Canvaswork

Canvaswork is a form of counted thread embroidery in which thread is stitched into an even-weave fabric.  It is frequently stitched in wool, either crewel or tapestry, but is often also worked in silk or stranded cotton.  The traditional stitch for canvaswork is the diagonal tent stitch, but there are a huge number of more elaborate stitches, some of which are used to form repeating patterns.  Current canvaswork normally uses a rigid, cotton canvas which is completely covered by the stitching, but linen fabric was used in the 17th century.

Canvas is normally an even-weave fabric which means that there are the same number of warp and weft threads across a given measurement.  The size of the canvas is governed by the number of holes across a given length: measurements are normally either tpi (threads per inch) or hpi (holes per inch), both of these are often referred to as the ‘count’ e.g. 18 count canvas.  (Some manufacturers use metric, in which case they normally indicate the number of threads per 10cm.)

An alternative type of canvas became available in the mid 19th1 century which is called double, duo or Penelope canvas.  The gaps between threads are alternately large and then small to allow for both gros point (large stitches) and petit point (small stitches) to be worked.  Standard canvas is sometimes called ‘single’ or ‘mono’ canvas to differentiate it.

Some canvaswork stitches can be worked as counted thread stitches, i.e. on an evenweave fabric such as linen in which case the fabric would be visible between the stitches.

N.B. canvaswork is frequently referred to as ‘tapestry’.  This is strictly incorrect as a tapestry is woven on a loom, rather than stitched onto fabric using a needle and thread.  The misconception is believed to have arisen as early canvaswork pieces from the 17th century emulated the style of tapestries in palaces and large country houses.