While I was on vacation, I had an opportunity to do a lot of S&S, which stands for sleeping and stitching! It doesn’t get much better than that unless you add snacking and shopping, which I did my fair share of! As I was gathering up the projects to take with me, I was talking about Biscornus with Sharon of Threads in Bloom. I thought they looked like a daunting challenge. Sharon assured me they were, in fact, very easy to do. Threads in Bloom just released a Brazilian pattern called Rose Biscornu (1761K). I loaded up on the threads and added that pattern to my project bag. Today, I will share with you what I have learned about

Biscornu…..

First, how do you pronounce it? I found this information at a blog that had the French Word of the Day for Wednesday, January 9, 2008.

"Bis means ‘twice’, and cornu means ‘with horns’, ‘that which has an irregular form, with projections’, or ‘complicated and bizarre’".

It is pronounced “biss-core-new” by most people. Almost as quirky as the object itself, we have turned a French adjective turned into an English noun. However, some people think it is actually a derivative of the English word "biscuit" because of its shape.

Okay, so not everyone agrees on how to pronounce it or exactly where the word came from. Can we agree on what it is? Yes, I think so. It is an eight-sided embroidered pillow. The most popular uses are as a scissor fob, ornament, or pincushion. For our use, the biscornu is fairly small. However, you can make them into pillows or even a cushion. Perhaps Little Miss Muffet’s tuffet was actually a biscornu?

Another thing I think we can agree on is its great allure is the mystery of how it goes together. Those of us who have never done one look with awe upon those who do. Today, you can become one of the stitchers "in the know"! Debbie from My Big Toe says "The ‘biscuits’, as my Texas friends call them, are a lot of fun to put together and I hope that your newsletter will bring more stitchers over to the ‘doing side’". Sharon from Threads in Bloom assures me that once you learn how to do one, you’ll have so much fun you won’t want to stop! Let’s see if these ladies are right!

Technicalities

Choosing a Design:

• It can be any size, just as long as the final area is square. The design itself can be anything, but a biscornu lends itself to a geometric square or round shape.
• I personally would start with a larger project and fabric count for my first one.
• The top and the bottom squares need to be the same size. You don’t have to have a pattern on the bottom.
• It helps to have a clear center to your top design. Don’t have the best part of the design be the center though because you are going to cover it up with a button or bead(s).
• Find a button or bead(s) that complements your design to use in the middle of your biscornu to form the tufted area in the center. Some designers add beads along the edges as they stitched the two sides together, or as decoration on the points.
• Most any needlework technique can be used. If your design has open cutwork areas you will need to add a lining behind it when you stitch the sides together.

Things to have on hand…

• Your completed design which has been cleaned and pressed.
• Button/bead for center
• Stuffing material such as fiberfill. You can make them into sachets with the addition of dried flowers, herbs, or a touch of oil.
• Something sharp such as a laying tool like the black spiral (6743B) to help push out and fill in the corners.
• Lining fabric, if your fabric count or stitched design would allow the filling to leak out.
• Water soluble marker (6642) (to mark the center of each side to help keep your stitching on track).

Tutorial and Tips…

READ THE DESIGNER’S INSTRUCTIONS! Always read the instructions before you get started. The designer often includes tips and tricks on what worked best for them to complete the project as shown. Biscornus are generally stitched the same way, with a few embellishments added or details modified for the technique. For example, my project was Brazilian embroidery on trigger cloth, so it was suggested to do a stem stitch to go along better with the overall design. Sharon provides great instructions in her chartpack on how to finish the biscornu. I will show you my finished project at the end of these instructions.

Thank you to My Big Toe Designs for allowing us to use their tutorial in our newsletter. The pattern she shows in her tutorial is Quietness and Confidence (105-551-0034).

Step 1:
In order to make your biscornu, you need to first backstitch a square around your design, three stitches (6 threads) from the edge of the design. You will need two backstitched squares, and they must be the same size. You will also need thread that matches your backstitched square. Trim any excess fabric, a half inch away from the backstitched line.

Step 2: Thread your needle with one strand of thread. Secure it on the backside of the backing fabric, in a corner, and bring your needle up in that corner. Run your thread under the stitch immediately to the left of that corner (going counter-clockwise). Then line up that stitch with the middle stitch on your top fabric.

