Bring gothic drama to your stitching with this elegant rook and skull design, where a black bird perches on a human skull pierced by a dagger. Blood-red splatters, loose feathers and flashes of yellow, orange, purple and blue lift the monochrome base and stop it feeling flat. It suits makers who like darker artwork with a properly illustrated look, especially for Halloween pieces that need more menace than novelty.
With nine thread colours and a dense, heavily stitched finish, it has the weight and coverage to stand up well on sturdier fabrics. It would look particularly strong on the back of a black denim jacket, the front of a canvas tote, or centred on a sweatshirt or hoodie. Across the size range, the bold silhouette of the bird, skull and blade stays readable, while the layered shading gives the piece its moody, gothic depth.
