HAL #1 - Hardanger Stitch-a-Long

Hardanger Stitch-a-Long or HAL (Hardanger-a-Long)
Thank you for watching!
Please click ‘show more’ for more information.
Free Pattern from Nordic Needle Website. Click on link below and find the pattern called “Ivory Octagonal Doily” (about three quarters down the page):
www.nordicneedl...
This video is in three main sections:
0:03 - The pattern. Including how to work out the size of fabric you need.
6:46 - My fabric and thread choice.
10:50 - Preparing your fabric.
Some fabric/thread suggestions:
Hardanger 22 count or Lugana 25 count fabric with #5 Pearl Cotton (kloster blocks, blanket stitches, satin stitches) and #8 Pearl Cotton (cable stitch, eyelets, woven bars, picots, doves eyes). In place of the #5 Pearl Cotton you can use Caron Watercolours or Valdani #5 Pearl Cotton (note: these are a little more difficult to work with. If you’re a beginner I would suggest staying with the DMC pearl cotton).
Suggested amount of thread: DMC #5 pearl cotton 1-2 skeins or Watercolours - 2-3 skeins. #8 pearl cotton - 1 ball. If using Valdani #5 - 2 balls.
If you are choosing another fabric count and have questions, please feel free to leave a message and I’ll do my best to answer.
Needle suggestions:
If using 22 count Hardanger or 25 count Lugana with #5 Pearl Cotton (or equivalent), use a size 22 tapestry needle. When using the #8 Pearl Cotton, use a size 24 tapestry needle.
A few places that sell these products:
Canada -
Hardanger House (catalogue: www.theneedlewo...)
Thread & Eye - threadneye.com
Gitta’s - www.gittas.com
United States:
Nordic Needle - www.nordicneed...
My Hardanger Tutorials:
Playlist - • Hardanger Lessons
I created this video using KZbin Editor.
/ editor

[@dumasgal91ify]

I stumbled across Hardanger quite by accident and I am excited to learn how! I have been doing counted cross stitch for over 30 years and I'm looking forward to learning a new hobby. Thank you for sharing!!!

[@diannalynnYT]

Despite being very very new to Hardanger I just ordered my fabric. Going to do the called for ivory fabric and cream threads. I know with your videos I can do this!!!

[@camelheights]

I have been stitching hardanger for a long time. I am self taught, never took a class. I just purchased some fabric and the exact thread you have. I am sure I will learn something in this HAL. Thank you for doing this!

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

I'm so pleased I could help out a 'seasoned' hardanger stitcher!

[@mariavictoriahuvalla5757]

I am just starting with hardanger. Your videos are big help to me for basics and of course , for tips to avoid mistakes.❤️❤️❤️

[@helensuthers8394]

Hi there Nina, was looking for a new artistic style/media project and came across your videos for hardanger. WOW! Hardanger is so beautiful. Going to start this project so wish me luck. I hope it turns out as beautiful as yours did. Thanks Helen x

[@helensuthers8394]

Finished this piece and it looks incredible. Thank you so much for making the easy to follow videos. Thanks Helen

[@NannyOggins]

Nina, I do hope you are planning to resume your Hardanger vids. You were the first stitcher online that I followed when I began stitching two years ago and I still revisit your vids. I enjoy your gentle voice and relaxed style and the beautiful work you do. I dont care what Hardanger you show us anything is fine I just want to watch you stitch!

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Thanks so much! I've discovered weaving and have been working hard to learn. But everytime I venture into a new craft I always come back to hardanger. So who knows...!

[@raeannmayer9978]

Nina, Thank you for this! I followed each video and your instruction is wonderful! I can only imagine how much work you put into this, but I am very thankful. I hope you plan to do this again. You are a rock star!

[@PamsCraftyCorner]

Nina, this is a lovely idea. Thank you so much for all the time and effort in putting this together. I want to get some of my larger stitching projects under control before starting this HAL, but I am going to collect the supplies so I have them when I want to start. Thanks for sharing.

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

That's what's so great about KZbin....it will be there when your ready. Thanks Pam!

