A Blackwork Christmas - SAL Announcement Post

Sometimes when you try to design things you end up with something completely different - this is one of those cases. I was thinking about the Ornament of the Month SAL and what to do for it when I had the idea of doing stockings this year - except all of the patterns I have made so far ended up with blackwork only - not something I like to do for the Ornament of the Month. So I decided that I would just do these as a separate SAL and do something else for the Ornament of the Month, which worked nicely. Many of these patterns are ones I have designed specifically for this SAL, so are not traditional blackwork patterns and it may not be possible to make them in Holbein stitch as is the tradition for blackwork.

What: 

• This is a SAL to make twelve blackwork stocking ornaments.
• The patterns will be given with a left and right facing stocking so you can do both or pick which way round you want to do them.
• The patterns are 72 x 39 stitches for a two sided stocking ornament or 32 x 39 stitches for a single sided one that is finished with another fabric or made on plastic aida/perforated paper.
• The pattern is in backstitch (some may work with Holbein stitch).
• There will be twelve monthly patterns. 
• The pattern is given in two shades of the same colour.
• The black outlines are the suggested outline for finishing.

 Where: 

• All patterns are posted here on my blog.
• There is a Facebook group to share progress and talk about the project here.

When:

• Patterns will be given every fourth Tuesday of the month - there will be a "calendar" in the side bar so you can see the exact dates, which will be added in December after the last of the 2019 patterns.
• I will start on the 28th of January 2020 - if you are able to keep up you have twelve new stocking ornaments by Christmas 2020! Admittedly life happens and so do other projects but the SAL will stay on this blog so you don't have to worry about the patterns vanishing.

Fabric:

• I have rounded up the numbers working from the actual size of the stitching to make sure you have enough fabric. 
• Fabric amounts are given based on stitching over one bunch of Aida or over two threads of evenweave. 
• Fabric amounts are given working on the basis that you will make the stocking ornaments as I envisioned and so will stitch the front and use the same fabric for the back.
• Make sure you stitch the front and back ten stitches apart so you have sufficient seam allowance.
• I have given 3 inches / 7.62 cm of fabric on each side for finishing.
• If you only want to stitch the front then you will enough fabric to do 32 x 39 stitches plus 3" / 7.62 cm per side for finishing
• If you wish to calculate the fabric for yourself based on your plans or with less finishing space then this is a helpful tool. 

Size in inches per stocking ornament:

• For 14ct Aida/28ct evenweave:
• The pattern is 5.1 inches x 2.8 inches.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 12 inches x 9 inches.
• For 16ct Aida/32ct evenweave:
• The pattern is 4.5 inches x 2.4 inches.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 11 inches x 9 inches.
• For 18ct Aida/36ct evenweave:
• The pattern is 4 inches x 2.2 inches.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 10 inches x 9 inches.
• For 20ct Aida/40ct evenweave.
• The pattern is 3.6 inches x 2 inches.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 10 inches x 8 inches.

Size in cm per stocking ornament:

• For 14ct Aida/28ct evenweave:
• The pattern is 13.1 cm x 7.1 cm.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 29 cm x 23 cm.
• For 16ct Aida/32ct evenweave:
• The pattern is 11.4 cm x 6.2 cm.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 27 cm x 22 cm.
• For 18ct Aida/36ct evenweave:
• The pattern is 10.1 cm x 5.5 cm.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 26 cm x 21 cm.
• For 20ct Aida/40ct evenweave.
• The pattern is 9.1 cm x 4.9 cm.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 25 cm x 21 cm.

Floss:

• Floss is calculated based on using one strand over one (or two for evenweave), if you prefer to do the outlines with two strands then you will need a little more.
• Skein amount is given for DMC floss which has six strands and eight metres long - if you use another brand you may need more floss. 

 Floss use per stocking ornament:

• For all sizes you will need approximately:
• 0.1 skein of DMC floss as per colour each month.

I hope you are as excited as I am to do this SAL - it will be easy to keep up with due to its small size which will mean you could do this alongside another SAL or large project. I hope to see many of you in the fb group as well as here! If you have any questions please do ask! Either here or in the fb group works (a mention will help me see the fb post!) and I'll answer ASAP!

I'll see you tomorrow for a Friday Freebie, and Saturday for another SAL announcement post!