| Needlepoint craft involves embroidering stitches | | | | The best places to find current examples of |
| on to canvas to make a design. The designs are | | | | needlepoint are the on line needlepoint catalogues |
| laid out in chart form and coloured coded so that | | | | and sites on the web. There you will find sites |
| many can be followed by the beginner. There is | | | | that abound with current ideas giving you lots of |
| no expensive equipment needed and as just the | | | | choices, styles and creations that you can work. |
| needles, yarn and canvas is required for smaller | | | | Just a quick trawl through these sites will show |
| pieces, the work is portable and easy to carry. | | | | you needlepoint catalogue designs based on such |
| Larger pieces of needlepoint may require the use | | | | varying subjects as Lowry style pictures, abstract |
| of a frame to ensure ease of working. | | | | designs, some very unique modern Dutch flower |
| Needlepoint is known as canvas work and | | | | designs, articles worked in art deco images and |
| sometimes as tapestry work, however true | | | | examples of work in the beautiful gentle colours |
| tapestry work is loom woven. Needlepoint has | | | | and style of the Pre Raphaelite masters. There |
| been known since the 1500's and we have early | | | | are also sites illustrating canvas work from |
| examples of samplers and similar well preserved | | | | cultures whose origins lie in the traditions and art |
| pieces dating from that time. Look in any | | | | styles from other parts of the world. Examples of |
| needlepoint catalogue and you will find the familiar | | | | from ancient native cultures and new designs |
| timeless patterns of samplers, classic pictures and | | | | from Australia and South America and those |
| scenes that have been the hallmark of the craft | | | | reflect the heritage of the North American Indian |
| for generations. What you may be surprised to | | | | tribes. |
| find is that needlepoint work is as popular today | | | | Also contained in the Needlepoint catalogues are |
| as in the days when ladies draped themselves on | | | | suggestions of how the finished artwork can be |
| their ches lounges, lap dogs at their side with the | | | | used. Alongside the usual framed examples, |
| ladies companion nearby ready to sort the | | | | cushions and other traditional uses there are some |
| coloured threads. That scene has drastically | | | | very different uses. One of the most interesting |
| changed, some of the people wielding the needles | | | | is the design of a large button or pendant |
| today and some of the subjects of the | | | | depicting the stars and stripes of the flag of the |
| needlepoint work they are engaged in have | | | | United States. But perhaps the most innovative |
| moved on to more modern scenes and designs | | | | idea is the opportunity to have your favourite |
| that you will find in the latest needlepoint | | | | photograph made into a needlepoint chart so that |
| catalogues. This craft is alive and well and the new | | | | you can work a canvas bringing the static image |
| styles and developments may surprise you. | | | | to life. |