Blackwork eight-point star tile hand embroidery pattern

Easy · 1 color · 3 kinds of stitch

Blackwork eight-point star tile: preview of the stitched design

A square blackwork tile holds an eight-point star in a frame, all in one navy thread. The middle square of the star is filled with an open diamond filling of back stitch, with French knots in its diamonds. The eight points have a close diamond filling. Each of the four corners of the tile is parted into nine small squares. A row of back stitch points runs round the border between the inner frame and the outer frame, with a French knot in each corner. The middle square, the star outline and both frames are stem stitch.

Size and details

Easy. Simple stitches in one color.

1 color of floss and 3 kinds of stitch, all of them line stitches and knots:

The stitched size, by hoop
Hoop	Inches	Centimeters
3 in (8 cm)	1.4 × 1.4 in	3.6 × 3.6 cm
4 in (10 cm)	2 × 2 in	5.1 × 5.1 cm
5 in (13 cm)	2.7 × 2.7 in	6.9 × 6.9 cm
6 in (15 cm)	3.4 × 3.4 in	8.6 × 8.6 cm
8 in (20 cm)	4.7 × 4.7 in	11.9 × 11.9 cm

In a 3 or 4 inch hoop the French knots are drawn smaller than about 2 mm (a little over 1/16 in). Use one strand of floss for them there, or choose a larger hoop.

The pattern is drawn inside a circle about half an inch (1.3 cm) smaller all around than the hoop.

What you need

DMC 336 Navy BlueOpen diamond filling of the middle, knots in the diamonds of the middle, close diamond filling of the eight points, small squares of the four corners, points in the border, knots in the corners of the border, middle square, star outline, inner frame and outer frame

The floss is six-strand cotton; the stitch guide says how many strands to use. You also need a hoop, an embroidery needle (a size 7 to 9 suits two or three strands) and plain cotton or linen fabric. To frame the piece in its hoop, cut a square 3 inches (8 cm) wider than the hoop: a 9 inch (23 cm) square for a 6 inch hoop.

Stitch guide

Back stitch 2 strandsOpen diamond filling of the middle, close diamond filling of the eight points, small squares of the four corners, points in the border
French knot 2 strands, two wrapsKnots in the diamonds of the middle, knots in the corners of the border
Stem stitch 2 or 3 strandsMiddle square, star outline, inner frame, outer frame

Getting it onto your fabric

The PDF holds the pattern twice at actual size: once as drawn, and once mirrored for an iron-on transfer pen. Print it at 100% with scaling off and check the one-inch square (25.4 mm) with a ruler before you trace. How to transfer a pattern explains tracing, carbon paper and the other ways. The files are under Downloads.