The Blackwork Elephant design is a Level 4: Expert of my Further Education designs. You will require experience in the tissue paper transfer method of working a blackwork design and experience in shading blackwork patterns by changing the density of the pattern and the thickness of the thread. The first thing you will do is transfer the outline of the design onto the 32 count Belfast linen fabric by tracing the outline onto a piece of tissue paper, pinning the tissue paper to the fabric and then working a basting stitch (tacked line) along all the design lines. The elephant is worked 32 count Belfast linen fabric so that a similar shading result to the original embroidery is achieved. There are 14 – 20 hours work in transferring the design. The tissue paper is ripped away leaving tacked design lines on the fabric and then you work the blackwork patterns with-in the tacked design lines. The tacking is removed once the embroidery is complete. The embroidery is worked from a 30 page instruction booklet with lots of step-by-step charts for the patterns and the 9 PDF files have work-in-progress photos of the elephant that I took when I stitched which show each step of the embroidery as well as additional instructions. It took me 200 hours to stitch the elephant. PDF File Lesson 1: 23 Pages – Transferring the design PDF File Lesson 2: 17 Pages – Lower trunk PDF File Lesson 3: 17 Pages – Upper trunk PDF File Lesson 4: 10 Pages – Head PDF File Lesson 5: 12 Pages – Left ear PDF File Lesson 6: 11 Pages – Right ear PDF File Lesson 7: 7 Pages – Left side of the boy PDF File Lesson 8: 14 Pages – Body and upper leg PDF File Lesson 9: 18 Pages – Legs A stitching light and magnification are an asset to work the embroidery. I recommend working the Blackwork Study of Cats prior to the elephant as the cats have the same four patterns that are worked on the elephant or the Blackwork Valais Blacknose Sheep which has similar patterns and shading techniques. I am offering free on-going critique with this kit…..you can email me at any time if you have questions or would like me to critique your embroidery. Visit the photo galleries page of my website to see pictures of the blackwork elephant that have been stitched by my customers. Embroidery Size: 32 Count Fabric: 14 inches (35 cm) high by 11 1/2 inches (28 3/4 cm) wide Kit Contents: Instruction Booklet Tissue Paper A Piece of 32 Count Belfast Linen Fabric 22 inches (55 cm) by 27 inches (67 1/2 cm) One Spool of Black DMC Perle Cotton Two Skeins of Black Au Ver a Soie, Soie D’ager Silk Thread Three Skeins of Black DMC Embroidery Cotton Three Skeins of Pea-Coat Variegated Weeks Dye Works Thread Two Skeins of Black YLI Silk Thread Red Polyester Sewing Thread Packet of Size 26 Tapestry Needle (5 Needles) Packet of Size 28 Tapestry Needle (6 Needles) Two Size 10 Crewel Embroidery Needle Recommended Supplies: 24 inch Scroll Frame or 24 inch by 20 inch Stretcher Bar Frame Embroidery Scissors Packet of Size 26 or Size 28 Tapestry Needles Bohin Transfer Pencil Tweezers for Removing Tissue Paper Dressmaker Pins
