glos·sa·ry

 

Laid Work – This is a stitching technique in which long threads are laid across a shape. The stitch is worked over these threads.

 

Laying Tool – A stroking needle used to align the threads so they will lay flat. You can use a needle trolley, Teko Bari, or even a long rug needle.

 

Length of Thread – Do not use a thread or yarn that is longer than needed (usually 16”-24”). Long lengths will usually wear thin or even shred.

 

Mesh – The place where the horizontal and vertical canvas threads cross.

 

Mono Canvas – This is an evenweave canvas formed by single horizontal and vertical threads.

 

Needlepoint – A generic term for canvas stitches.

 

Needles – Needles come in various sizes. When you are unsure of the correct size needle to use for a particular canvas, just put one down into a canvas hole. If it drops through, it’s okay to use.

 

Motif Stitch – A surface stitch that is worked individually, an accent stitch.

 

Open Stitch – A stitch that lets the ground fabric (canvas) show.

 

Orts – These are the small pieces of yarn or thread that are trimmed from the starting and ending threads

 

Ort Bag – Used to collect your orts. Some people save them to use as stuffing.

 

Penelope Canvas – A canvas formed by woven pairs of horizontal and vertical canvas threads. Also called 2-thread canvas

 

Pens – Always test to be sure the pen or market you choose is waterproof. Never use a ballpoint pen on canvas

 

Perle Cotton – This is a twisted 2-ply thread.

 

Persian Yarn – This is a 3-ply (three 2-ply strands) yarn that can be separated into individual strands.

 

Petit Point – Needlepoint that is worked on a fine mesh canvas or silk gauze.

 

Shot or Sand Bags – These are small cotton bags filled with lead shot or sand and used as weights to hold down stretcher strip frames for stitching at a table

 

Stab Method – The canvas is held taut on a frame. The stitch is worked in two motions. The needle is stabbed through a canvas hole from the back and the yarn is pulled completely through to the front. Then the needle is stabbed down into the next hole and the yarn is pulled completely to the back.

 

Straight Stitches – Upright sttiches worked over horizontal canvas threads.

 

Stranded Cotton – This is the British name for floss.

 

Stripping – Separating the 3 plies of Persian yarn or the 6 strands of floss into individual threads.

 

Tapestry Needle – A blunt-tip, large-eye needle used for needlepoint

 

Tapestry Yarn – This is a twisted 4-ply yarn used mainly for needlepoint.

 

Twisted Thread – This is caused by rolling the needle as you stitch. When this occurs, let the yarn and needle dangle. The thread will unwind by itself.

 

Warp – The canvas threads that run lengthwise (from the loom).

 

Weft – The canvas threads that run horizontally and are woven with the warp threads.

 

Waste Knot – This is the only acceptable knot used in needlework. It is used to hold the yarn or thread in place temporarily so that it can be covered with stitches. Cut it off as soon as possible.

 

Woof – This is the Old English word for weft.

 

Wrong Side – This is the side of the needlepoint that is not seen, or the back of the canvas, where the threads are started and ended.

 

Yarn – Any fiber that is stranded. It can be made of wool, cotton, silk, acrylic, nylon, etc.