Pattern Collection

The Lacemaker Collection: 4 Blackwork & Cross Stitch Patterns

Some designs work well in both blackwork and cross stitch, and the lacemakers on this page show why. The same figure takes on a different mood depending on which technique you choose. Stitch the version that calls to you, or do both as a pair.

Three small patterns at £2.25 each, plus Mary (a larger 1885 sepia portrait) at £6.99. All instant PDF downloads.

Cross Stitch Lacemaker Blackwork Lacemaker The Stitcher Mary (Sepia 1885)

The Lacemaker (Cross Stitch) Confident Beginner

£2.25 Instant PDF download

Originally designed for the National Christmas Lacemaker's Fair in Birmingham, this cross stitch design was a bestseller from the very first day. It sold out on both days of the event and has been popular ever since.

She brings together two of my favourite crafts: the relaxation of cross stitching and the intricate nature of lacemaking. A small, satisfying piece that's a wonderful design for a confident beginner.

Design size: 5.9 x 3.6 in on 14 count

Fabric: Aida 14 or 28 count evenweave

Technique: Cross stitch only

Cross stitch lacemaker pattern with a woman at her lace pillow Add to Cart Price excludes UK/EU VAT (added at checkout)
Why this design works: A small, finishable cross stitch piece with proven crowd appeal. Frame it for your own craft room, or stitch it as a gift for a lacemaking friend.

Blackwork Lacemaker Confident Beginner

£2.25 Instant PDF download

Do you know a lacemaker whose hands fly across the lace pillow, moving bobbins at the speed of light? At the end of all that work, she lifts the pins and the most delicate piece of lace appears.

With a special birthday on the horizon, this Blackwork Lacemaker is a perfect handmade gift. You don't need to be an expert at blackwork, and it certainly won't take as long to complete as a piece of real lace.

Stitch it in classic black, or pick a colour to suit your friend's décor. A small design that won't dominate her craft-room wall, but will remind her of you each time she sits down at the pillow.

Design size: 6 x 3.75 in on 14 count

Fabric: Aida 14 or 28 count evenweave

Technique: Blackwork fills and outlines

Blackwork lacemaker pattern with delicate fill patterns Add to Cart Price excludes UK/EU VAT (added at checkout)
Why this design works: Same figure as the cross stitch version, but blackwork lets her sit in any colour palette you choose. Stitch as a pair with the cross stitch lacemaker for a matched gift.

The Blackwork Stitcher Confident Beginner

£2.25 Instant PDF download

Have you ever experienced déjà vu? At first glance, you may feel you've seen this design before. Look closer, though, and you'll discover our crafter has put down her pillow and bobbins. This time she's embroidering on a hoop, just as you will be when you download the chart.

You can sit and stitch alongside her, sharing the same hobby. I wonder if she's also working on a dress with gold stars on it.

Frame your finished piece for the wall above your sofa or your office. A small reminder that blackwork is satisfying and not as hard as it looks.

Design size: 6 x 4 in on 14 count

Fabric: Aida 14 or 28 count evenweave

Technique: Blackwork fills and outlines

Blackwork stitcher pattern with a woman embroidering on a hoop Add to Cart Price excludes UK/EU VAT (added at checkout)
Why this design works: The clever twist on the lacemaker: same lady, different craft. A meta gift for a stitcher who already has the lacemaker. Pair the three for a small trilogy.

Mary: A Lacemaker in Sepia (1885) Intermediate

£6.99 Instant PDF download

Some stitchers prefer a short story you can finish in an evening. Others want a novel they can sink into and live with for weeks. Mary is the novel of the collection.

At 13.85 x 21.33 inches (35.2 x 54.2 cm), this large cross stitch portrait gives you the deep pleasure of watching a picture build up slowly under your hands. As your stitched area grows, the figure becomes a familiar friend. By the time you finish, you'll have spent many productive hours immersed in Mary's world back in 1885.

When she's done, frame her as a reminder of something beautiful with a real link to the past.

Design size: 13.85 x 21.33 in (35.2 x 54.2 cm) on 14 count

Fabric: Aida 14 or 28 count evenweave

Technique: Cross stitch in 8 DMC sepia tones

Threads: 8 shades of DMC for soft sepia shading

Mary the lacemaker, large sepia cross stitch portrait from 1885 Add to Cart Price excludes UK/EU VAT (added at checkout)
Why this design works: Eight sepia tones give Mary photographic depth without needing dozens of thread colours to manage. A long-form project for stitchers who want to live with one piece for weeks.
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First Time Stitching Blackwork?

If You Already Cross Stitch, You're Halfway There

Many people land on this page from the cross stitch side and want to try the blackwork version. If that's you, the outline-first method is the one thing that makes blackwork click. These three resources are the most direct way in.

Blackwork Tutorial for Cross Stitchers

The outline-first method, step by step. Written specifically for cross stitchers trying blackwork for the first time.

Free Blackwork Pattern

A small, gentle starter design you can download and stitch this weekend. Try the technique before committing to a paid pattern.

Blackwork for Beginners Ebook

The full beginner walkthrough in one downloadable book. Eight guided projects, neat reversible backs taught from scratch. £9.95.
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