I've been experimenting with crewel embroidery technique, using crewel wool thread, rather than stranded cotton which I am used to. I thought I should familiarise myself with this style of embroidery having referred to my projects as worked in this manner. Crewel embroidery is defined as a type of surface stitching worked in crewel wool; the embroidery is much thicker and heavier than other types of embroidery, and the stitching lies above the background fabric, not just on it . Having read up on this, I think purists would also say that it should be stitched on linen fabric! I never realised that the Bayeux tapestry is in fact the Bayeux crewel embroidery, although it doesn't have such a good ring to it!
I taken have some exercises from the book 'The New Crewel' by Katherine Shaughnessy and practised some of her designs which are conpemporary in nature, although I feel a little limited on the range of stitches used.
