Needlepoint (3104)

Needlepoint is a form of canvas work using thread stitches on canvas. The canvas ground may vary in the weave, whether it is mono woven canvas or interlock. Canvas thread counts vary from 5 threads per inch to 24 threads per inch, where mesh size refer to the number of threads per inch. more...

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Popular mesh sizes of canvas include 10,12,14,18, and 24 (Congress Cloth). Unlike other forms of embroidery, needlepoint uses the canvas, or ground fabric, to create a new fabric. Silk gauze (counts 24 and higher) is another type of fabric often used for miniature needlepoint.

The threads used for stitching may be wool, silk, cotton or combinations, such as wool-silk blend. Variety fibers may also be used, such as metallic cord, metallic braid, ribbon, or raffia. Stitches may be plain, covering just one thread intersection with a single orientation, or fancy, such as in bargello or other counted thread stitches. Plain stitches, known as tent stitches, may be worked as basketweave, continental or half cross. Basketweave uses the most wool, but does not distort the rectangular mesh and makes for the best-wearing piece.

Three types of needlepoint canvas exist: mono, penelope, and interlock. They differ in how the canvas is woven. Mono canvas comes in the widest variety of colors (especially on 18 mesh) and consists of one thread, going over and under one thread. This canvas has the most possibilities for manipulation and opn canvas. It is generally used for hand-painted canvases. Penelope canvas has two threads closely grouped together. Because these threads can be split apart, penelope sizes are often expressed with two numbers, such as 10/20. Interlock canvashas single threads but staable mesh intersections. This occur because the weft (horizontal) threads, split at the intersections and wrap around the warp threads. Interloc kcanvas is generally used for printed canvases. Silk guaze is a form of interlock canvas, which is sold in small frames to make it easier to stitch.

Finished works may be made into pillows or upholstery, or may be displayed on the wall, framed or unframed, or made into holiday ornaments, purses, stuffed stand-up figures, or rugs.

Needlepoint is valued as a soothing activity that creates durable and attractive objects for domestic use. Mary, Queen of Scots, Queen Elizabeth I, actress Mary Martin, and football player Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier were all avid needlepointers.

In needlepoint, many distinct styles have evolved. Some of them are:

Berlin wool work; Bargello and Hungarian point;

Needlepoint continues to evolve as stitchers use new techniques, threads, and addition of applique or found materials. The line between needlepoint and counted thread is becoming blurred as new stitchers adapat techniques and materials from other forms of embroidery to needlepoint.

Designs for needlepoint may be found in different ways: Hand-Painted Canvas, Printed Canvas, Charted Canvas, and Free-form Embroidery.

In Hand-Painted Canvas, the design is painted on the canvas by the designer, or painted to their specifications by an employee or contractor. Canvases may be stitch-painted, meaning each thread intersection is painstakingly painted so that the stitcher has no doubts about what color is meant to be used at that intersection. Alternately, they may just be hand-painted, meaning that the canvas is painted by hand but the stitcher will have to use their judgement about what colors to use if a thread intersection is not clearly painted. Hand-painted canvases allow the stitcher to give free range to their creativity with threads and unique stitches by not having to pay attention to a separate chart. In North American this is the most popular form of needlepoint canvas.

Read more at Wikipedia.org