Algolrecipe.Com Petit Point, Form of Canvas Embroidery Similar to Cross

Home , Embroidery hoop, Gobelin stitch, Needlepoint, Tapestry, Tent stitch

Olgica Peša Ivica PetitP_EN AlgolRecipe.com

Petit point, form of canvas embroidery similar to cross-stitch embroidery, but even finer because of its small scale. The squareness and regularity of the outlines of the forms represented is less apparent at ordinary viewing distance. The stitch used also called petit point or tent stitch is worked either in diagonal or horizontal rows across the intersection of the canvas threads. The thread is carried back from stitch to stitch in a uniform manner to ensure that the pull of the thread at the front is consistent. Petit point was widely used in France in the 17th and early 18th centuries, particularly for pole screens and upholstery covering. Petit point meaning "small point" in French and also known as a needlepoint stitch is a type of embroidery stitch. It is worked on a canvas or woven base and consists of diagonal stitches. The canvas that is used, often made of cotton or linen, is composed of warp and woof threads. The warp threads, which are the vertical threads, and the woof threads, which are the horizontal threads, are typically stretched in an embroidery hoop to make the fabric taut. The stitch itself runs on a diagonal and crosses over an intersection of one horizontal and one vertical thread making a slanted stitch at a 45- degree angle. The thread count or number of stitches to the inch is very small, enabling the sewer to create pictorials as in tapestry. Petit point has an illustrious history in that it was a favorite activity of Madame de Maintenon, the second wife of King Louis XIV of France. She founded the Saint Cyr l'École, a school for poor girls of good families, located in a small village near Versailles. As part of the education curriculum, all young ladies were taught needlepoint and petit point. A favorite pastime of the aristocratic ladies, the craft was often executed using the finest strands of silk, and tapestries often boasted thread of spun gold and silver. Today, petit point is often referred to as a "tent stitch," and resides under the moniker of needlepoint. Because of its intricacy it is suitable for small objet d'art such as pill- boxes, small portraits, and elegant handbags. One of the most favorite design patterns is the mille fleurs, which commonly means “a thousand flowers,” and was an especially popular motif in 15th century France.

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In later centuries, women used the stitch to paint angelic faces or religious symbols on canvas, such as the bleeding heart of Jesus, a popular motif. The painstaking art often became a cherished wedding present, given from one close female friend to the other, or passed down within families. Frequently, scenes called "tableaux" were depicted on bell pulls, fire screens and footstools, while still later petit point tapestries hit the floor as area rugs. There are three variations of the petit point stitch the basket weave, the continental, and the half cross tent stitch. These all look similar on the front of the canvas, but each is worked in a slightly different manner and has particular characteristics to their advantage. While there is no precise order for the execution of the stitches, they are typically worked from a chart. Another benefit of the stitch is that it progresses so the thread is carried across the back of the picture, with no knots or beginnings of different colors shown on the front. What Do Needlepoint and Petit Point Have in Common? Both needlepoint and petit point are types of canvas embroidery. They are both worked on even-weave needlepoint canvas with a blunt-tipped tapestry needle instead of tightly woven fabric

How Do Needlepoint and Petit Point Differ?

Petit Point is ALWAYS comprised of tiny, beautiful stitches worked on individual threads of Penelope canvas or fine mesh needlepoint canvas (22 or more threads to the inch) like Congress Cloth or Silk gauze. In addition to canvas embroidery, the petit point has also been used to describe very fine work in cross stitch designs.

Although needlepoint can be worked on Penelope canvas as well, most stitchers prefer to use single-thread or mono canvas because of the larger stitches and heavier thread used to work the average needlepoint project.

How is Petit Point Worked?

Petit Point is worked using tiny tent needlepoint stitches, which allow a stitcher to create greater detail in a particular area of a needlepoint design. That's why it is stitched on double-thread canvas. http://www.AlgolRecipe.com Copyright © 2017 All rights reserved

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For example, mono or single thread canvas allows for (1) stitch worked over a vertical and horizontal mesh intersection; which normally would be too large for petit point (unless using the finer mesh sizes).

On the other hand, an intersection of Penelope canvas can accommodate (4) smaller petit point stitches. The petit point is worked over single threads in the center area, versus standard needlepoint worked in the border area.

If possible, you should make petit point stitches with the canvas stretched tautly and mounted in a frame. That way, you'll be better able to separate the mesh intersections equally without pulling the surrounding ones out of shape.

Working Petit Point and Needlepoint in the Same Design

When working a project, both petit point and needlepoint can be stitched on the same piece of canvas as long as it is Penelope canvas. When regular needlepoint stitches are made alongside petit point stitches, they are called "Gros Point."

