Dictionary Definition
needlepoint
Noun
1 lace worked with a needle in a buttonhole
stitch on a paper pattern [syn: point
lace]
2 embroidery consisting of allover embroidered
canvas resembling tapestry
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
Noun
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Extensive Definition
Needlepoint is a form of canvas work
embroidery, in which
yarn is stitched through a
canvas ground fabric. Unlike surface
embroidery, needlepoint uses the canvas, or ground fabric, to
create a new fabric. Needlepoint worked on very fine (high-count)
canvas is called petit-point. Needlepoint is often referred to as
"tapestry", but differs from true tapestry which is woven on a
loom rather than stiched on
canvas mesh.
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.
History
Modern needlepoint descends from the canvas work in tent stitch that was a popular domestic craft in the 16th century and from 17th century Bargello through the shaded Berlin wool work in brightly-colored wool yarn that was a fad in the mid-19th century.-
- Needlepoint is used across Europe and throughout the United States & Canada as a means of therapy for the mentally ill. Its beneficial points are often cited in journals for the education of those dealing with alzheimers ( A progressive form of presenile dementia that is similar to senile dementia except that it usually starts in the 40s or 50s; first symptoms are impaired memory which is followed by impaired thought and speech and finally complete helplessness or dementia ) It is used with young children to assist in healing problems with eye/hand co-ordination.
There are small shops found almost anywhere to
purchase the limited items needed to begin needlepoint. These shops
are often run by the mentally challenged themsleves.
Contemporary techniques
Materials
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.
Several types of embroidery canvas are available:
single thread and double thread embroidery canvas are open
even-weave meshes, with large spaces or holes to allow heavy
threads to pass through without fraying. Canvas is sized by mesh
sizes, or thread count per inch. Sizes vary from 5 threads per inch
to 24 threads per inch; popular mesh sizes are 10,12,14,18, and 24
(Congress Cloth). The three types of needlepoint canvas marketed
are mono, penelope, and interlock.
- Mono canvas comes in the widest variety of colors (especially on 18 mesh) and is plain woven, with one weft thread going over and under one warp thread. This canvas has the most possibilities for manipulation and open canvas. It is generally used for hand-painted canvases.
- Penelope canvas has two threads closely grouped together in both warp and weft. Because these threads can be split apart, penelope sizes are often expressed with two numbers, such as 10/20.
- Interlock canvas has single threads but stable mesh intersections. This occur because the weft threads, split at the intersections and wrap around the warp threads. Interlock canvas is generally used for printed canvases. Silk gauze is a form of interlock canvas, which is sold in small frames for petit-point work. Silk gauze most often comes in 32, 40 or 48 count, although some 18 count is available and 64, 128 and other counts are used for miniature work.
Frames and hoops
Needlepoint canvas is stretched on a scroll
frame to keep the work taut during stitching. Petit point is
sometimes worked in a small embroidery
hoop rather than a scroll frame.
Patterns
Commercial designs for needlepoint may be found
in different ways: Hand-Painted Canvas, Printed Canvas, Charted
Canvas, and Free-form.
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 be hand-painted, meaning that
the canvas is painted by hand but the stitcher will have to use
their judgment 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 America this is the most popular form of needlepoint
canvas.
Printed Canvas is when the design is printed by
silk
screening or computer onto the needlepoint canvas. Printing the
canvas in this means allows for faster creation of the canvas and
thus has a lower price than Hand-Painted Canvas. However, care must
be taken that the canvas is straight before being printed to ensure
that the edges of the design are straight. Designs are typically
less involved due to the limited color palette of this printing
method. The results (and the price) of printed canvas vary
extensively. Often printed canvases come as part of kits, which
also dramatically vary in quality, based on the printing process
and the materials used. Printed canvas can also be bought
separately in kits. This form of canvas is widely available outside
North America.
Charted Canvas designs are available in book or
leaflet form. They are available at book stores and independent
needlework stores. Charted Canvas designs are typically printed in
two ways: either in grid form with each thread intersection being
represented with a symbol that shows what color is meant to be
stitched on that intersection, or as a line drawing where the
stitcher is to trace the design onto his canvas and then fill in
those areas with the colors listed. Books typically include a
grouping of designs from a single designer such as Kaffe
Fassett or Candace Bahouth, or may be centered around a theme
such as Christmas or Victorian
Needlepoint, such as in the case of
http://www.elizabethbradley.com]Elizabeth Bradley. Leaflets
usually include one to two designs and are usually printed by the
individual designer.
Free-Form Needlepoint designs are created by the
stitcher. They may be based around a favorite photograph, stitch,
thread color, etc. The stitcher just starts stitching! Many
interesting pieces are created this way. It allows for the addition
of found objects, appliqué, computer-printed photographs, goldwork,
or specialty stitches.
While traditionally needlepoint has been done to
create a solid fabric, more modern needlepoint incorporates open
canvas, techniques which allow some of the unstitched, or lightly
stitched canvas to show through. Some of these techniques include
"shadow" or "lite" stitching, blackwork on canvas, and
pattern darning.
Needlepoint continues to evolve as stitchers use
new techniques and threads, and add appliqué or found materials.
The line between needlepoint and other forms of counted-thread
embroidery is becoming blurred as new stitchers adapt
techniques and materials from other forms of embroidery to
needlepoint.
Famous needlepointers
Mary, Queen of Scots, Queen Elizabeth I, American football player Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier, and actress Mary Martin were all avid needlepointers. Martin released a book titled "Mary Martin's Needlepoint" in 1969 that catalogued her works and provided needlework tips.Needlepoint stitches
- Arraiolos stitch
- Brick Stitch
- Encroaching Upright Gobelin stitch
- Hungarian Ground stitch
- Hungarian point stitch
- Mosaic stitch
- Old Florentine stitch
- Parisian stitch
- Tent stitches - Basketweave, Continental and Half cross variants
- Upright cross stitch
- Whipped flower stitch