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I couldn't wait to have another go at this. I've been looking at Mabel's lovely work and found my old Hardanger experiments from last year. I had enough fabric and Perle cotton left to do some more so tried another little project in my "Easing into Hardanger" book. I had to remind myself again how to do the kloster blocks and cutting and everything, but then learned two new techniques - woven bars and Scandinavian four sided edging.

I made one mistake in the cutting (snipped one of my stitches and had to repair it) and my edged corners are untidy on the back, but on the whole I was quite pleased with this.

And you should be pleased, very nicely done and love the colors Anna

Love it!! Very nicely stitched!

What color is that? I love it! You did a wonderful job!
Faith

Beautiful job! I would love to learn hardinger one day.

Great job! Repairs earn extra stars.

Love the colors and congratulations for attempting to stitch a Hardanger design!

socialsue

Very nice work!

It looks really good. Would not even know that yolu had a mishap.

Very well done!! The colors are beautiful, the details are perfect! Love it very much.

Nachstenliebe wrote:What color is that? I love it! You did a wonderful job!
Faith

Thank you very much! The colour is called Mountain Stream and it's Anchor Perle cotton.

It's beautiful!!

I wish I could get my head around how you actually start off!! I will have to look it up as I just can't understand how the thread is secured!!

sarah im doing this design can you tell me how you did the four sided edge as i seem to be struggling with it

Great job!!

crazycat wrote:sarah im doing this design can you tell me how you did the four sided edge as i seem to be struggling with it

It's pretty difficult to describe, I'm working off detailed diagrams in Mary Hickmott's "Easing into Hardanger". I'll try my best to describe it. You first do a double row of backstitch over 4 threads all around the edge. Then take the following points....

F D B - being 3 points where the backstitches join and

E C A - being 3 points set 4 threads inside the backstitch rows.

These 2 rows of points are parallel to each other.

I'm not sure if this is making any sense, but I'm sure there will be a better description with diagrams on the net somewhere.

Anyway, fold the edge of your fabric over so that points F D B are right on the edge. Bring your needle up through both layers of fabric at point A and go on as follows.

Take a stitch over the edge of the fabric, laying the thread over point B and come up again through hole A.

Take the thread over the same fold again and come up through point C.

Take a backstitch into the original hole - down through point A and then back up through point C again.

Pass the thread over the fold at point D and come up again through point C.

Go over the fold at point D again and come up at point E.

Repeat all the way around. I found the corners a nightmare. It's much easier with a printed diagram but I obviously can't post a copy of Mary Hickmott's diagram. I should think there's something much easier to understand than my waffle on the net.

My eldest was just looking at your design and says it reminds him of the jungle
Faith

Great finish, Sarah!

It's lovely, Sarah! Mabel has inspired many of us, I can see now. I have finished stitching this pattern yesterday - but haven't got to the four-sided edging yet.
Thanks, Mabel