[@beckytheobsessedstitcher1170]

Nina - it is so good to see you back! I'm very excited about participating in this HAL. I may lag behind your videos - but am gathering supplies and going to participate! Thank you for taking the time to share your talent and this great needlework!

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

I like KZbin for that very reason, no pressure to join right away, the videos will always be there. Thank so much!

[@longtimestitcher220]

I am so ready! I learned so much from your other videos and I know this is going to be a lot of fun. Can't wait to get started.

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Wonderful! We'll be starting soon on the stitching.

[@lyriquepapillons941]

What a wonderful tutorial! I understand everything and know I can do this because of your excellent planning, teaching and video work. Thank you so very much for sharing your time and talent.

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

I'm so glad I could inspire you! Thanks so much!

[@lyriquepapillons941]

You are most welcome. I'm pretty excited to start this as I've been looking for the teaching you so ably provide. I hope you have plans for more tutorials. I will surely follow them. :-)

[@linakoh4206]

I just chanced upon your site and what a great find it is! Thank you for walking through and very clear instructions, because this is going to be my first ever hardanger project. Looking forward to more tutorials from you..

[@AStitchTooFar]

Yay!!!! Pattern has been downloaded, just need to get my colours picked :) Look forward to stitching along with you all :D

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Wonderful!

[@kellysluiter5241]

I'm so excited for this stitch a long. Loved your other video on hardanger.

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Thank you Kelly!

[@smurfettestitches8742]

Thank you so much for doing this!!! I followed your previous tutorials and they were really good, I love how mine turned out! Although I can't start this right away, I definitely will be starting it as soon as I can and will be following your videos as you post them. 😁 super excited, thank you again!!!

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

I'm so glad you find this helpful. The great thing about KZbin is you will be able to join in at any time. Thanks so much! Nina

[@deborahgraham521]

Great, I always wanted to do hardanger. This is going to make my life so much easier. Happy stitching

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

I'm so glad I can help!

[@StitchingJoanne]

I'M SO EXCITED! Went to buy my threads today after discovering a piece of 23(!) count fabric in my stash yesterday. Gone for blue and teal. Just putting in my centre grids. Hope the other half isn't expecting his dinner on the table when he gets home lol

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Your colour choice sounds wonderful - looking forward to seeing it!

[@StitchingJoanne]

Thank you for the opportunity :) I will put #stitchingwithasmile on my instagram pics

[@Butterflyjonesful]

You are a fantastic teacher. I have tried to do this on my own. So excited to do this thank you

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@Tashkt94]

Great! Thank you very much! this is exactly, what i was looking. Nina! You are the best!

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

You're so kind, thanks so much!

[@ozzystitch3630]

What a great idea! I've learned so much from your previous videos (I've done a few projects already thanks to you ☺️) and it'll be fun to stitch something with other people! Hope I can find some fabric in my stash for this 😊

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

I'm so glad my videos helped! We'll be starting on the stitching soon.

[@felicitystitches3143]

I'm really looking forward to learning hardanger with this HAL!

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Great!

[@threadsallover]

Fantastic, going to search through my stash for my colours.

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Half the fun is picking out colours!

[@kfitz835]

Yay! I'm in :) I just need to order some supplies.

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Wonderful!

[@mynutshellmail]

Nina, I see that Nordic Needle closed its website. Firstly, there is no patterns available for download now, so if you have the pdf, I would appreciate the share. Since it was a free download, there is no worry about copyrights. Also, if there are other sources for hardanger supplies, that info would be helpful as well. Got my fabric ready, marked, thread chosen, just getting ready to do the center motif….. 😃

[@sandrawirth6253]

Hi Nina! I bought Janice Loves 'Basics and Beyond' hardanger book as you suggested before beginning to stitch your beginner HAL motif. Can you demonstrate, or point me to one of your videos, that illustrates the sewing technique of 'pinch and pull'? I understand that this technique is supposed to help regulate thread tension, but I am not following how it is performed. I LOVE your videos and am looking forward to perfecting hardanger stitching. Thank you for any help you can offer.

