The roots of needlepoint go back thousands of years . . .
The ancient
Egyptians used small slanted stitches to sew up their canvas tents.
There are also many references in the Bible to elaborate needlework on
religious articles, including the tent used for worship in ancient
Israel.
In the Middle Ages, there were two types of needlework
that were forerunners of modern needlepoint. A kind of embroidery, in
13th century Europe, was done on coarsely woven linen fabric similar to
canvas mesh. Tapestries, also popular in that era, were woven on
vertical threads on a loom. In the 16th century, people began to
imitate these forms on a canvas background using steel needles,
invented around this time. This allowed more intricate work than the
fishbone or thorn needles used previously.
During the times of
Mary, Queen of Scotts (who did needlepoint during her long
imprisonment), needlepoint was a pastime of the leisure class. As time
went on, its appeal gradually broadened to other parts of society.
There
are few examples of needlepoint from early Colonial America since
American women had little time to spare for stitching that was not
absolutely practical. With an increase in leisure time, along with the
invention of a method of printing colored charts for needlepoint
designs (called "Berlin Work"), needlepoint finally took its rightful
place in style.
Although this advance in technology broadened
the reach of needlepoint, hand painted needlepoint is still preferred
among the most avid and experienced stitchers of the world. These
pieces are created by an artist painting an image directly on a
canvas. After purchasing a specific canvas design, your needlepoint
shop owner then helps you decide which fibers, threads and
embellishments to use. A stitch guide, describing the techniques is
helpful and usually is available through your local shop. 
Needlepoint
is easy to learn. It's simply following an ordered process of passing
the needle through a pre-designed canvas mesh. Your local needlepoint
shop owner can show you everything you'll need.
Express yourself!
Needlepoint offers a wide range of avenues for self-expression.
It can be used to make pictures, pillows, seat cushions or other items to decorate your home.
You can also stitch fashion items like belts, purses, and even shoes, vests and other clothing.
Holiday
themes are traditional, but there is also an endless stream of new,
contemporary themes that can brighten your home and your life. The new
specialty fibers and beautiful, hand-painted canvases which are
available today add excitement to the experience and richness to your
finished product.
Want to learn how to needlepoint? Find a needlepoint retailer near you.
