Needlepoint is a form of canvas work created on a mesh canvas. The stitching threads used 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 raffiia. Stitches may be plain, covering just one mesh intersection with a single orientation, or fancy, such as in bargello. 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.

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 even rugs. Typical mesh counts range from 5 to 18 stitches per running inch.

Needlepoint is valued as a soothing activity that creates durable and attractive objects for domestic use. Mary, Queen of Scots, Queen Elizabeth I, actress Mary Martin, and football player Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier were all avid needlepointers.

Styles

In needlepoint, many distinct styles have evolved. Some of them are:

• Berlin wool work
• Bargello and Hungarian point

Types of Stitches

• 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

Embroidery