TIMELINE: September 1, 2025 – October 15, 2025
September 1, 2025 – My local MODERN embroidery guild is working on Biscornu for September and October. It’s a strange eight-sided three-dimensional shape made from two flat embroideries. They are usually used as pin cushions but also can be used from weights and decorations. The guild wants them to be worked on Aida or linen and provided four different cross-stitch patterns – of which I liked none. (I don’t really like the project, but it is small, my first time working a guild project with this group, and the finishing technique does look interesting.)
Onward to an internet search! I finally found a biscornu pattern I liked, mostly. I am going to remove the center work because why do embroidery where the buttons are going to cover the embroidery? It might be needed for strengthening of the fabric; we shall see. Materials and equipment used. A “dull” embroidery needle – these are specifically made for working with Aida cloth so you don’t destroy your fingertips. Since I am working in Aida cloth, I will not need embroidery hoops. I found two squares of Aida in my stash about the right size – finished should be about four inches? One of the Aida is ivory and the other white. I found two matching buttons among my button box that I am willing to sacrifice to the stash-clearing project. The threads are leftovers from cross-stitch and canvas-work kits – threads from unknown sources and dye lots, but standard cotton embroidery floss of six threads twisted; I will be using three-threads on the stitches.
The color choices are going to be very random and the top and bottoms will not match. I did like one of the pattern enhancements on the suggested designs, so I will be incorporating that as well, space permitting. The pattern stitches are cross-stitch and running-stitch; the assembly will include backstitch.
9/1-22/2025 (total time spent 9 hours; 9 overall) – 9/1/2025 First picture is the gathering of materials after the internet search and the stash diving to get materials for this learning project. 9/15/2025 Second picture is after three days/nights, total of about four to five hours. Time count is wonky because I have two conventions to attend in two weeks and things blur. 9/22/2025 Third picture is after another three days/nights, and another four to five hours. I’m really enjoying the challenge of choose the right colors with enough leftover thread to finish an area and not run out.
9/22-26/2025 (giving up on time tracking) – 9/22/2025 (picture 1) – A closeup of the nearly complete red-side for the biscornu. I needed to add the running stitch to make the difference between the pink thread and the white Aida cloth pop. 9/26/2025 (pictures 2 and 3) – Another three or four days of work. I think it was four, with a meeting. Anyway, I made certain to take a picture of the completed green side. The small checkerboard is the first of two borders. The borders will be mindless, so I am saving them for meetings. As before, I am using leftover thread from other kits, so the pattern gets rather random. It is the same exact patter for the two, I just am using what thread I have available and mostly matches what I am doing.
10/1/2026 – Checkerboard border (in black) and backstitch borders (in brown) are now complete. Next is assembly and I am waiting on the guild meeting to walk me through the making of the special shape.
10/16/2025 – Meeting happened. Two flat objects have been converted into a three-dimensional object. Below is the top, bottom, and side picture as well as a video of the object. Note no sound to the video.
