Creating my ladybug blackwork pattern

I'm working on a new blackwork pattern, this time featuring ladybugs/ladybirds!

This pattern is in the same style as my blackwork bees and flowers pattern and could be considered a sister pattern. I loved the full stitch detail of the bee design and wanted to do another one with another critter.

My partner suggested ladybugs, so I started by designing the bug.

I tried several different shapes, sizes and spot numbers and positions. In the end I kept the overall shape as simple as possible and added a backstitch border around the head section.

I then designed a symmetrical leaf/floral pattern around the ladybug. I had used gold metallic thread on my bees pattern so thought I'd used red metallic thread for the ladybug. Initially I stitched this in 1 thread.

I decided to restitch the red thread in 2 strands. I felt 1 strand was too gappy. A symmetrical leaf motif was added to fill the gaps between repeating ladybugs.

After stitching more of the pattern, I could see it had too many empty spaces for my liking. I wanted it to be more filled in, so came up with a tiny 'Y' shaped stitch that worked perfectly in all the small gaps. This was now looking much better.

Finally, the last change I made was to decrease the space around the ladybugs by joining up the 4 corner squares into an inner border surrounding the bugs and I added 4 little legs.

The ladybug blackwork pattern is now available in my Etsy shop to purchase as a PDF pattern!