Goldwork Blackwork Needlework Needlebook

(Originally posted in April 2012.)

One day I saw some pretty awesome goldwork paired with some pretty awesome blackwork. As it usually goes, I decided I had to do something like that.

This needlebook is 2.75x3 inches (7x7.75 cm), worked in black silk and admiralty standard gold (gold-fill) pearl purl. The inside is two “pages” of wool felt stitched into black goatskin leather. The linen is a 32-count evenweave, and the whole thing is wrapped around bookboard core.

Lessons learned: whatever you think the width of your spine is going to be, divide it in half and multiply it by pi. That is the real width of your spine. Due to this small oversight, the book is permanently open just slightly.

Another note: to make your own pearl purl in any half-round metal you can find all you need is the wire, a needle of appropriate size (I used a beading needle for this 24 gauge wire), and something to clamp the wire to the needle. You also need patience and a bit of a steady hand.