Five Rose Motif - Hardanger Embroidery Project
by sue tortoise
A learning project for a newcomer to Hardanger Embroidery.
The motif is one I found on shirts from the 1840s made in the Malmö region of Sweden.
This project is worked on #22 count Hardanger fabric, using pearl cotton #5 for the blocks and the edging, and pearl cotton #8 for the diagonal-stitch V-shapes and for all the weaving stitches
The finished size of the piece (including the edge) is 13 x 13 cm (5 x 5 inches) you will need a piece fabric about 20 cm (8 inches) square. You will need one skein of #5 pearl cotton and a ball of #8 pearl cotton (if you have a quarter of a ball, that will be ample, otherwise you will have plenty left over for other projects.) Use ordinary sewing thread for marking the fabric. You will need tapestry needles to suit the threads (try a #24 and a #22). You will also need small scissors with fine points - if you've ever wanted an excuse to own a good pair of 'stork' scissors, this is it!
Here you have step-by-step photos - compare them to the chart and to the finished sample if you have trouble following them.
One word of warning - I am left-handed. You may prefer to stitch in the other direction. That's fine: you can work the stitches either right-to-left or left-to right, go around the shapes clockwise or anti-clockwise, whichever feels most natural to you. But whichever way you choose to work, stick to that direction for the whole piece in order to keep your stitching even.