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Hi Sandra. I'm glad you bought this book, it is what I learned from and still refer to today. I can't remember if I showed the pinch and pull (and honestly don't know if I'm doing it right). But what I do is pinch the area (i.e. the kloster block or needle weaving) between my thumb and index finger of my non-dominant hand and pull the thread with my dominant hand. This should prevent you from over pulling the stitch (or pulling too tight). I hope that helps. Thanks!

[@soniaemilia840]

Está bien Niña, igual de acá en más veré tus tutoriales, yo me las ingeniare para comprender lo que dices, pero muchas gracias por enseñar este arte tan precioso, luego te envío mis logros paso a paso, Dios te bendiga

[@barbsandegren8462]

Nina, This is gorgeous and the videos are great. Would absolutely love to do this project, however I cannot find the pattern. Can you advise where I can get it.

[@chirascosylife]

I'm new to Hardanger, so your videos are so helpful for me. Thanks a lot. Can you pls explain to me how can we get to know is it 22 count or 25 counts? In here Srilanka have only ida cloth. We use it for cross stitch. So pls tell me how to count.😊😊

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Hi, I'm glad you find my videos helpful. When we talk about fabric count, it basically means how many threads per inch. So if you look at a 25 count lugana, there will be 25 threads per inch both horizontally and vertically. Because the fabric count is the same horizontally and vertically it is called evenweave. To understand the difference between aida, hardanger and other evenweaves you must look at the actual weave of the fabric (a real close up view!). With a 25 count lugana there is only one thread, then a hole, etc. With aida, there are four very close threads, then a hole, then four very close threads. Each set of 4 very close threads counts as "one". With hardanger there are 2 threads right next to each other, then a hole, then 2 threads, then a hole. East set of 2 threads right next to each other is considered one thread. Depending on your eyesight, you may need a magnifying glass to see the detail of the weave. The most common count of hardanger is 22 (22 threads per inch, or if looking through a magnifying glass, 22 pairs of thread per inch). Here is a KZbin video that shows aida verses evenweave. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6LHknpmg6t9qs0 And here is a close up picture of 22 count hardanger www.fabricgateway.com/topic/hardanger#&gid=1&pid=7 I hope I've helped!

[@chirascosylife]

@@stitchingwithasmile677 oh thank you, thank you , thank you. You are so good and kind🥰. Now it's very very clear to me. Love you mam😘😘😘

[@Tweety113724]

Hi I am trying to find part 2 to this video do you have it posted yet? Thanks

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Hi Rena, I've not posted the next video yet. Should be soon though! Thanks for watching!

[@Tweety113724]

lol thanks for replying back im new to hardanger i have tried several atemps at it and got nervous about cutting, afraid i would mess up after i did all that work but i think if i follow u i will be ok, i m also a self taught needlearts person to i like to read so i learn. anyway thanks again.

[@victoriamielke4593]

Now that Nordic Needle is gone, how to get the pattern?

[@conylovato0107]

Hermoso donde encuentro el hilo, gracias

[@bonnielovaas5398]

Nordic needle closed so how do we get the pattern!?? Thanks!

[@soniaemilia840]

Nina querida, por favor pon los subtítulos en español, créemelo, te voy a estar agradecida toda la vida, recién te encuentro y ya quiero aprender estas bellezas que haces

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Hi Sonia. I am not able to put in subtitles, I'm so sorry. Thank you so much for watching!

[@reinalemus4028]

Please I need to see how you do the third petal to the left of the beginning flower

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Hi Reina. Thanks so much for watching. The third petal is done exactly the same way as the first petal. Hope that helps!

[@Двоеизларца-ъ1д]

very nice

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Thank you!

[@veronicafuselier9121]

I am new to hardanger. Please talk about threads, what kind of thread can be use for hardanger embroidery?

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Hi Veronica. I've had a few questions on threads so have just uploaded a video with some information. I hope it helps but please let me know if you have any questions.

[@robertsgamingtimeshorts2730]

If I would like to use Linen 25 count would it be stitched over 1 thread just as if I was using the 22 count hardanger fabric?

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Yes, you would do the same, stitch exactly as you would the 22 count. And I use the #5 pearl cotton and #8 pearl cotton when I stitch on a 25 count just as I do with the 22 count. Hope this helps!

