Hardanger stitch instructions

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com said

One of these days, I may get up the courage to try a technique that requires snipping threads but not today ;-) I've been studying books on other embroidery techniques and have a few opinions about what makes a good book.

First and foremost make it very clear who could benefit most from your book -- beginner, intermediate, advanced. If beginner, don't assume that the reader knows anything. In other words, include step by step instructions accompanied by clear illustrations for each step. If intermediate or advanced, a refresher course in the 'right' way to do the stitches and how the stitches can be used might be in order.

I like books that indicate the level of difficulty for each stitch. I'm also partial to ones that group by use (filling, border, etc.) or type (straight, looped, combination)

If a stitch has more than one name, be sure to index it by all of them.

Do you mean: The order of a project presented in the book? I'm assuming your projects would start at the beginner level and then advance. Haven't seen your book, so not sure how you originally presented the material.

I learned Hardanger on an advanced design and the material was presented in the order the stitches were accomplished on the piece. Eyelets aren't necessarily the first (or second, or third) thing you do. On my piece, they were last.

Anyway, food for thought. Dianne

Okay. Today you are going to take out a scrap of some countable material. You will make four klosters and snip threads. Voila. Fear over. (huge smile). One needn't start with an actual project. All you need is a scrap of cloth. Since Hardanger can be done in hand, you don't have to worry about a scrap big enough to fit into a frame of some sort. A small 3" square piece will do. Dianne

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com had some very interesting things to say about Hardanger stitch instructions:

I don't know much about hardanger, but this seems like a very good idea to me. Are you aiming this at novices (someone like me) or more experienced Hardanger stitchers?

This question intrigues me. Hardanger is pretty much the same no matter how complicated the pattern. A beginner might start with only a square of klosters and wrapped bars. But once that's done "once", the rest is pretty easy to follow (adding doves eyes or picots). Most cross stitchers have worked some counted work that includes eyelets (Algerian eyes), or have done at least one band sampler with borders of satin stitch in a zig-zag pattern. That's really all the added stitches entails - varieties of shapes of satin stitch. It's pretty straight forward.

About the only trouble beginners have is counting correctly, so gridding helps. I've learned a "fast" way to grid by doing the center and then just two (or three) gridded lines on either side. That's enough to keep me on track. Yeah, I can count, but it's easy to get off by one ground thread. Even if you're an experienced stitcher. The gridding helps on finer grounds.

The other bugaboo of beginners is cutting. Everyone is nervous about cutting, and that keeps most people away from Hardanger or other cutwork. And that's a shame, which is why I teased Anne about starting with one little square of klosters and then cut. Once you do this ONCE you'll be ok.

On another note, Hardanger has a ribbon band stitch. I noticed that Myreschka has a cable stitch that is similar but worked in double rows of 2 rather than 3 side-by-side. I wonder if this cable stitch is ever used in Hardanger?? Dianne

Dianne Lewandowski said

Not today, dear, I have a headache

Seriously, I'm working on a fan inspired by something I saw on Classic Stitches. The ground for the fan was covered with a ribbon checkerboard upon which I went wild with beads and stitched flowers and then blanket stitched on another piece of cloth. I'm covering the main background with feather stitches overlayed with all kinds of crazy quilt stitches and probably more beads. It's a 'mess' but I'm having fun with it ;-)

No, I mean the section of stitch instructions. I have presented the book in sections: general information about threads, fabrics, etc in the first chapter. Second chapter is how to do all the stitches. 3rd chapter is the projects.

What I'm trying to figure out is the best order to present the information in the second chapter - the stitch instructions.

Eyelets - actually, they should be the approximately third thing you do. They should always be done before any threads are cut, otherwise things can get very messy if you try to put them in after... Many of us have tried this and realised why its not a good idea!

There is an order of working hardanger that seems to keep problems like this at bay. That's the order I'm wondering if they should be presented in.

Yvette

I agree with you about alphabetical. This is what I naturally tend towards.

