Blackwork stepped diamond hand embroidery pattern

Easy · 1 color · 3 kinds of stitch

Blackwork stepped diamond: preview of the stitched design

A blackwork diamond with a stepped outline is parted into four quarters round a middle diamond, all in one navy thread. The upper and lower quarters are filled with a close diamond filling of back stitch. The two side quarters have an open diamond filling with a French knot in each diamond, fifteen to a quarter. The middle diamond holds a small back stitch diamond with a French knot at the middle. The stepped outline, the diamond within it, the middle diamond and the lines between the quarters 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)	1.9 × 1.9 in	4.8 × 4.8 cm
4 in (10 cm)	2.9 × 2.9 in	7.4 × 7.4 cm
5 in (13 cm)	3.8 × 3.8 in	9.7 × 9.7 cm
6 in (15 cm)	4.8 × 4.8 in	12.2 × 12.2 cm
8 in (20 cm)	6.7 × 6.7 in	17 × 17 cm

In a 3 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 BlueClose diamond filling of the upper and lower quarters, open diamond filling of the side quarters, knots in the diamonds of the side quarters, small diamond at the middle, knot at the middle, lines between the quarters, middle diamond, diamond within the stepped outline, and stepped outline

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 strandsClose diamond filling of the upper and lower quarters, open diamond filling of the side quarters, small diamond at the middle
French knot 2 strands, two wrapsKnots in the diamonds of the side quarters, knot at the middle
Stem stitch 2 or 3 strandsLines between the quarters, middle diamond, diamond within the stepped outline, stepped outline

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.