The complete guide to crewel embroidery
Have you ever heard the term crewel embroidery and been completely bewildered as to what it actually is and how it differs from normal embroidery?
Here is everything you need to know about where this fantastic technique comes from, what makes it so popular and how to do it, including a free pattern so you can get started right now!
If you're a complete newbie to embroidery check out our embroidery for beginners guide and our roundup of the top embroidery starter kits.
What is crewel embroidery?
In simple terms, crewel embroidery is just normal embroidery using 1-ply or 2-ply wool. Its name is derived from the type of yarn that was used – krua – which means wool.
Also referred to as crewelwork, it is a popular decorative stitching technique that has stood the test of time and continues to impassion makers to this day.
It is one of the oldest forms of surface stitching – at least a thousand years old – and the technique itself is steeped in history, with the earliest surviving example being The Bayeux Tapestry.
At the height of its pre-20th century popularity, crewel embroidery appeared most prominently in Jacobean England, when the grand houses and buildings of the sixteenth and seventeenth-century were being built and the demand for luxurious furnishings increased. Historically, crewelwork was used to heavily decorate cushions, curtains, bedding and wall hangings.
Crewel embroidery experienced a revival in the 1960s and 70s with bright floral designs of the era in oranges, teals, yellows, purples and more. Much of the hype around crewel embroidery during this time was headed by artists such as Erica Wilson, Mildred J. Davis and Elsa Williams. Some vintage Elsa Williams embroidery kits can still be found popping up across Etsy and eBay!
What you need to do crewel embroidery
If you’re already an avid embroiderer or fibre artist, it’s likely that you’ll have almost everything you need in your creative toolbox already!
However, if you’re a budding craftsperson just itching to delve into the world of crewelwork, here are some of the things you’ll need…
Thread for crewel embroidery
An all-time favourite amongst crewel embroiderers, Appletons have been producing high-quality crewel yarn in a vast range of shades for almost 200 years. Their 2-ply wool comes in 25m skeins and boasts hard-wearing and long-lasting qualities that have stitchers falling in love over and over.
DMC’s Soft Cotton 1-ply threads are also perfect for crewel embroidery, tapestry work, weaving and more and are available in a huge variety of colours and shades!
- Appletons: Buy now on Lovecrafts, £0.76
- DMC: Buy now on Lovecrafts, £0.82
Fabric for crewel embroidery
The most universally recognised fabric for crewel embroidery is Linen Twill due to the strong foundation it provides.
Combining the advantages of both being heavy weight and having a distinctive and textured diagonal weave makes it the perfect base for your crewelwork.
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Needles for crewel embroidery
Crewel needles have a longer eye which makes threading them so much easier when working with a thicker thread/yarn such as 2-ply.
They can be found in packs of multiple sizes to give you more suitable options when working with a range of different fabrics. Both Hemline and Prym needles are a firm favourite of crewel embroiderers.
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Hoops
There aren’t any specific hoops needed for crewel embroidery – any will do the trick – so you’ll have no trouble sourcing them from your local haberdashery or favourite online craft shop.
We love Elbesee hoops, as seen above, for their availability, size range and their durability, they’re real box tickers!
- Find a variety of embroidery hoop sizes from Amazon
How to do crewel embroidery
As crewel embroidery is defined not by style but by the type of yarn used, you can use all your favourite embroidery stitches when practising crewel embroidery.
As the yarn is 2-ply wool, crewel embroidery adds a whole new dimension to your stitch work through the added texture and thickness.
Here’s a handy step-by-step guide on how to complete this simple yet stylish crewel embroidery project!
You will need:
- Linen Twill fabric – 15cm x 15cm
- 4in embroidery hoop
- DMC soft cotton
- Pink (2315)Yellow (2146) Green (2012)
- Crewel needle
- Basic embroidery kit
- Floral template
To learn how to do all the stitches mentioned in this project head to our embroidery stitches guide!
Crewel embroidery flower
Step 1
Pop your fabric into a 4in hoop and thread your green crewel yarn. Trace your pattern with a removable pen (we do this to the fabric facing up in the inside of the hoop for accuracy with tracing).
Stitch all the stems in Stem Stitch, keeping stitches even to make the detail pop.
Step 2
Now Satin Stitch all the leaves, including the one on the flower's stem.
Step 3
Create the flower petals with Lazy Daisy stitch in your next colour, then make a couple of Satin Stitches in the centre to fill them out.
Step 4
Finally, in your third colour, use French Knots to fill in the flower’s centre before turning your hoop back the right way round. Your first crewel embroidery piece is complete!
Stunning Sashiko
Keep adding to your embroidery repertoire by learning how to do Sashiko embroidery with Gathered.
5 of the best crewel embroidery kits
Purchasing a crewel embroidery kit will cut out the hassle of having to source threads, materials and patterns separately and gives you the opportunity to stitch a design you’ve set your heart on!
1. A Halcyon Day Crewel Embroidery Kit
Featuring a total of nine different stitches, this advanced crewel embroidery kit from MelburyHill depicts a striking dragonfly with majestic, textured wings.
The kit includes 100% original linen twill fabric, Appleton's yarn, a needle and full instructions. All you need to supply is a 10in embroidery hoop.
2. Swallows Flight Crewel Embroider Kit
Stitch this beautiful, traditional swallows design with another fantastic kit from MelburyHill. 100% original linen twill fabric, Appleton's yarn, a needle and full instructions are all included in the kit – you just need to get a 10in embroidery hoop and you're ready to go.
With seven different stitches, this pattern is perfect for the intermediate stitcher.
3. An English Bouquet Crewel Embroidery Kit
From Needlewoman’s Studio comes this stunning, floral kit that includes Appleton's wool, a needle and comprehensive instructions.
This 6in x 6in design is the perfect spring project to throw yourself into.
4. The Strawberry Thieves Crewel Embroidery Kit
This kit will be a firm favourite amongst fans of William Morris’ work!
This deluxe kit includes a hand-drawn design on linen fabric, all the Appletons wool you will need to complete the piece, 3 different needles and a comprehensive 12-page booklet of instructions.
5. Hummingbird Crewelwork Kit
Including printed cotton twill fabric, Appleton's crewel wool, all the needles you will need and 24 pages of step-by-step tutorials, you just need to grab an 8in hoop and you can get straight to work!
This sweet, 12 stitch hummingbird embroidery is ideal for those with some previous experience. Nevertheless, the comprehensive instructions booklet will also help less experienced stitchers who are up for a challenge to give it a go. Follow the steps and you'll be a pro in no time!
Will you become a crewel embroidery convert?
We love classic embroidery but there's something extra special about the soft wooly threads used in crewel embroidery.
The softer nature of wool-style threads helps to give designs a more relaxed feel, and when made using 100% wool, your threads can even start to felt together which really compliments colour blends.
Colour your world with thread painting
Whether you're sticking with classic embroidery or trying crewel embroidery, get your colourful designs looking fantastic with our guide to thread painting on Gathered.
