Originating in Germany in the early 1800’s, Berlin wool work spread to England and then to America by the mid-1800’s as a popular form of needlework. It was among the first amateur needlework techniques to become all the rage for the middle class women in Victorian England.

Relying on “point paper” (graph paper) charts made more accessible thanks to innovations in colored printing, and using a soft, thick wool that took dye well (hence, it was available in many colors), Berlin work relied primarily on tent stitch to fill the needleworker’s canvas. Floral designs were popular, and often abundantly lavish – abundant lavishness in decor being something the Victorians managed quite often.

Berlin work began its demise with the advent of the Arts & Crafts Movement, which moved needlework in totally a different direction.

Berlin wool work is the direct predecessor of today’s canvas work and counted cross stitch.

Today, I have the pleasure of announcing the two winners (drawn randomly) of Blissful Beginnings: Embroidered Blankets to Cherish, a beautiful new book by Country Bumpkin featuring a collection of gorgeous hand embroidered blankets and matching accent pieces.

It’s a lovely, lovely book. And the blankets – ahhhh! They’re works of art! And they make me want to snuggle. (There aren’t too many works of art you can say that about, are there?)

Normally – practically always, as a matter of fact – the embroidery projects I work on are mounted on an embroidery frame or in an embroidery hoop. For some types of embroidery, it’s essential to use a hoop or frame.

Goldwork and silk embroidery (like the Medallion project, this goldwork pomegranate project, this goldwork and silk Agnus Dei project, the little Tudor rose, and so forth) absolutely require that the work is mounted on a taut frame. Crewel embroidery (i.e. this crewel rooster) also benefits from mounting in a frame or hoop.

There are other types of embroidery, though, that don’t necessarily need to be worked in a hoop or frame. The skilled embroiderers of Madeira, for example, worked their delicate and beautiful whitework motifs without a hoop, in their hands, with their worked wrapped around a finger to gauge tension.

And certainly, there are many situations where embroidered linens and the like – adorned with typical surface embroidery stitches – can be easily held and worked in the hand, without the use of a hoop.

Today, let’s chat ourselves up a bit about working in hand, without a hoop.

This time of year, I try to avoid getting caught up in the hype that pervades the commercial pre-Christmas season.

Still, I do like a good needlework deal when it comes along, and since needlework shops don’t often have sales, it’s nice to know about them when they happen!

Here are just a few online needlework-related sales going on today. If you happen to know of others, feel free to leave a note in the comment section below.

Remember Blissful Beginnings: Embroidered Blankets to Cherish? I reviewed this beautiful book of embroidered blankets earlier this month – and now, thanks to Country Bumpkin, I’m giving away two copies!

It’s Thanksgiving Day here in the US!

In honor of the day, I’ve resurrected the Textile Turkey.

Remember the star stitch tutorial that we looked at last week for the Stitch Play series? I had this odd feeling that I wouldn’t be able to leave it alone – that exploration of further samples and testing combinations was definitely a Must with this technique.

There’s not enough time in the day (week, month…) to play with every single possibility when it comes to embroidery stitches, but I did manage to squeeze in a few play sessions with the star stitch – some successful and some not so successful!

This is what developed…