Blackwork Animals and Birds - PDF Downloads

The Sentinel Intermediate

Meet The Sentinel—an elegant blackwork portrait that captures the calm authority of a bull elephant. Rendered in graceful geometric fills and soft grey linework, this design invites you to slow down, stitch mindfully, and watch a noble silhouette emerge one motif at a time.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Stitch count: 115w x 155h

Design size: 8.25 x 11 in on 14 ct

Fabric: Aida 14 or 28 count evenweave recommended

Add to Cart - £4.25

Look closer and you’ll notice the tusks are drawn in light itself—left unstitched as negative space—framing the elephant’s wise eye and sure-footed stance.

With limited, thoughtful shading and only a subtle ground shadow beneath his feet, the composition remains beautifully uncluttered, allowing the texture of your chosen fabric to shine. The design pays a gentle nod to conservation, encouraging quiet conversations about protecting wildlife.

Whether displayed in a modern frame or finished as a gallery piece, The Sentinel is a timeless keepsake: refined, serene, and endlessly giftable for animal lovers and blackwork enthusiasts alike.

Highlight: Negative-space tusks create a powerful, modern focal point without a single extra stitch.

The Warrior Intermediate

Meet The Warrior—my tribute to the white rhino and a reminder of what we stand to lose. When I was a child, a rhino appeared on my bedroom wall one night, a perfect shadow cast by toys at the window. I could never recreate it—just as we can never bring a species back once it’s gone. Stitching this piece keeps the rhino’s story close to your heart and your home.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Stitch count: 140w x 209h

Design size: 10 x 15 inches on 14 ct

Fabric: Aida 14 or 28 count evenweave

Add to Cart - £4.25

Rendered in classic blackwork with a touch of soft shading, The Warrior celebrates strength and vulnerability in one noble silhouette.

Worked in monochrome dark grey (DMC 3799) to coordinate with my elephant, the design uses backstitch or double running stitch for crisp outlines and textured fills that add sculpted depth, without any border or background to distract from the form.

Let this become a keepsake that sparks conversations about conservation. In 2018, the last male Northern White rhino, Sudan, passed away; today, only two females remain. Stitch The Warrior as a meaningful blackwork rhino, an elegant wildlife conservation pattern you’ll be proud to display or gift.

Highlight: Subtle shaded fills add lifelike bulk while preserving the clean geometry of traditional blackwork.

Blackwork Barnacle Goose Advanced

Let the hush of a winter morning settle over your hoop. With each measured Holbein stitch, this elegant barnacle goose emerges—calm, steadfast, and beautifully at home against a snow-white sky. It’s the kind of rhythmic, mindful stitching that nourishes the spirit while creating a striking statement piece for your wall.

Skill Level: Advanced

Stitch count: 155 x 176

Design size: 12.5 x 11 in on 14 ct

Fabric: Aida 14 or 28 count evenweave recommended

Add to Cart - £3.60

Inspired by the barnacle goose’s crisp mask and patterned back, the design uses varied blackwork fills to sculpt light, shadow, and the soft layering of feathers. The background is deliberately left unstitched, so the negative space reads as fresh tundra.

A nod to old folklore—when people believed these birds sprang from sea barnacles because no one saw their northern nests—adds story and charm to your stitch.

Finish it as a framed piece for winter décor, a thoughtful gift for a bird lover, or the centerpiece of a black-and-white gallery wall. Advanced stitchers will relish the precision; adventurous intermediates will grow in confidence. Monochrome by default, yet easily personalized by swapping to cool greys or sepia for a vintage look

Highlight: Realistic feather shading achieved through layered blackwork fills and limited outlines.

The Rooster Advanced

Add a touch of French country charm to your home with our stylish blackwork rooster design. This proud bird is sure to strut its stuff on your wall, bringing a sense of rustic elegance to any room. By stitching this design, you'll be creating a unique piece of art that celebrates the beauty of rural life.

Skill Level: Advanced

Stitch count: 168w x 243h

Design size: 12 x 17.5 in on 14 ct

Fabric: Aida 14 or 28 cout evenweave recommended

Add to Cart - £4.25

There’s something magical about the hush before sunrise—the promise of a new day, the first glimmer of light on the kitchen wall. The Rooster captures that moment in stitches, bringing rustic elegance and quiet confidence to any space. This design invites you to slow down, make a cup of coffee, and enjoy the rhythm of handwork.

Feather by feather, crisp blackwork lines and delicate cross stitches shape a stately bird mid‑strut, tail plumes arched in regal display. The textures build like lace—bold enough to anchor a room, refined enough to feel artful and modern. Stitch it in classic black for true farmhouse flair, or personalize with deep sepia, indigo, or a variegated floss for subtle movement.

As a finished piece, The Rooster is a lasting keepsake—perfect for a kitchen gallery wall, a country cottage, or a thoughtful housewarming gift. Its clean geometry and elegant silhouette ensure it never goes out of style, making this a project you’ll be proud to display for years to come.

Highlight: Intricate blackwork fils create lifelike plumage without heavy outlines.

Oriental Dragon Intermediate

Invite prosperity into your space with the sinuous grace of a classic Chinese dragon rendered in elegant blackwork. Each measured stitch traces flowing curves and geometric fills, building a powerful silhouette that feels both timeless and modern.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Stitch count: 144w x 259h

Design size: 18.5 x 10.25 in or 47cm x 26cm on 14 ct

Fabric: Aida 14 or 28 count evenweave recommended

Add to Cart - £5.00

Whether you’re marking a milestone or refreshing a favourite wall, this striking guardian brings a quiet sense of confidence and calm to any room.

Intricate yet approachable, Oriental Dragon is thoughtfully composed for rhythmic stitching sessions: long, sweeping outlines guide your needle, while repeatable blackwork textures add mesmerizing depth.

Designed for 14-count Aida (or 28-count evenweave over two), the vertical format makes a bold statement without overwhelming your decor. Stitch it in traditional black for crisp contrast, or choose auspicious reds with touches of gold for celebratory sparkle, either way, the linework shines.

Completed and framed, this becomes a keepsake that carries well-wishes of courage, balance, and enduring luck. Gift it for a housewarming, display it in an office, or anchor a gallery wall with a piece that’s as meaningful as it is beautiful.

Highlight: Luxurious blackwork fills create dramatic impact using simple, repeatable stitches, perfect for mindful, meditative stitching.