It’s generally a good idea to stitch Kloster blocks in such a way that the needle goes down into the fabric where it will later be cut. For some reason it makes it a little easier to cut close to the Kloster block. But occasionally designs call for a Kloster block to be cut on both sides, for example in the dragonfly’s wings in Resurrection.

There are two difficulties when you come up against a Kloster block like that. The first is that obviously you can’t take the needle down both sides. The second is that you end up with cut ends on both sides of the Kloster block, and if you are very conscientious about tucking in your ends, you’ll have to tuck in 8 instead of the usual 4 – and in opposite directions too! It’s perfectly possible, but it can be a little frustrating when you tuck in a cut end on the left only to see a previously tucked one pop out on the right!

It is for this reason that I try to avoid them when I am designing. Nevertheless, sometimes a woven bar simply will not do, and the chunkiness of a Kloster block is needed. So given that they occur in the chart you’re working on, could there be an easier way to work them?

As I was thinking about this, two possible solutions came to my mind. The first is to treat Kloster blocks like that as a sort of special wrapped bar. Stitch all the regular Kloster blocks first, cut and withdraw the threads, and then use the same thread (usually perle #5) to wrap around the remaining fabric threads very loosely, so as not to pull them together. There won’t be any cut ends to poke in, because those threads have already been removed altogether before the block is stitched.

The second option is to stitch all Kloster blocks, including the ones that will have a cut area on both sides, and then to cut the fabric only along the regular Kloster blocks. Then withdraw the threads, pulling them out through the double-sided Kloster blocks. There will be a bit more friction than usual, but it should be possible.

Very well then, time to put my theories to the test! A report with detailed pictures will follow soon.