Can You Say Biscornu?

First of all . . . I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Happy & Healthy New Year!

 Biscornu is a French adjective that means "that which has an irregular form, with projections" or "complicated and bizarre."   This Biscornu was a lot of fun to make . . . it's not complicated . . . maybe a little bizarre!  Makes a great pincushion or as shown here, an ornament:

Here is the chart.  You will need to make two of these.  Backstitch around the outside of the designs (this is where you will stitch them together)  I used Weeks Dye Works - Gun Metal Linen 30 count and stitched it with The Gentle Art (Sampler Threads) - Bluebell floss . . .one strand over two linen threads for the cross-stitch and back-stitch over two linen threads for the outline.  Any dark fabric with a light thread or vice-versa would do.  I used a small snowflake button from Just Another Button Company for the center of both side of the ornament.

 Once you have the two squares complete, you will begin stitching your biscornu together along the outline stitching.  You will begin stitching the two threads at one corner to the center outline thread on one side of the other square.  Finger press along your backstitching to make the joining stitching easier.

Continue matching each stitch, whipping them together until you reach the center/corner matchup.  Be sure to catch the two corner stitches of one square with the center stitch of the other and proceed matching stitches until, again, you reach the next center/corner juncture where, again, you will catch the two corner stitches to the center stitch . . . repeat this all the way around.


You will begin to see the zig zag design take shape as you proceed around.

 When you get near the end, begin stuffing.  You will need to stuff it full enough to fill in the corners.

Add a ribbon or cording (if making an ornament) at the very end as you close up the biscornu.  Once closed you will add a button or bead to the centers of both sides . . . pulling tight as you secure them.

  TIP:  If you are making this into a pincushion, you don't need to stitch the larger center snowflake on the bottom piece, just the four smaller corner snowflakes . . . unless you want it to be reversible.

HAVE FUN!!!  If you have any questions, please comment and I will try to help you.