A Blackwork E

[Homerof2]

I've seen blackwork on Craftster and other places on the internet and wanted to give it a try.  I really had no idea if there was a 'proper' way to do it but I had an idea I wanted to try.  So, rather than researching it and finding out I was doing it wrong, I just decided to wing it and see how it turned out.  This is my 4" hoop end result:

                       

I can't believe how much work I put into this!  I started with the piece of aida in a 6" hoop with the outline of the 4" hoop drawn on the cloth and then figured out where the E would be centered, stitched it and then started working my pattern from one corner of the E, like this:

                   

When I was all done, this is what it looked like in the 6" hoop:

                   

It almost made me cry when I framed it with the 4" hoop and saw how much of my stitching was covered up but I figured that in order to get the blackwork to fill the entire hoop, I had to work some extra so it would wrap around the inside hoop.  Amazingly there was hardly any of the blackwork sticking out the back.

This is a close-up of the pattern:

                                     

This is actually my 2nd blackwork piece but I can't post my 1st piece yet since it's part of a swap and the recipient hasn't got it yet 

[Calabaza]

What a cool, cool pattern! I love the effect.

[teachart]

Just beautiful! Your stitches are perfect. I can imagine the hours you spent stitching this up! (And I have an "E" name, is this heading my way?  ) I can't wait to see your other piece once your lucky partner receives!
Thanks for posting!

[fancybutch]

thanks for sharing, this looks fabulous!  I'm really taken with the blackwork sense of texture and have tried a little myself recently, must do more.  Yours looks great, nice work.

[Homerof2]

(And I have an "E" name, is this heading my way?  )

Sorry but it's staying at my house - E is the beginning of my last name and I picked it because it had no round parts to work around.

[Puppy_girl]

wow.  very impressive!

[beth8144]

this is so pretty Love it.

[oceansoul]

That's one awesome hoop!!  Your stitching looks perfect and it is a very striking design   Blackwork is just awesome!

[Homerof2]

Blackwork is just awesome!

I agree!  I have another idea I want to try but I really should finish a large stitching project I started back in October or it will bother me.

[craftysheep]

This is striking! Amazing how just one color can make such a big impact.