edge off.

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Black/Colorwork Tangram

blackwork embroidery 56 by 56 stitches 4" by 4" on 14 count Aida

This blackwork sampler is pretty much the most intricate and deeply mathematical thing I’ve stitched. It showcases all the possible symmetries that can be stitched on Aida/evenweave fabric.

The outline is the smallest simple perfect squared square, which is 112 stitches on each side and divided into 21 smaller squares. The largest square is filled by patterns representing the 7 frieze groups. The 2 smallest squares contain the empty set and a point (a French knot). The last 18 squares contain the 12 wallpaper groups and 6 rosette groups without 3-fold symmetry (because 3-fold symmetry can’t be accomplished on a square lattice). Some of the patterns are traditional but most were original. It turns out that historically people don’t tend to stitch things with very little symmetry.

This piece was originally conceived after reading Susan Goldstine’s chapter on simple perfect squared blankets in Crafting by Concepts (which is a must-own if you like fiber arts and math). It’s done on 18 count Aida using both perle cotton and embroidery floss, and the frame is a hand painted 8″ Mill Hill square frame. Before you ask: it took about 150 hours to design, chart, and stitch the whole thing...

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Update: It was exhibited in the 2016 Joint Mathematics Meetings Art Gallery! Here’s the exhibit profile/gallery page. Writing the artist statement took longer than it should have taken.

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Simply Symmetric Square Sampler

blackwork embroidery 112 by 112 stitches 6.25" by 6.25" on 18 count Aida