Needlepoint

Needlepoint: An Overview

• Needlepoint is a type of canvas work, a form of embroidery in which yarn is stitched through a stiff open weave canvas.
• The degree of detail in needlepoint depends on the thread count of the underlying mesh fabric.
• Needlepoint is the oldest form of canvas work, and its roots go back thousands of years to the ancient Egyptians.
• Needlepoint designs completely cover the canvas, and many needlepoint designs use only a simple tent stitch.
• Common uses for needlepoint include eyeglass cases, holiday ornaments, pillows, purses, upholstery, and wall hangings.
• Needlepoint canvas is stretched on a scroll frame or tacked onto a rectangular wooden frame to keep the work taut during stitching.
• Commercial designs for needlepoint may be found in different forms: hand-painted canvas, printed canvas, trammed canvas, charted canvas, and free-form.
• The thread used for stitching may be wool, silk, cotton or combinations, such as wool-silk blend.
• Needlepoint continues to evolve as stitchers use new techniques and threads, and add appliqué or found materials.
• Royal needlepointers include Mary, Queen of Scots, Marie Antoinette, Queen Elizabeth I, and Princess Grace.
• The Needlepoint Book by Jo Ippolito Christensen contains 436 stitches and 1680 illustrations in 560 pages and has been continuously in print since 1976.
• Needlepoint backgrounds were used most famously on the long-running game show, Family Feud from its premiere with Richard Dawson in 1976 to the end of the Ray Combs era in 1994.

How much do you know about the ancient art of needlepoint? Test your knowledge with our Needlepoint: An Overview quiz! From its roots in ancient Egypt to its modern-day uses, this quiz will cover all aspects of needlepoint. Discover different types of needlepoint designs, the thread used for stitching, and the famous royal needlepointers throughout history. Take the quiz to see how well you know this timeless craft!