1920s Antique Needlepoint Runner

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The technique for creating needlepoint rugs and other objects made from needlepoint has remained unchanged since its beginnings in the … Read more The technique for creating needlepoint rugs and other objects made from needlepoint has remained unchanged since its beginnings in the 17th century. It all begins with a canvas with evenly spaced warp and weft. It is often stiffened and made from an extremely durable material such as jute, cotton, or other suitable materials. Historically, canvases were made from jute or linen.

It also requires thick, durable wool yarn in many bright colors. Many of the historical rugs were created using only natural vegetable dyes that were available in the area. However, do not think of this as a limited color palette because the range of colors found in needlepoint rugs includes almost every color in the rainbow. Both the spinners and the wool dyers were highly skilled in their craft. This provided the artist who created the needlepoint carpets with a vast array of colors to use in their works.

The process of creating a needlepoint rug involves making stitches diagonally across the intersections of the canvas. It is interesting to note that until the 19th century, the term needlepoint was not used. This work was referred to as canvas work previously. The patterns are created by changing colors in the stitches.

In the early pieces, there is only one stitch used to create the pieces. However, through the years, over 150 stitch variations developed. The stitch variations are created by the intersection of stitches into a single space or a combination of long and small stitches. These stitch variations became more popular in more recent work, such as those produced since the 1970s.

However, you will find different stitches in the Italian Bargello work of the 19th century, but for the most part, historical pieces used only the most basic stitch. The artistic design that was similar to painting on canvas with the colors, only the stitches are the brush strokes. Once the piece is finished, the edges are bound using a binding stitch, and it can be sewn onto a backing cloth if desired.

Making a needlepoint carpet is a relatively simple process and uses few materials. It is a long process and requires many hours of dedication and work. You are encouraged to explore the many different needlepoint rugs that occasionally make their way into our collection. Now that you understand the process and a little bit more about them, you can truly appreciate the works of art that they are and why there are an essential that everyone should have in their collection. See less