Garnet by Christine P. Bishop

Walk into anyone’s home and you can instantly get a feel for the owner’s sense of style, a hint of their lifestyle and maybe even a little insight into their personality.

As a fellow stitcher, if we were to walk into your home, what would it tell us about you?

Do you have projects neatly framed and hanging on the wall for all to admire? Is your work perfectly displayed in cabinets and placed under glass to keep it safe?

Or perhaps you’re someone who prefers to have your needlework more embedded into your daily life, with embroidered cushions on the couch, hand-stitched placemats on the table, and small needlework treasures scattered here and there to enjoy.

Whatever your preference, one thing is certain: there is nothing more satisfying than creating a beautiful project to incorporate into your home.

Garnet by Christine P. Bishop from The Handpicked Collection 5 offers just that — a stunning table mat equally at home in a formal dining room or as it is shown, in a rustic cottage kitchen, such is its broad appeal.

Created using counted thread, a methodical and structured technique, this is a style of embroidery often enjoyed by people who reflect those same qualities.

Not sure if that’s you? Garnet offers the chance to try a sampler before committing to the main act.

Christine has created a gorgeous little biscornu for you to stitch first, using the same 30-count linen and garnet thread as the table mat, along with the same motifs, to give you a feel for this type of counted thread embroidery.

If you enjoy it, you’re off to the main event and can happily continue on to stitch the mat.

Alternatively, if you already know that a project like Garnet is right in your wheelhouse, the biscornu is a fun little add-on to stitch after you’ve finished the mat.

You know, to help offset that feeling of, I’m thrilled I’ve finished but I’m also sad that it’s over… oh, but wait - there’s one more treat in store!You know, to help offset that feeling of, I’m thrilled I’ve finished but I’m also sad that it’s over… oh, but wait - there’s one more treat in store!

The finished mat measures 32.5cm × 56cm (12¾" × 22"), worked primarily in double running stitch, with a lacy grid surrounding the central panel, edged on each side with Italian four-sided stitch and finished with a delicate picot border.

The biscornu measures 4.5cm (1¾") square, omitting the twisted cord loop, which allows it to double as a scissor fob. Its more ornate motif adds another layer of interest while echoing the techniques of the mat.

Christine has once again created a project that reflects her signature qualities of precision, symmetry and elegance, resulting in a piece that embodies timeless beauty.

Whether your finished Garnet sits proudly on a table, safely protected under glass for all to admire, or is subjected to the rough-and-tumble of everyday life, immense satisfaction awaits all who complete it.