Here we go again, with another free hand embroidery pattern, the creative naming of which fails me. The design is definitely a stylized pomegranate, though you’d find it hard to believe so by looking at it. It doesn’t look too pomegranate-ish. But, let me show you the design and tell you a bit about the symbolism.

Once I finished the vector drawing of this embroidery design – inspired from an ecclesiastical source – the first thing that popped into my head was goldwork and silk shading. Why is it that goldwork and silk shading always pop into my head when I see stylized pomegranates meant to be embroidered? I don’t know. But I’d be interested to know what kind of technique pops into your head when you look at this piece? Hmmm??? Am I nuts, or does it scream goldwork and silk?

The design would work for either a religious or a secular work of embroidery. As far as the symbolism goes, the fleur-de-lis at the top of the inside core is doubly representative: it marks the crown on the pomegranate, while at the same time being symbolic of the Blessed Virgin. The opening “swashes” all around the central core are the bursting open of the pomegranate (representative of renewed life, and, in religious symbolism, of Christ), and the circles – well, you guessed it – they are the seeds.

Any brilliant ideas for techniques or for a specific name for this design? If you do, feel free to share! I loved reading all the ideas for the “circular thing” I posted a while back – I enjoyed reading the comments, and somehow, afterwards, the design took on more meaning! (There’s a lot in a name, you know!)

If you’d like a PDF version of this design, here it is:

Hand Embroidery Pattern: Stylized Pomegranate #2 (PDF)

If you haven’t had a chance to sign up for my give-away this week, don’t forget to get your name in before Wednesday. I’m giving away one of Trish Burr’s Needle Painting kits – complete with fabric (pre-printed with the design), threads, and instructions.

Later this week, I hope to have at least one video up for you, to add to the growing (and remodeled) collection of How-To Embroidery Videos here on Needle ‘n Thread.

And somewhere along the line, I’d like to show you my current planning stages for some embroidery projects.

Needless to say, despite all the anticipation of having a long weekend to catch up and get ahead, Thanksgiving weekend was a wash for me in that regard. I’m running to catch up. I just can’t seem to find the finish line! If I take a day off this week, you’ll know I’m out hunting for it!

Enjoy your Monday!