Crewelwork/Jacobean

Crewelwork/Jacobean is most often thought of as woven tapestry. This is the technique of using wool threads on linen. There are many types of stitches associated with this technique, such as laid stitches, couching stitches, stem stitches, filling stitches, seeding and french and bullion knots.

The crewel technique is not a counted-thread embroidery (like canvas work), but a style of free embroidery enjoying its heyday in 17th century England, and has come in and out of fashion several times since then.

The precise 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 colors.