Sardinian Knot Stitch

I’ve been exploring new forms of needlework again. This time I’m taking an online course, through Virtual Threads (an online guild associated with the Embroiderers’ Association of Canada) focusing on the Sardinian Knot Stitch. It is being taught by Jeanie of the blog Italian Needlework.

Sardinian Knot Stitch practice motif

Sardinian Knot Stitch (or Sardinian Knotted Embroidery) comes from a small village named Teulada on the island of Sardinia. There this form of knotted white work is called Punt’e Nù. But, because the women of the village do not readily teach their craft, it is more correct to not use that term for similar work done by outsiders.

The video above, although an advertisement for a book, shows some absolutely lovely examples of this needlework. My little practice motif (farther above) is done on 18 count Davosa fabric using #5 perle cotton, so it looks much more coarse and chunky. I don’t know if I will ever get to the level of 30 count linen and delicate threads, but it is something to aspire to for sure.

Sardinian Knot Stitch is actually quite simple to work. Your needle is always inserted right to left under a vertical thread on your fabric. The working thread is then wrapped around your needle, and the needle is pulled through pulling the working thread tight. The completed stitch appears almost entirely on the top of the fabric, and creates lovely raised designs. Motifs are nearly always worked on the diagonal, and geometric motifs are the most common.

I’ll be working on this class throughout the month of April. The finished project will be a pretty little mug mat, covered with several knot stitch motifs. If that ends up going well, who knows what I may end up doing next. 😉