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I just recently bought a few of Mabel's lovely hardanger designs and decided to give it a go tonight. Since I was only doing a practice run, I didn't use the correct materials (18ct aida and used 6 strands of regular floss).

I am able to follow most of the stitches from the directions, but I'm unsure of one part of the pattern in "Delft". The kloster blocks don't seem to make sense. In the pattern, it shows that you go over 3, but if you only go over 3 then you end up being in one stitch too many.

Another part I don't get are the woven bars. How in the world do you do that?!

Mabel is the absolute expert and very friendly and helpful with all things Hardanger! I am sure if you pm/email her she will be happy to help - as the designer she will know her patterns the best! I am a Hardanger newbie too - and love it! Just don't panic and take it slowly. I often read the instructions several times - until I can 'visualize' the stitch IYSWIM. Just in case that helps you, check out the stitch animation here - just click Hardanger - Woven Bars from the drop down menu and you will see the stitch in action!

HTH

Mrs Milkybar Kid wrote:Just in case that helps you, check out the stitch animation here - just click Hardanger - Woven Bars from the drop down menu and you will see the stitch in action!

HTH

Thanks!!!

That is a great link, Mrs MBK and it is now in my Useful Programmes folder.

Hi Starshine, as MrsMBK said just drop me a line if anything is unclear and we'll work it out together! Here is a detail fromt he chart you got:



The thing to remember is that on a Hardanger chart, the squares are the holes in your fabric, and the lines are the threads. The five satin stitches that make up the Kloster blocks each cross 4 lines, so on your fabric you cross 4 fabric threads. The two Kloster blocks in the corner share a hole. This is important because it keeps the whole thing together when you start cutting

As for the dove's eyes, first finish all the Kloster blocks, cut the fabric where it is indicated (they are the large blank squares -- in your stitch diagrams it shows along which lines you should cut), then start your woven bars over the fabric threads that are left. These fabric threads come in groups of four, and weaving is done so that you go over two of them, then take the needle down and go under the other two -- then on your way back you go over the two that you just went under, and under the two that you just went over. To move from one woven bar to the next, pass your thread through the back of the Klosterblock between them.

When you come to the second woven bar, weave it until you've covered half the bar, then work the dove's eye by going round clockwise, then finish the second half.

Hope that helps, if you have any more questions just ask!