This is a pattern from the collection History On Two Needles by Annie Modesitt.

Influenced by Moorish motifs first seen during the crusades, blackwork embroidery became a mainstay of Tudor & Stuart England.

Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII, is widely considered to have popularized blackwork embroidery when she arrived from Spain.
However, there is strong evidence that blackwork embroidery–which can be defined in simple terms as the use of black silk thread on a fine linen or cotton background–was introduced in England during the time of the crusades.

I feel the rise of blackwork during the Tudor and Stewart eras is a fitting representation of a time of strong women and stark choices.

I used black merino yarn on a gridded silk background to recreate the strong geometric effect of the Lady Margaret Beafort’s headpiece in this portrait. The lines are simplified to accomodate the Decorative Chain Embroidery technique, which is not as fine as traditional blackwork embroidery.

Alternatively, the embroidery could be magnificent in a long-repeat variegated yarn.

Stitches
St st – Stockinette Stitch
Rev St st — Reverse St st
Sl st wyws – Slip st with yarn to the wrong side
Sl st wyrs – Slip st with yarn to the right side

Techniques
Provisional Cast On
DKSS Edge – Double Knit Slip Stitch Edge
Decorative Chain Embroidery
ICord Bind Off