Honeycrisp Apple by Christine Burton

Isn’t it amazing how certain words and descriptions can be so evocative.

For example, if we invited you to take a bite of a floury, mushy apple, your body would likely have a visceral reaction and recoil at the thought of such an unpleasant texture and taste.

In stark contrast is the name of our fabulous featured project for this week, the Honeycrisp Apple by Christine Burton.

Honey? Crisp? Apple? Now that all sounds much more enticing and yes, we’ll have a nice large bite of that, thank you!

The Honeycrisp Apple is quite the ‘princess’ of apple varieties, being bred for its taste: crisp, with balanced sweetness and acidity.

An increasingly popular variety, this much enjoyed apple must be handled in just the right way to be at its best.

So, when the uber clever Australian designer Christine Burton set about the task of re-creating one of these delightful sounding beauties with her needle and thread, she used a traditional technique that could also be referred to as quite crisp.

Blackwork is a counted-thread technique featuring well defined linear stitches, to create intricate geometric patterns and motifs.

In Honeycrisp Apple, Christine creates a three-dimensional pincushion with a colourful and contemporary approach to blackwork.

To help capture the true character of her muse, Christine uses variegated thread to stitch four different Blackwork patterns, each creating texture and interest.

Worked on 32-count linen lined with silk double georgette, bead and metal thread embellishments are added to bring depth and sparkle to the project.

Blanket stitch is whipped to secure the panels together and a felt stem and double-sided metal thread ‘or nue’ leaf on top adds the perfect finishing touch.

Now, if you’re thinking this apple looks familiar, you’d be right!

Firstly, the project takes pride of place on the front cover of the latest issue of Inspirations magazine, which you can check out HERE.

Secondly, the Honeycrisp Apple completes a trio of blackwork fruit by Christine, so for anyone who already has the Limonera Pear from A Passion for Needlework 3 or the Celeste Fig from The Design Collective | Pincushions, you now have a new varietal to add to your fruit bowl.

Thank you, Christine, for once again making such a fabulous and evocative project both by name and by sight for us to enjoy.

Ready-to-Stitch kits available by clicking the link below and scrolling down.