[@melliem333]

Hi! I am late to the game but would love to try this. You are a great teacher! I do have a couple questions. I don't believe Nordic Needle has that free pattern available any more, at least I couldn't find it. Since it is a free pattern, could you mail a copy out? And second, are there any special instructions for working with variegated thread?

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Never too late to get started! Here's the link for the pattern (just scroll down the page a bit, it's under the heading "Hardanger": www.nordicneedle.net/swag/ As for working with variegated thread - in hardanger I don't do anything special. Some people will cut the thread to match up the colour so that there are no obvious colour changes. This is much too complicated for me! I just cut to the length I prefer to stitch with (somewhere around 18") and stitch away. There may be what seem like abrupt colour changes at times, however once finished you won't notice this so much. Just have fun with it! Thanks so much for your kind comments!

[@mm-qm9zh]

Hello, Nina! Can you please say what kind/size of needle you are using? Thank you! 🙂 Meline

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Hi Meline. If I remember right, it was a size 22 tapestry needle when I stitched with the Watercolours by Caron thread (this thread is similar in thickness to a Pearl Cotton #5) and used a size 24 tapestry needle when stitching with the #8 Pearl Cotton. Hope that helps!

[@mm-qm9zh]

@@stitchingwithasmile677 Thank you so much! That is very helpful! I did some Hardanger years ago, and have forgotten so much...I hope to refresh my skills by following your wonderful instructions. I hope you come back to KZbin again soon with more videos! Have a blessed Easter 🐣! Meline

[@ottedeneb746]

I have been "sent" here by A Stitch Too Far, and am getting very tempted. I have done a wee spot of Hardanger when I was young, but that's ages ago. Mum is going to see if we might have a piece of Hardanger fabric hanging about, and we have some of the DMC threads. Do you have any idea how much we will be needing of the 5 and 8 cotton to make this?

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Hi Otte. Thank you for visiting! For the number 8 Pearl Cotton you will only need one ball. For the number 5 Pearl Cotton it's much harder to say. I always err on the too much side. You probably only need one ball or two skeins (a ball has 53 yards and a skein has 27 yards). But, because I always try for more I would say at least 2 balls or 3-4 skeins. I hope that helps. Thanks again! Nina

[@diannemendham2218]

Hi Nina, thank you so much for all your efforts. I've almost finished the trial piece from your previous videos and want to get the supplies in for this. How much of the thread do you estimate it might take? BW

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Hi Dianne. I'm so glad you are doing hardanger and finding my videos helpful! As for the amount of thread - I always go for a bit more in case of mistakes. Here are some suggestions (i assume you're using a 22 or 25 count fabric): For the kloster blocks, satin stitches and blanket stitches I would suggest #5 DMC Pearl Cotton, about 2 skeins. You can also use The Caron Watercolours, 3 skeins, or the #5 Valdani Thread, 2 balls. Both these fray more than the DMC pearl cotton, so use shorter lengths. For the cable stitches, needleweaving and doves eyes use #8 DMC Pearl Cotton, 1 ball. Hope this helps. Have fun! Nina

[@cherokeewild38]

Do you have any idea how much thread is used?

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

You know, I can't really remember. I would always err on the 'more' side. 3 to 4 skeins should be more than enough to do this.

[@camelheights]

I need to cut my fabric from a larger piece of fabric. Is there a certain way to cut it? Or just go for it! Thanks!

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

I'm sorry to take so long in getting back to you (we took a quick vacation). I would say just go for it. Try to make your cut as straight as possible and possibly a bit larger than you might think (just to be on the safe side). If you have a sewing machine with a zig zag stitch, sew around the perimeter just to keep the fabric from fraying. If you don't have a sewing machine you could roughly hand stitch around the edges, which works fine too. Hope that helps!

[@berenicehernandez7753]

Toda la tela se arrugó, después de ver todo el vídeo!!!

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Hi. Yes, the fabric does wrinkle as I stitch because I don't use a hoop for frame. However after I wash and iron the piece it looks great! Thanks for watching.