Pløje - doily / napkin - Gerda Bengtsson (GB)

Pløje - doily / napkin - Gerda Bengtsson (GB)

A small motif with country life and autumn atmosphere

"Pløje" (Ploughing) - doily / napkin - Gerda Bengtsson (GB) is a small cross stitch embroidery with an atmospheric countryside motif. The design shows a man walking behind a horse pulling a plough. At the bottom of the scene lies the brown earth where the work takes place. Above the landscape stands a farmhouse surrounded by trees in warm autumn colours.

The embroidery has a clear narrative quality. The horse moves calmly forward while the man guides the plough behind it. The simple forms make the motif easy to recognise, while the small details bring the scene to life. This is especially visible in the harness, the plough and the horizontal earth line beneath the figures.

The background features a long farmhouse with a brown roof, pale walls and small windows. Behind the house stand tall trees stitched in brown, orange and green shades. The vertical tree shapes add height to the composition, while the large orange tree to the right brings warmth and strengthens the autumn atmosphere.

Horse, plough and warm natural colours

Colour plays an important role in the expression of the motif. Brown shades in the horse, roof and trees create calmness, while green tones bring freshness to the grass, bushes and foliage. The orange and red leaves make the scene more vivid. Together, the colours create a warm and rural character.

The composition is divided into two sections. The upper part contains the farmhouse and trees, while the lower part focuses on the horse and plough at work. This structure gives the doily / napkin a balanced relationship between landscape and action. The motif appears simple, yet contains many small colour areas and details to stitch.

The size of 14 × 14 cm makes the project manageable. The doily / napkin can be used beneath a small vase, candlestick or bowl. It can also serve as a decorative textile detail in an autumn arrangement. The motif is especially suitable for embroiderers who appreciate rural scenes, changing seasons and classic everyday imagery.

Haandarbejdets Fremme and materials

The embroidery is stitched with Danish Flower Thread on Haandarbejdets Fremme (HF) linen fabric 12B. The fine linen suits the many small details in the horse, plough, house and trees beautifully. Danish Flower Thread gives the colours a lively appearance, allowing the warm autumn shades to stand out clearly.

Haandarbejdets Fremme is known for embroidery designs of high quality and clear motifs. In this design, that tradition appears in a small and practical form. Gerda Bengtsson has created a scene where only a few stitches tell a story of work, nature and country life. This gives the embroidery a special calmness and familiarity.

Ploughing is especially suitable for the lightly experienced embroiderer. The motif is small, yet filled with colour changes and fine details. The horse, plough and trees all require careful attention while stitching. In return, the finished result is a doily / napkin with a warm countryside motif that suits both the table and homes with an appreciation for classic embroidery.