Terminology
- Differences between needlepoint and other types of embroidery
-
Needlepoint is worked upon specialized types of stiff canvas that have openings at regular intervals.
-
Embroidery that is not needlepoint often uses soft cloth and requires an embroidery hoop.
Needlepoint refers to a particular set of stitching techniques worked upon stiff openwork canvas.
Because it is stitched on a fabric that is an open grid, needlepoint is not embellishing a fabric, as is the case with most other types of embroidery, but literally the making of a new fabric. It is for this reason that many needlepoint stitches must be of sturdier construction than other embroidery stitches.
"Needlepoint" is not synonymous with all types of embroidery. Needlepoint is often referred to as "tapestry" in the United Kingdom and sometimes as "canvaswork." Needlepoint differs from true tapestry, which is woven on a vertical loom. Needlepoint is stitched on canvas mesh. When worked on fine weave canvas in Tent Stitch it is also known as "Petitpoint". "Needlepoint lace" is also an older term for needle lace, a historic lacemaking technique. When referring to handcrafted textile arts which a speaker is unable to identify, the appropriate generalized term is "needlework".
Berlin Work (also spelled Berlinwork) refers to a subset of needlepoint, popular in the mid-19th Century that was stitched in brightly colored wool on needlepoint canvas from hand-colored charts.
Read more about this topic: Needlepoint