Many machine stamped and printed needlepoint designs typically found in kits use both petit point and gros point, and famous needlepoint designers offer projects that are exclusively worked on Penelope canvas using both techniques. Whenever you require a lot of detail in a needlepoint design you have created, you should choose Penelope canvas.

If you decide to work both petit point and gros point on the same canvas, choose tapestry needles carefully in sizes that fit the needlepoint canvas you are using. Select threads and fibers with multiple plies for their effectiveness in working both petit point and gros point stitches.

Sometimes when working gros point along with the petit point in a project, it's easy to forget where to place a stitch. To keep this from happening, work as many of the petit point areas in the project first; and then complete the rest of the pattern with the gros point Needlepoint Simplicity

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Beginners and veteran stitchers confuse Needlepoint and Petit Point. Even the terms "Needlepoint" and "Petit Point" (sometimes spelled Petite Point) are often used interchangeably but are very different. It’s important to know the difference between the two especially when purchasing needlepoint kits online or at a craft store. If you are a beginner or casual stitcher, you may mistakenly buy a kit for petit point, all the while thinking you are getting a simple needlepoint design. To avoid situations like this, let’s take a look at the similarities and differences between needlepoint and petit point; and then use this newly acquired knowledge to make more informed buying and stitching choices. Cross-stitch is done in two stages: The basic stitch The stitch is always made from the lower left to the upper right corner and the thread is then led vertically along the back of the canvas to the next stitch.

Basic stitch 1 square = 1 stitch

The cover stitch (back stitch)

This runs in the opposite direction always from lower right to upper left over the existing basic stitch. Cover stitch 1 square = 1 stitch

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Horizontal rows Vertical rows

Make sure that the cover stitch is always sewn in the same direction even if you are working vertical or diagonal rows in accordance with the color guide (squares). Please note that in the lower diagrams of vertical rows a cross is first completed before you go on to the next stitch. Gobelin can be done with two types of stitches: PETIT-POINT STITCH (original size) DER GOBELIN-STIC (double the original size) Der Gobelin Stich Each symbol of the square pattern means that you must make two stitches next to each other across two threads of the canvas at the top end. Always embroider your picture from left to right. The individual stitch is, how-ever, worked from the upper right diagonally to the lower left corner. The next stitch then lies at the lower left next to it. In Gobelin stitch the twist must be slanting on the back of the embroidery.

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On the front the twist should also be slanting slightly, but on the back it should slant much more.

GOBELIN STITCH 4 single threads = 2 stitches AlgolRecipe recommends 3 single threads. On the canvas of the 22 counts is too much stretching. Here every square in the pattern means only one stitch on the canvas across a thread of the fabric at the top. It is particularly important to observe the different character of the two methods of embroidery as a number of our pictures are designed to be embroidered in a combined technique, i.e. Gobelin tapestry combined with petit point stitch. The major part of the picture is in Gobelin stitch and only faces, arms and legs are embroidered in petit point. This gives the embroidery a much more expressive effect. Also the petit point stitch enables much more subtle shading. For example: Watch out for the details that you need to work with petit point. (eyes, hands, and all the little ones that can't be made with Gobelin stitch.) You need a lot of attention with this way of working.

All our designs are made for petit point:

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Here is a special tip for lovers of petit point: apart from the pictures that have already been designed especially for petit point stitch, the pictures for Gobelin stitch can also be worked in petit point stitch. However, you should only make one stitch on the canvas for each type so that the petit point picture is really only a quarter of the size of the original in Gobelin stitch. We cannot really recommend you to try any other modification. The Petit-Point-Stitch Petit point stitch is embroidered with three-ply twist.

PETIT-POINT STITCH 3 single threads 1 square = 1 stitch AlgolRecipe recommends 2 single threads. On the canvas of the 22 counts is too much stretching.

You work with 2 threads. Cut the thread at about 4 ft (120 cm) for easy maintenance. Always leave 2 to 3 In at the beginning and the end of the thread.

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Try to align the threads. Finish the thread, if you are doing just 5-10 stitches find the next the same symbol and finish the thread. If not, leave the excess thread and catch it with the following thread. Do not start or end the thread with a knot. On the back of the canvas pull extra with a needle below already finished stitches. Every knot that you create makes a knob in front of Gobelin and reduces quality of the work.

Do not forget that the back part of the Gobelin is equally important and shows how much attention and dedication is given to the project. This way adds to the quality of the project and is easier to work but requires more attention.

Designer: Olgica Pesa Slikajte Iglom

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Notes:

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