The Hardanger Stitch

The Hardanger stitch also defined as the Norwegian stitch, is one of those points that creates an antique and elegant embroidery and is often recreated on linen or cotton fabrics. This technique provides a main element of the Kloster block, in which an embroidery is offered to customize many objects including tablecloths and cushions.

At this point you will need to get the following materials:

• an embroidery needle, 
• white cotton or white linen, 
• a loom, 
• a pair of scissors.

The procedure is very complex, you have to be careful to count the wires and it takes very little to make mistakes and consequently have to redo all over again. Before starting to embroider, you will have to make the hem around your embroidery with an open stitch, and it is important to perform this passage well otherwise it becomes difficult to group the threads of the fabric.

To create the Norwegian stitch, you will have to divide the work into three steps: 

• the hem of the part to be pierced, 
• the full embroidery of the figures chosen to be embroidered, 
• the perforations.

Begin your work with a past stitch that must be done on four threads, the points of which must be divided by a single fabric thread at least five times. You choose the direction from which you want to start your embroidery. As soon as you have finished this step, you will have to pass on the reverse side of your work with a diagonal point, eventually obtaining a square.