Squarely Check by Christine Burton

Christine Burton has been a beloved contributor to Inspirations for a number of years now. Many readers will know her work as she produces exquisite, three-dimensional pieces that are stitched using traditional blackwork techniques and constructed into something quite unique.

But Christine, like many of our designers, is versatile with a range of talents. Having skills in one area certainly does not preclude this lady from excelling in others!

Christine is certificate trained from the Royal School of Needlework in London and has a particular passion for embroidery from the 17th Century, as well as a love for the Arts & Crafts era.

These twin areas of interests inform a lot of her designs, but she enjoys adding something extra to her pieces, making full use of the wonderful range of threads, beads, sparkles and accessories available to us in this day and age.

There is no doubt that our readers have loved Christine’s designs, such a Limonera Pear that appeared in A Passion For Needlework | Blakiston Creamery. On occasion we’ve heard people say that they adore Christine’s projects, have never done blackwork before and are looking for somewhere to start.

We present Squarely Check – a fantastic beginner’s blackwork project that Christine has designed to introduce every stitcher to this historical technique. There couldn’t be a better way to start out than with this delightful pincushion. The blackwork motifs are complicated enough that a beginner will really get the hang of how to do it, while an experienced stitcher will still gain huge pleasure from it. The results are simply gorgeous.

The pattern for the design is incredibly clear, so even a stitcher who tends to avoid counted work will have no problem following the steps. Naturally, careful counting is required to ensure everything squares up and the lines and balance between the different motifs are even.

As you work this project, you’ll soon discover the pleasure that comes from seeing the pattern emerge with each stitch.

The finished piece has a satisfying symmetry that can only be achieved from counted embroidery.

Squarely Check does require construction skills, but once again, they are not so insurmountable as to put a nervous stitcher off. The careful touches, such as a checked piping around the edge and the tiny tassels on each corner, ensure that this pincushion will be one to be proud of, and they set the central blackwork design off perfectly.

If you’ve ever looked at one of Christine’s projects and dreamed of being able to do it one day, here is the stepping stone to get you there. Once you have completed Squarely Check, we guarantee you’ll have the confidence to try out all her other projects.

Squarely Check is also perfect if you’re looking for a smaller project to do, or you just want to relax with your stitching and produce something beautiful in less time. It really is a project for everyone, and is sure to become yet another favourite amongst Christine Burton’s collection of fantastic designs.

Please note: Our team work tirelessly to ensure the information included in our publications is accurate, however every now and then an error does sneak through. Since publishing the instructions for ‘Squarely Check’ it has come to our attention that there were errors in the chart printed on page 83 of the magazine. Please refer to the Errata document on our website HERE for the updated chart.

Make Your Own Squarely Check

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Squarely Check by Christine Burton is an elegant pincushion with timeless flower and star motifs.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Squarely Check includes everything* you need to re-create this sweet pincushion: Fabrics (unprinted), mini piping, fibre-fill, firm card, embroidery thread and needles.

*Please Note: To cater for flexibility of purchase, instructions are not included with our kits. For step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to the magazine/digital pattern.