Designed and stitched by Nanette Costa

Blackwork Heart by Nanette CostaDesigned and Stitched by Nanette Costa

Materials List:

• 8″ x 8″ 18-count mono canvas in white or the color of your choice
• 2 sets of 8″ stretcher bars, tacks to attach canvas to bars
• #26 tapestry needles
• 1 reel Kreinick #4 very vine braid, color #002, gold, or 001 silver
• Optional 1 skein #5 black pearl cotton or color of your choice
• 1 ball #8 black pearl cotton or color of your choice

Step One

Find the center of your canvas by running basting threads from corner to opposite corner. The intersection is the center of your canvas.

Count down 29 threads from center to begin the heart outline. Outline heart using 1 strand #5 pearl cotton or 2 strands #8 pearl cotton.

Step Two

Using double running method, work vertical grid using 1 strand #8 pearl cotton.

Step 3

Using double running method, work horizontal stitches with 1 strand #8 pearl cotton.

Step 4

Using double running method, work the diagonal grids using 1 strand #8 pearl cotton.

Step 5

Using double running method, work the cross stitches using 1 strand #8 pearl cotton. Work entirely in one direction first, then cross the stitch in the other direction.

Nanette Costa holds Level II Certification in canvas embroidery from NAN and is an EGA Master Craftsman in canvas. Nanette has won many ribbons for her designs and received ANG’s Mary Fry Award for color for her design Harmony. She has taught for EGA and ANG chapters and at ANG’s National seminars; ANG’s Eastern Stitch Away 2001 and the NAN Assembly at the Greenbrier. She was editor of NANthology for five years; has authored correspondence courses for ANG; and was a featured writer for ANG’s NeedlePointers, authoring several series and articles.