WEEKEND STITCHING

Colourful Blackwork Projects for Quick Weekend Stitching

Small projects, big joy — colourful designs you can start Friday and finish Sunday

Red Butterfly Cottage Snail Tommy Tortoise Calla Lily

Looking for something light, fun, and easy to finish? These colourful blackwork patterns are designed to stitch up in a weekend — no pressure, just pure stitching joy.

Whether you’re easing back into embroidery or simply want a satisfying project to carry in your bag, this little collection has you covered.

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Colourful

Because blackwork doesn’t have to be black

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Whimsical

Animals, florals, and scenes that make you smile

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Playful

Great for experimenting with texture, fills, and colour

Each one is an instant PDF download, beginner-friendly, and ready when you are.

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BEGINNER FRIENDLY

Red Butterfly

This tiny butterfly started as a little experiment in contrast. Light, airy fills on the upper wings, then richer, heavier patterning below. Add a solid cross-stitched body and those cheeky little “empty” areas in the bottom wings, and suddenly it pops — in the best way.

A quick, colourful piece that’s perfect for your first weekend blackwork project.

Blackwork butterfly embroidery kit

Design Specs

Skill levelBeginner-friendly
Design size4.25" × 3" (10.8 × 7.6 cm)
Stitched withDark colour with contrasting metallic
IncludesChart, diagrams, stitch instructions
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BEGINNER FRIENDLY

Red Roofed Cottage

This cheerful countryside cottage is stitched in a Clarice Cliff-inspired style, full of colour, charm, and texture. Each fill pattern brings a different part of the scene to life — fields, rooftops, garden paths, and all.

It’s a gentle introduction to combining multiple blackwork fills in one cohesive design, and a lovely piece to display once finished.

Blackwork cottage embroidery kit - Clarice Cliff style

Design Specs

Skill levelBeginner-friendly
Design size8" × 7" (20.3 × 17.8 cm)
Features9 distinct fill patterns
IncludesChart, stitch instructions, area guide
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INTERMEDIATE

Blackwork Snail

This little snail carries a whole sampler on its back. Eleven variations on a single fill pattern spiral across its shell — an eye-opening lesson in texture and technique packed into one whimsical creature.

Great for stitchers who want to experiment with density and shading while keeping the project quick and portable.

Blackwork snail embroidery pattern

Design Specs

Skill levelIntermediate
Design size6" × 3" (15.2 × 7.6 cm)
Features11 fill variations, cross-stitched antennae
IncludesChart, fill pattern guides, contrast tips
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BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE

Tommy Tortoise

Tommy is a calm and steady presence on your hoop — his shell filled with contrast, texture, and a few clever blackwork tricks. Light and shadow are created through stitch density, giving him a beautifully rounded look.

This pattern combines structure with softness and makes a thoughtful gift, especially for animal lovers or stitchers who enjoy gentle shading techniques.

Tommy Tortoise blackwork embroidery pattern

Design Specs

Skill levelBeginner to Intermediate
Design size8" × 4" (20.3 × 10.2 cm)
IncludesChart, stitch variation guide, dimensional tips

A Stitcher’s Story:

“I bought this to do for my mum, as she had always wanted another tortoise after ours died when I was a young girl. She kept buying pottery ones until her fireplace was full of them! I did this for her because of her love of tortoises and my love of blackwork.
It was really quick and easy to do. The chart was very easy to follow, and I kept it a secret from her until she received it for her birthday. It now has pride of place in her hallway — and she even has two real tortoises now as well.”

— Erica, Cumbria (UK)

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EXPERIENCED

Calla Lily

Elegant and modern, this striking calla lily is stitched on black fabric with soft tonal threads. It’s a small design — but a powerful exercise in contrast, stitch weight, and flow.

You’ll vary density and thread thickness to shape light and shadow, allowing the lily to emerge from the background like a slow bloom.

Blackwork calla lily embroidery pattern

Design Specs

Skill levelExperienced
Design size3.5" × 4.5" (8.9 × 11.4 cm)
FabricBlack Aida or evenweave
IncludesChart, thread weight & highlight guidance
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WHICH ONE’S FOR YOU?

Find Your Weekend Project

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First Time?

Start with the Red Butterfly — small, clear, and confidence-building.

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Love Texture?

The Snail packs 11 fill variations into one whimsical creature.

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Making a Gift?

Tommy Tortoise — gentle, meaningful, and loved by gift recipients.

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SMALL PROJECTS, BIG JOY

Your Weekend Starts Here

Whether you choose just one or gather a few for the season ahead, I hope these little blackwork patterns bring you a sense of joy, calm, and that satisfying feeling of making something with your hands. They’re small, but they stitch big — with texture, movement, and a quiet kind of charm.

New to Blackwork?

Start with my introduction to blackwork for everything you need to know. Or grab the Blackwork for Beginners ebook for guided, step-by-step learning.

Browse More Patterns

Looking for florals, figures, or samplers? Explore the full blackwork pattern collection to find your next project.


Stay connected between projects

If you’d like occasional updates from my embroidery room, including new patterns, gentle tips, and little things I think you might enjoy, you’re warmly invited to join the Stitchin’ Times newsletter.