Patreon for Assisi embroidery creators: Italian voided counted technique cross stitch background leaves motif unworked Holbein stitch double running stitch outline brick red terracotta blue black thread 28-count linen apple tax 2026

Q: What is Assisi embroidery and how does voiding work as a design technique?

Assisi embroidery is an Italian counted embroidery tradition named after the town of Assisi in Umbria, developed and commercialized in the early 20th century based on historical Umbrian embroidery fragments. The defining technique is voiding: the background around the design motif is filled with cross stitch or tent stitch, while the motif shapes themselves are left unworked (voided) — the white or ecru ground fabric shows through the motif outline. This is the reverse of the approach used in most counted embroidery where motifs are stitched and backgrounds are left plain. The voiding technique gives Assisi work its characteristic silhouette quality: the motifs (animals, birds, stylized plants, heraldic beasts) appear as fabric-colored shapes cut out of a densely stitched colored ground. Two additional stitch elements complete the Assisi composition: outline stitches (Holbein stitch — a double running stitch that looks the same on both sides of the fabric) define the motif edges and internal details; and sometimes a border of geometric pattern stitched in a contrasting color frames the central voided panel. The traditional color palette is monochromatic or two-tone: a background worked in one color (traditionally brick red, terracotta, or blue), with Holbein stitch outline worked in a contrasting darker color (traditionally black or very dark navy). White or ecru evenweave linen is the traditional ground fabric.

Q: What is Holbein stitch and why is it essential to Assisi embroidery?

Holbein stitch (also called double running stitch) is a two-pass running stitch that produces a continuous line of stitches visible on both sides of the fabric, with an identical appearance on front and back. It is named after Hans Holbein the Younger, whose paintings frequently depict embroidered garments with the distinctive double-line stitch. In Assisi embroidery, Holbein stitch serves as the outline stitch that defines the motif edge and internal details — it must look the same on front and back because Assisi work is traditionally reversible (the back of the work is as neat as the front). The two-pass construction: first pass works running stitches around the motif outline, covering every other stitch position; the return pass fills the gaps left by the first pass, traveling back along the same path and producing a continuous, unbroken line. In Assisi, the Holbein stitch outline is worked in a darker contrasting color than the background cross stitch fill. The outline stitch width (number of threads per stitch) must be consistent throughout the piece — a common specification is one Holbein stitch = 2 threads on 28-count evenweave, which produces a line approximately 0.7 mm wide.

Q: What fabric and thread counts are used for Assisi embroidery?

Fabric: white or ecru evenweave linen at 28-count or Aida fabric at 14-count. Evenweave linen at 28-count is the traditional and most authentic choice — cross stitch worked over 2 threads on 28-count produces stitches at an effective count of 14 per inch, which is a common working scale for Assisi designs. Aida 14-count is an acceptable modern substitute for beginners. The fabric must be an even-weave structure so that cross stitch and tent stitch produce square, consistent coverage across the background field. Thread: stranded cotton floss (2–3 strands on 28-count linen over 2 threads) in the traditional colors: brick red, terracotta, or cornflower blue for the background fill; black or very dark navy for the Holbein stitch outline. DMC colors used in traditional Assisi work: 347 (dark red), 350 (medium coral), 825 (dark blue), 820 (navy), and 310 (black). Contemporary Assisi practitioners use a wider color range while maintaining the voiding principle.

2026-09-24 · KeepTier

Assisi embroidery is an Italian counted technique from Umbria where the background is filled with cross stitch while motif shapes are left voided (unworked), creating silhouette figures defined by Holbein stitch outlines on white or ecru evenweave linen. Apple's 30% iOS fee starting November 1, 2026 creates significant revenue risk for Assisi creators whose counted embroidery audiences skew strongly toward iOS platforms.

What is Assisi embroidery and how does voiding work as a design technique?

Voiding is the defining technique: background fills with cross stitch while motif shapes (animals, birds, heraldic beasts, botanical elements) remain unworked — ground fabric visible through motif shapes. Holbein stitch outlines define motif edges and internal details. Traditional palette: one fill color (brick red, terracotta, or blue) with darker Holbein stitch outline (black or navy). White or ecru 28-count evenweave linen is the traditional ground. The technique is reversible — front and back are identical.

What is Holbein stitch and why is it essential to Assisi embroidery?

Holbein stitch (double running stitch) is a two-pass running stitch producing an identical continuous line on both fabric sides. First pass covers every other stitch position around the motif outline; return pass fills the gaps. Used in Assisi for motif outlines in a contrasting darker color than the background fill. Standard specification: one stitch = 2 threads on 28-count evenweave (approximately 0.7 mm line width). All internal motif detail lines are also worked in Holbein stitch.

What fabric and thread counts are used for Assisi embroidery?

Fabric: white or ecru evenweave linen at 28-count; cross stitch over 2 threads produces effective 14-count scale. Aida 14-count is an acceptable modern substitute. Thread: stranded cotton floss, 2–3 strands on 28-count over 2 threads. Traditional DMC colors: 347 (dark red), 350 (medium coral), 825 (dark blue), 820 (navy), 310 (black) for outlines. Contemporary practice uses wider color ranges while maintaining the voiding principle of filled background versus unworked motif.

How does Apple Tax affect Assisi embroidery Patreon creators in 2026?

Apple's 30% in-app purchase fee applies to all iOS Patreon subscriptions from November 1, 2026. Assisi embroidery creators — Instagram embroidery and needlework accounts 68–82% iOS; Pinterest embroidery chart boards 64–78% iOS — face significant iOS revenue exposure. Revenue lost: $100/month 72% iOS = $21.60/month; $200/month 74% iOS = $44.40/month; $300/month 76% iOS = $68.40/month. KeepTier routes subscriptions through web checkout that bypasses Apple's iOS in-app purchase system entirely.