by Digital Sextant

Question by MATT E: What is the difference between Needlepoint and Cross-titch?

Further, what are the advantages of each over the other?

TY




Best answer:

Answer by kay
Needlepoint is typically done with large (relatively!) diameter wool yarns over a cotton or linen open-weave canvas. The object is to fill the holes completely (or nearly so!), resulting in a durable, long-wearing fabric.
If you want to learn to needlepoint, one of the best books, imho, is Jo Ippolito Christensen's The Needlepoint Book, first published in the 70's and now reissued.
Needlepoint looks like: http://www.terrydryden.com/-blog/2008/8/3/intro-to-bargelloneedlepoint-update.html (it's a canvas in progress, and you can see a variety of stitches and the yarn end).

Cross stitch is a decorative technique that does not add strength or body to the fabric. In its simplest form, it's Xs of thread on the surface of a fabric, typically one that has the same number of vertical threads as horizontal threads per inch ("even weave"). The thread used is typically light weight in comparison to the fabric, the background is not completely covered, and the work goes much faster because you're not stitching the background. Traditionally done with cotton or linen thread on cotton or linen fabric.
http://www.knitcetra.com/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=355
http://www.ericas.com/kidscrafts/kidsxstitch.htm

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