Step3:
Start sewing the pieces of fabric together, one stitch at a time, lining up the backstitching and fabric. Be very careful not to miss a stitch, or use a stitch twice.

Step 4:
Continue sewing the stitches together, until you get to the end of your top fabric backstitched line.

Step 5:
The corners can be a bit tricky, but just make sure to not skip a stitch, or use a stitch twice, and continue sewing all around your biscornu.

Step 6:
Sew together all sides but the last one. You will need this open to add batting.

Step 7:
Tear off small pieces of batting, and stuff your biscornu. How much batting you use will depend on how fluffy you like your biscornu. You can pinch the middle together while stuffing, to get an idea of how firm it will be. At this time, you may want to add a small square of scrap fabric inside your biscornu, in the center of the top and bottom pieces. This will help your fabric to be stable when you add the button.

Step 8:

Sew together the final edge of your biscornu. Secure the thread with a small knot, and tuck it inside the biscornu. Use a button on the top and bottom to pinch together the middle. We used a Mill Hill Treasure and an ivory colored seed bead to make the ‘button’ on the top of this biscornu.

Try two more of My Big Toe designs with Monogram Block (105-551-0036) and A New Creation (105-551-0031). All three of these patterns have coordinated designs for a wall hanging, scissor’s fob and scissors block (306-551-0001) wrap.

It seems I always learn something new when I stitch one of Threads in Bloom’s patterns. My love of bullions came about as I stitched the "Grandiose Mum". The bullions creating the petals were over 100 wraps! You definitely learn to love or hate bullions by the time you finish the piece. I found out I LOVE bullions.

Getting back on track, I can now say thanks to Sharon again, for helping me join the ranks of those that can do biscornu. Here is my completed project after it was stitched together (shown to the right). One thing I learned was I should not use variegated thread for the backstitching. When I stitched the two halves together the colors didn’t match up. I also think I overstuffed it, so I used a small button (instead of beads) on the top and bottom. Then I was able to use a thicker thread and larger needle to pull the thread tighter to create a nice tuft.

Here are some other biscornu patterns to help you take the plunge!

• Christmas Biscornu (105-432-0183) and Christmas Biscornu Embellishment Pack (610-432-0084).
• Heart’s Delight (140-920-0105) with Biscornu, bookmark, scissor’s fob and nametag pocket.
• Pineapple Biscornus and Scissor Fob (4680) and Embellishment Pack (4680E).
• Mystic Needlework Smalls (140-920-0096) including a biscornu with Hardanger and silk ribbon embroidery), scissor fob, scissor case, stitcher’s pocket, and two needle books.
• Choose from any of the motifs in Hanky Pysanky (4572) to create a biscornu with the look of an Ukrainian Easter Egg.
• We have a brand new set of Stitching Accessories from Wendy KC Designs called Bees’ Garden. "More Stitching Accessories" (140-475-0002) has a biscornu, thread roll and needlecase. The patterns for a treasure box, scissors case, scissors fob and pin keep are in "Bees’ Garden Stitching Accessories (140-475-0001).

Not for the faint of heart…..Just Nan has created Floral Fifteen (105-432-0200) which is a 15-sided biscornu. This lovely piece is created by stitching each block and then sewing them together one at a time!! You can further enhance your finishing biscornu with her Charm Garden Pins Hummingbird (380-432-0001), Sparkle Bee (380-432-0002), Ladybug (380-432-0003), Bunny (380-432-0004), and Frog Prince (380-432-0005).

There are several great sites on the web with additional photographs and instructions. A couple sites I really like are:

• Pretty Impressive Stuff
• Own Two Hands
• Finishing School
• Victoria Sampler also has several free patterns.

Creating a biscornu is truly not as hard as it looks. I hope you have felt inspired to try one. Let us know about your experience with biscornu making and what you have used them for. We’ll include some reader’s comments in a future "News You Can Use" newsletter.

We hope these "helpful hints" make your stitching easier and more enjoyable!

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“The following article was written by Debi Feyh and Ryan Evelyth of Nordic Needle and published in their weekly e-mail newsletter. Permission was granted by Nordic Needle to share this article in (name of your publication). For information on subscribing to their weekly e-mail newsletter, visit www.nordicneedle.com. A free mail-order catalog is available to you upon request if you live in the USA or Canada.”