In some ways though, I want to make the stitch instructions section stand-alone. A primer on Hardanger, in which good practices are emphasised. One of these good practices is ordering your stitching right, so that the least mistakes are made. (or so they can be corrected safely).

If I have them alphabetically, then it teaches nothing of that. Its just a list. That's what I figure my index is.

I'm not saying that alphabetical is bad - I like it, but I'm sort of thinking out loud and trying to justify each position... to try to figure out which is best.

Hmmm....

Yvette

The book is aimed particularly at people who know nothing about Hardanger, but it takes you by the hand from beginner to intermediate to advanced. So anyone could jump in at any skill level and find something of use and interest (big claim!).

I have made the effort not to assume anything... though I don't actually explain how to thread a needle. ;-)

Yvette

"On another note, Hardanger has a ribbon band stitch. =A0I noticed that Myreschka has a cable stitch that is similar but worked in double rows of 2 rather than 3 side-by-side. =A0I wonder if this cable stitch is ever

used in Hardanger??"

Dianne, I'd answer this if I knew what stitches you were talking about. Any pics or further descriptions? Then I'm sure I can give an answer a good go!

Yvette

For my 2 cents worth, I prefer stitch "how-to" sections listed in alpha order, but also like to see each stitch graded for difficulty - one kloster block for "even you can attempt it" two kloster blocks for "go back and master stitches with one Kloster Block" and three klosters for "think carefully about what you are considering if you've not mastered one and two Kloster Block Stitches".

When it comes for the order of stitching, I think you can use the same pricipal, though of course it is not going to be in alpha order. Project instructions would read something along the line of "Order of work :- K, then B then E stitches". I think it is reasonable to assume that the owner of the book can then refer back to section 2 for information on K B and E stitches.

(PS - I've not seen your book in Perth, any idea where I might lay my hands on a copy?)

Joanne

I'm currently working on a revision of my Hardanger book. I'm thinking about the order that the stitch instructions appear. What do you prefer for Hardanger instructions? I realise that preferences for other sorts of stitching are probably different - I would naturally prefer alphabetical, but that just doesn't seem sensible for Hardanger.

What about following the order that you would need to follow for the stitching itself? For example, starting with klosters, then buttonholing, then eyelets... etc.

How would you like to find them? What would you find easiest to navigate around? I will also have a good index in the back which you can use to find what you want.

I really appreciate any input you have for this. I want to make it the most useful it can be to potential readers.

Thanks heaps!

Yvette Stanton Author of "Elegant Hardanger Embroidery" and "Mountmellick Embroidery: Inspired by Nature"

I recently ordered Yvette's Mountmellick book through the WA Embroiderers' Guild and I'm sure they would also have the Hardanger book in stock.

Amanda

Ok. You can have the day off. But as soon as you are no longer working on the delicious project you are currently seeing through, I urge you. :-)

Dianne

anne wrote:

The eyelets on my piece were decorative afterthoughts and not the typical eyelets you see within the little squares. Maybe that's why they were done last on my project. :-)

As you point out that Hardanger has an "order" of stitching, then I would present the stitches in that order. You have an index which is alphabetical, so finding things should be easy.

I only have limited experience, but from the way you've outlined it, I think you answered your own question. :-)

Dianne

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote:

Unfortunately, "Elegant Hardanger Embroidery" is out of stock in Australia. That's why I am currently completely revising it (and asking all these questions!) - for my new reprint. However, it has not been out of stock for long, so some shops still have it on their shelves.

So, you could wait for the new edition hopefully due in July, or find a shop that still has stock, or order it from the US or UK where it is still available.

If you'd like to go on a waitlist for the new edition, please email me.

Yvette

"...like to see each stitch graded for difficulty - one kloster block for "even you can attempt it" two kloster blocks for "go back and

master stitches with one Kloster Block" and three klosters for "think carefully about what you are considering if you've not mastered one and two Kloster Block Stitches".

Hi Joanne,

Yes, I have a symbol system like this currently which I will certainly be keeping in the revised edition. Many people find these helpful!

Yvette