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Hardanger Stitches (under construction)
Satin
stitch. The Satin Stitch is the basic stitch that makes up the
majority of a Hardanger project. This one simple stitch can be
repeated over and over in several rows to create numerous shapes.
The satin stitch is a straight line stitch. I prefer to start my
first stitch on a Hardanger piece with a waste knot. The
waste knot will eventually be cut off, that is why is is called a "waste
knot". The waste knot will be on the front side of your project.
This is just to anchor your floss until you have a chance to stitch over
the tail in the back to secure it down permanently. A satin
stitch is worked by poking your needle with your knotted floss
from the top down into your fabric. The knot will be on the top of
your fabric. Begin your first satin stitch to the left of the knot
a few holes away diagonally. You will come up through the back of
the fabric in hole one, make a straight line down through hole two.
Back up right next to hole one, through hole three, and another straight
line down through hole four.... and so on and so on until you finish
your shape. In the mean time, you are stitching over the tail you
created with your waste knot on the back of the piece to anchor you
floss. Once you have anchored your floss, you can snip off the
waste knot. The back of your work should be almost exactly
like the front of your work. Be sure to check often by flipping
over your work and inspecting the back.
Waste Knot
Kloster block
stitch. The Kloster Block stitch makes up the frame work of
most Hardanger pieces. A Kloster block is done with the satin
stitch. Normally, Kloster Blocks are rows of 5 stitches, each one
stitched over 4 threads on your fabric. While doing Kloster Blocks
you can either use the sewing method or the stabbing method. It
just depends on what you are comfortable with. The stab method is
like cross stitch where you stick your needle into the fabric and pull
it through the other side. The sewing method you insert your
needle in one hole and bring it back up through another hole in
one motion, rather than two in the stab method. You can also do
variation of the Kloster Block, making your stitches graduated or
increasing the number.
Kloster Block
Buttonhole Edge stitch.
The buttonhole
stitch edge is a common and decorative way to finish the edges of your
project. It is a more modern stitch. You can use either a number 5 of number 8 thread
(depending on the count of your fabric). The buttonholes stitches
correspond to the kloser blocks. You make 5 buttonhole stitches
directly across from your 5 stitches in your kloster block. You
make a buttonhole stitch by counting 4 holes in your fabric and putting
your needle down through that hole, counting 4 holes in your fabric in
the correct direction and up through that hole. When you come up
through that hole, you allow you floss to go behind your needle and pull
your thread through the fabric. Pull up from that final hole to
secure your buttonhole stitch down flat to your fabric. Make 5
stitches this way that are even with your kloster blocks and then turn the
corner. Corners are a little tricky, but with practice, they will
be easy to complete.
Cable Stitch.
The
cable stitch is a
decorative stitch used often on Hardanger pieces. It is a very
simple stitch. Cable stitches are generally worked with either a
size 8 or 5 thread. To start your cable stitch, bring your needle
up from the back side and you will make what is basically a half cross
stitch. Count up two threads and over two thread and go down
through the fabric to create a half stitch (ex./). You
continue to make half stitches in a line to create a cable stitch.
You can also do two cable stitches side by side or more.
Eyelet Stitch.
The eyelet stitch is
also a very common decorative stitched used in Hardanger projects.
It is normally worked in the center of 4 kloster blocks, but doesn't
have to be. Start by bringing your needle up in the same hole as
your finished kloster block, count two thread to the center and go down
in that hole. Follow by bringing your needle up in the next stitch
in your kloster block and back down through the center hole.
You will basically be working in a circle.
Dove's Eye Stitch.
The dove's eye is a
lacy filling stitch used frequently in Hardanger. It is simple to
learn and very decorative. It can either be worked in the center
of completed kloster blocks or as part of the needle weaving of a
square, as pictured below.
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