Beginner craftswomen should pay attention to embroidery of 1-2 colors. The images look simple and stylish. But even in such works, difficulties cannot be avoided. The needlewoman must make even a single-color picture lively and dynamic, not forgetting about accuracy.
Blackwork, or black and white monochrome embroidery
Monochrome cross stitch, the patterns of which can be found in stores, looks simple. But you should not start working without the skills to create neat images. Black and white images look stylish and neat. They allow you to awaken your imagination and look mysterious. Embroidery is complicated by the fact that the beauty of the picture is formed not by the play of shades and colors, but by the accuracy of execution. The eye has nothing to catch on to except the clarity of the work. It is the skills of the needlewoman that allow you to create a monochrome, but dynamic image.
Important! Small patterns are the most popular. Monochrome looks good in minimalist style.
A good embroidery kit for this technique necessarily contains high-quality materials. The image will look decent if the work is done not only by skilled hands, but also on good canvas with durable threads. Miniatures are especially difficult to make. Their peculiarity is that any mistake immediately catches the eye.
Main types of monochrome embroidery
Monochrome embroidery is divided into several main types. The following styles are popular among needlewomen:
- contour embroidery;
- blackwork;
- monochrome embroidery;
In contour embroidery, you need to embroider using the "counted cross" method. The finished image looks like a sketch. It resembles a pencil drawing. In this case, the lines must be done neatly. In addition to crosses, small strokes of other types of stitches are used. Beginner needlewomen are recommended to start contour embroidery.
A new trend in handicrafts is blackwork. This is an image made with black threads on a white background. Less often, black canvas and white threads are used. The patterns have gained popularity due to their use in decorating clothes, tablecloths, and towels. This technique uses a backstitch, a double stitch. The work requires attention and patience. It is done in several stages.
A new type of embroidery is monochrome. It differs from blackwork. Not only black color can be used. In addition, the image is distinguished by density. Lines are not skipped. The result is a more complex composition, but relatively simple in calculations.
Tools
The embroidered work looks neater if you do it in full readiness. It is necessary to purchase all the tools that will facilitate the process and help you concentrate only on embroidery.
What a needlewoman should have:
- Embroidery hoops or floor machines. There are also table machines. They are mainly used for large canvas sizes. They make the process easier and help with calculations. But poor-quality canvas loses its appearance over time, and the image becomes deformed.
- A special needle for embroidery. It will differ from a sewing needle by its large eye and blunt tip.
- Dressmaker's scissors, as well as "heron" scissors, designed to remove incorrect stitches.
Single-color embroidery does not require additional tools. It is necessary to remember that contour patterns provide for partial filling of the canvas, therefore the marking is done taking into account that it should not be visible. The marker should be washable. You can lay the threads on the canvas with regular stitches.
Important! A convenient alternative to the usual hoops is a magnetic board. Over time, hoops deform the canvas and the pattern. The magnetic board holds the canvas.
Master class on preparation for contour embroidery
Contour monochrome embroidery is a work of increased complexity. It will be difficult for a beginner needlewoman to calculate the crosses, since the basis of the image is the lines that create the contour. In order to embroider the work evenly, you need to know the secrets of preparation.
The quality of the threads in contour embroidery is paramount. The threads must be thick and durable. If they start to fray, the image will look sloppy. The entire peculiarity of the contour image will disappear. And nothing will remain of the clarity of the lines. Therefore, first of all, the quality of the materials is checked.
Contour work requires high precision. It is not enough to mark the canvas into squares, so beginning needlewomen transfer the pattern onto the canvas. The sketch should be barely noticeable. This will help you not to get confused, and the sketch will look neat. Experienced needlewomen prefer to come up with an image themselves, transfer the outline onto the canvas and then embroider. But at the beginning, you should not take risks, it is better to find an easy pattern.
Important! Contour embroidery looks neat when done with silk threads.
Monochrome cross stitch: embroidery patterns
There are many monochrome embroidery patterns. The most popular options are at a simple level of complexity:
- cup;
- coffee beans;
- cat.
Coffee motifs are popular among those who prefer to decorate their homes with embroidery. They look good in the kitchen.
A lady or a couple are options for experienced embroiderers. The picture can be used as a gift for a joint holiday or other celebration. When embroidering the silhouette of girls, additional colors for the eyes are often used. For example, blue, light blue.
Interesting options among small schemes. Often these are small elements - animals, insects, flowers or symbols.
Monochrome cross stitch: small patterns in creativity
Monochrome cross stitch with a small pattern looks neat. Suitable for beginner needlewomen if they know how to do the work neatly. Small-sized sets have an affordable price. This is one of the advantages of small images.
Among the small schemes there are several categories:
- animals - often cats;
- cartoon characters - in more complex versions;
- flowers;
- love - often symbols, names.
Embroiderers who have experience in monochrome work often use small patterns to create large full-fledged compositions. In this case, you need to have the skills to independently create patterns. Accuracy in calculating the canvas size is required. It is difficult to independently determine the correct position of the elements on the canvas.
Monochrome cross stitch patterns: large sizes in creativity
Monochrome embroidery with large patterns is less popular. The main reason why they are inferior to miniatures is the complexity of the work. It is easy to make a mistake in a dense image. The presence of only one color confuses the embroiderer. If the pattern is not dense, then it is difficult to calculate the crosses due to the use of complex elements. The second reason for low relevance is that a large image using one or two colors looks uninteresting.
Large complex patterns include icons. It is not easy to make images with silhouettes. They often feature girls or couples. Landscapes are rarely embroidered. When using a limited number of colors, it looks boring, and it is extremely difficult to make it dynamic. Cats, tigers, and horses are depicted in large patterns of animals. Patterns with faces are not easy for inexperienced embroiderers.
The English company Heritage offers a large selection of paintings. Embroiderers can choose kits with high-quality canvas and threads. Among them are many monochrome landscapes that are distinguished by their density.
Important! A silhouette monochrome cross stitch pattern depicting two people will be a gorgeous gift for a joint holiday.
Monochrome cross stitch is an interesting trend in needlework. The pictures look simple, but stylish. There is a difficulty in embroidering such patterns: the needlewoman needs accuracy and perseverance, experience in making complex patterns, as well as high-quality threads and canvas.
