🪡Behind the Scenes: From Symbol to Stitch

Usually, every design begins with a spark. An image, a word, or an emotion that crosses our path. In this case, I’d like to tell you about the spark that inspired October’s monthly pattern, which I shared with you in my latest post. It all began with a medieval illustration of a pomegranate, an ancient symbol of life, fertility, and resurrection.

The inspiration came from a heraldic illustration of a pomegranate, a motif deeply rooted in medieval iconography. I found it on Wikimedia Commons, in a file recreating the decorative elements of old coats of arms. Its shapes struck me as perfect to reinterpret in cross-stitch; a small motif, yet full of meaning.

As many of you know, I often create reinterpretations of medieval engravings, originally carved on wood or other materials, and bring them to life through textiles, staying as faithful to the original spirit as possible.

In this case, however, I decided to give it color: a palette of autumn tones that lends it a more contemporary air while keeping its essence intact.

Here’s how the process unfolded:

• I simplified the heraldic form of the pomegranate so it could read clearly in pixel art.

• I allowed myself a few artistic liberties, such as slightly altering the proportions, simplifying the seeds, or emphasizing the crown shape at the top of the fruit.

• I preserved the symmetry and balance of the leaves, enhancing the contrast with warm tones.

• Finally, I chose my own typeface design, “Magic Alphabet”, adding a few extra backstitches to reinforce the medieval feel of the piece.

Sometimes I like to think embroidery holds a kind of alchemy: an ancient image or style can be reborn, stitch by stitch, transformed by time and by the hands that reinterpret it.

Warmly,
Marta
Ars Onirika