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Open lace (pattern) icon
Open lace (pattern)

Open lace (pattern) main image

​A decorative blackwork pattern made up of small boxes grouped into diamonds and squares . It is an open, large-scale pattern which is good for more organic areas of designs.

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Flat Filling Shading Blackwork

This stitch has been generously sponsored in memory of Marie Dunphy who made such beautiful lace.

Method

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Open lace (pattern) method stage 1 illustration
Open lace (pattern) method stage 1 photograph
1

Working diagonally across the area, use a series of straight and back stitches to follow the design and create the pattern in stitch.

Open lace (pattern) method stage 2 illustration
Open lace (pattern) method stage 2 photograph
2

When moving from one shape to another, stitch the sequence to ensure the least amount of black thread trails across the back.

Open lace (pattern) method stage 3 illustration
Open lace (pattern) method stage 3 photograph
3

The use of back stitch where possible ensures black threads do not trail across the back of the white fabric.

Van Dyke stitch
Open lace (pattern) method stage 4 illustration
Open lace (pattern) method stage 4 photograph
4

Complete the area to be filled with the shapes.

Open lace (pattern) method stage 5 photograph
5

This image shows how using threads of different weights can create dense and light areas which can be used to shade your designs.

Open lace (pattern)

Structure of stitch

Flat

Common uses

Filling Shading

Embroidery Techniques

Blackwork

Related Stitches

Back stitch

References

  • Various Authors, The Royal School of Needlework Book of Embroidery (2018) , p.144
  • Becky Hogg, RSN Essential Stitch Guides: Blackwork (2010) , p.48