Stitches in Needlepoint; Erica; Erica: Stitches in Needlepoint

Mahard, Frances · April 6, 1972

While what Erica calls the ?plain, flat, regular? tent stitch is the most common stitch for needlepoint, Erica invites viewers to broaden their horizons and ?say goodbye to all those flat, beige backgrounds? in this episode by trying other, more textural stitches in needlepoint. Given this, Erica demonstrates many stitches in this episode, including Gobelin stitch (so named because of its resemblance to the texture of woven tapestries produced at Gobelins in France), and its variations?slanted Gobelin, encroaching Gobelin, and brick stitch. To demonstrate the beauty of more textural stitches in needlepoint, Erica shows the results of an epic, five-year project in which she designed kneeling cushions for a church in Ohio, each one unique. The cushions, which were executed by members of the church in consultation with Erica, were done in needlepoint in bold gradations of color using variations of the Gobelin stitch. The cushions depict God?s creatures, great and small. Summary and select metadata for this record was submitted by Amanda Sikarskie.