The Royal School of Needlework teaches hand embroidery to the highest standard, developing techniques in new and innovative ways. This series of Essential Stitch Guides provides expert tuition on a variety of techniques. In this guide to blackwork, Graduate Apprentice and tutor, Becky Hogg, shows how to develop many different patterns from the basic blackwork stitches, using detailed instructions and beautiful examples of traditional and contemporary embroideries. There is a fascinating look at the history of blackwork, a guide to the materials needed, and then a detailed look at the stitches used. These are then developed into a huge variety of beautiful patterns, and finally there is a guide to varying the look of these patterns through the use of different shading techniques. There are inspiring embroideries throughout the book, both historical pieces and contemporary works by the author and other RSN apprentices.

Author Biography

Becky Hogg achieved a first class honours degree in Textiles at Loughborough School of Art, then specialised in traditional hand embroidery as a Graduate Apprentice at the Royal School of Needlework, where she learned blackwork, goldwork, silk shading and whitework. She worked in the studios of the Royal School of Needlework for nine years on diverse and prestigious commissions including replica curtains for the Royal Opera House and the Commonwealth banner for the Queen's Jubilee. She now works freelance from her London studio and teaches hand embroidery at art colleges and at the Royal School of Needlework.