Sjippe - doily / napkin - Gerda Bengtsson (GB)

Sjippe - doily / napkin - Gerda Bengtsson (GB)

A small motif with play and movement

"Sjippe" (Skipping Rope) - doily / napkin - Gerda Bengtsson (GB) is a small cross stitch embroidery with a charming everyday motif. The design shows children skipping rope in front of a house. Two children hold the skipping rope at either end, while a third child jumps in the middle. The scene has a simple and narrative expression, where play, movement and childhood are at the centre.

In the background is a low house with a dark roof, light windows and a small path leading to the door. Behind the house stand tall, bare trees that give the motif a cool seasonal atmosphere. At the same time, green bushes and a fir tree add freshness and colour. This creates a fine contrast between wintry branches and lively green details.

At the bottom of the motif, the scene comes together around the children. The child in the middle is stitched in blue and pink shades and is captured mid-jump. The two children at the sides stand ready with the rope. The curved skipping rope gives the motif movement and makes the game easy to read. It is a small scene, yet it contains a strong sense of story.

House, children and fine details

The colours are both clear and muted. The house is kept in brown, grey and dark blue tones, creating a calm background for the colourful figures. The children add warmth with red, blue, green and brown shades. The small colour fields make the figures clear, even though the motif is small.

The bare trees behind the house are an important part of the expression. They stand as fine vertical forms above the roof and add height to the embroidery. The green planting by the house creates balance in the motif. It also gives the embroidery a softer transition between building, path and foreground.

The doily / napkin measures 14 × 14 cm. The small format makes the project manageable, while still offering many details to work with. The motif can be used on the table beneath a small vase, candlestick or bowl. It can also be displayed as a small textile detail in a seasonal arrangement.

Haandarbejdets Fremme and materials

The embroidery is stitched with Danish Flower Thread on Haandarbejdets Fremme (HF) linen fabric 10B. The linen provides a classic background that suits the small figures and the fine details of the building. Danish Flower Thread gives the colours a lively expression and makes the scene clear.

Haandarbejdets Fremme is known for embroidery designs of high quality and motifs with clear storytelling. In this design, that tradition appears in a small and practical form. Gerda Bengtsson has created a motif where only a few stitches form a house, children, trees and movement. This gives the embroidery a special warmth.

Skipping Rope is especially suitable for the lightly experienced embroiderer. The motif is small, but the many fine details require attention. The figures and skipping rope need to be placed precisely. In return, the finished doily / napkin offers play, nostalgia and a charming glimpse of everyday life.