Crewel Delight

Interior Design and Decorator Tips


Crewel Embroidery, or Crewelwork, is a decorative form of surface embroidery using woolembroidery stitches to follow a design outline applied to the fabric. The technique is at least a thousand years old. It was used in the Bayeux Tapestry, in Jacobean embroidery and in the Quaker tapestry. The origin of the word crewel is unknown but is thought to come from an ancient word describing the curl in the staple, the single hair of the wool. Crewel wool has a long staple; it is fine and can be strongly twisted. Modern crewel wool is a fine, 2-ply or 1-ply yarn available in many different colours.  Wikipedia

Crewelwork fascinates me.  I have a very high appreciation of the workmanship that goes into it.  Don’t you just love it?  My first discovery of this beautiful fabric was when I was a Trainee working in a Curtain store.  I had been told to put the samples away that had been scattered around the store, all the fabrics at the time were printed glossy chintz’s, plain linens and then there were these lovely textured embroidered crewel’s.  I was instantly captivated.

These fabrics look lovely made up into scatter cushions, throws, ottomans (as above), curtains, table cloths.  Crewelwork adds an amazing texture and home made element to any home.