Updated December 6, 2019.
A few years ago Mr. XStitch posited this on his blog:
Needlepoint is often overlooked as a valid embroidery medium, and looks at cross stitch with envy.
While he went on in the post to show five inspirational needlepoints, it still made me mad, really mad.
Like most people, Mr. XStitch seems to think that needlepoint is one thing only — Tent Stitch. He looks at these pieces and sees that they use fewer colors than Cross Stitch and that the larger scale of the needlepoint doesn’t allow the detail of Cross Stitch.
Therefore he finds it wanting as a medium for artistic expression.
I, for one, am tired of this extremely limited view of needlepoint. And it does not reflect well on this prominent blogger or his understanding of needlearts.
Go to a needlepoint store, look at needlepoint blogs, see what people pin and post of their completed needlepoint. Even the little piece pictured here uses multiple threads, many stitches, and embellishments. How many of the pieces he features in his blog, whether needlepoint or cross stitch, can say the same thing?
What do you see? A wealth of threads and fibers. Exploration of new media in their work. Incorporation of found objects and embellishments. The use of many, many stitches (even by beginners). Original work and customization of commercial pieces.
In fact, on any given day, I see just as much creativity by the average needlepointer as I do in the Art School-educated hipster embroiderer often showcased on his blog. Just as much and probably more.
But do we get the respect as fiber artists we deserve?
No.
The hipster stitcher thinks needlepoint is something aging Baby Boomers or their grandmothers do. They think that it isn’t a valid medium for artistic expression. They think it’s only Tent Stitch. They think we just paint by numbers.
This is changing (see this article) but misunderstanding needlepoint is still rampant. In fact many don’t know the difference between cross stitch and needlepoint and promote as “needlepoint” very basic cross stitch pieces.
And it’s just not true. In fact artists I run into are astonished at the creativity of needlepoint. Without the blinders of what is hip and fashionable, they can see valid artistic expression and wonderful possibilities in what we do.
This attitude about needlepoint is not helping us. What should we do about it?
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
I’m glad that’s off your chest! Being loud doesn’t make him right. Needepoint has evolved from the 70’s to an exciting medium due to new ideas, products, and designs. With wool no longer being the mainstay thread, new, exciting threads have been developed. This is turn led to new stitches, techniques and designs. It’s an exciting time.
Needlepoint, or as the Brits say (canvas embroidery) has been around for a long time and is here to stay.XStitch is cheaper, and I think that’s one of the reasons for it being in the forefront, but I’ve never had any desire to try it.Needlepoint has evolved into an exciting, creative art form. To me XStitch looks pretty much the same as when it hit its heyday a few years ago. There’s room for both, although I admit to a definite “Canvas Embroidery” bias. Stay well — it’s not worth getting upset over.Everyone will just have to show just how creative we are. Libbi
I’m a self taught needlepointer or as I prefer texture artist. I’ve never been a X Stitch fan, something to do with the repetitiveness and rule like tight lines, I’m more of a no rules type of artist than a painting by numbers. Don’t get me wrong I admire many pieces which have used X Stitch, and honestly love all things creative, art for art’s sake, let’s loose the labels and as Libbi suggest show the wonders of our creativity. Cx
Does the opinion of someone else truly matter if you are happy doing your chosen craft. Tomorrow morning I will be sitting with a group of about ten or so knitters of varying talent. Do I knit, I can, but I choose needlepoint because it makes me happy and not a one of them holds it against me. They mostly seem delighted to have a new face at the table. As it should be.
Breath through it Janet. Long deep calming breaths.
Hey Kim —
I used to be in a group like that, all knitters but me. THey’d knit, I’d needlepoint. My best friend & I are like that she can needlepoint, but choses to knit. I can knit (badly) but chose to needlepoint. We like to hang out at the coffee shop with our crafts.
Keep STitching,
Janet
Is needlepoint a valid embroidery medium? Let me take a minute to sharpen the edges if my scissors…Perhps for Mr. XStitch it is not a embroidery medium that he enjoys doing, but needlepoint is a varied as the stitchers who do it. Suspect there are just as many individuals who might argue that Counted cross Stitch is just a bunches of ‘xs ‘ on a fabric. What about the stamped embroidery and cross stitch I did as a child? Should I be embarrassed about the projects I worked on? Suspect Mr. XStitch is enjoying playing Devil’s Advocate and watching for others to respond. Perhaps we need to obtain his address and send him lots of wonderful needlepoint projects to work on…
Although I can understand an individual feeling that other needlework skills are not as creative, that is a big error. Whether it is Needlepoint, Cross Stitch, Crewel, Pulled Thread, Hardanger or Embroidery, we can be as creative as we like. Perhaps he should visit a museum and look at some of the samples of needlepoint on display. He would be amazed at their beauty using simple yarn and just a pettipoint stitch.
The one time I was offended by the comments of a needleworker was about 10 years ago when I visited a local needlepoint store. I was working on a large counted cross stitch piece and wanted to insert a variety of metallic and shiny threads and had brought in the piece to see how the colors would work. Recall that the saleswoman mentioned, “Counted cross stitch? That is not as elegant as needlepoint.” Err,, huh? Fortunately, the owner did not come out and say that she agreed with her. I still would have hoped that the owner would have said something positive for no other reason other than I was a customer with a credit card in my hand. Like so many others, I love a variety of needlework skills and always love to see what others are working on.
OK, off of my soapbox and back to stitching.
Marlene
Personally, I do not enjoy doing xstitch – I feel it is limiting and takes twice as long as needlepoint! However, I know many women who enjoy it and who create wonderful pieces. I wonder if Mr. Xstitch has seen needlepoint done on 40 count silk gauze or linen?! Perhaps he should be invited to attend an ANG exhibit! I just returned from the ANG seminar in Anaheim, CA, and the exhibit was wonderful – so much creativity!
There is no real need to debate with someone who mustn’t be entirely familiar or educated regarding the unlimited artistic creativity of Needlepoint Art. A browse through the work on Needlepoint Nation on Facebook would suffice. There is a recent photo, posted December 4, of a Santa with a horse in cream and blues that is indisputably a work of art. I have a few cross stitch pieces going as well because it isn’t particularly challenging or engaging – as long as I remember to count correctly! But Needlepoint – open the door to a limitless world of stitches, blending, fibers, artists’ canvases, AND learning. Something else I love about Needlepoint – seeing the same canvas completed by different people interpreting the work and applying their ideas for stitches, fibers, and colors. As I said — nothing to debate or prove.
Hi Janet,
Thank you for all you do to promote needlepoint! I read your blog daily.
In my humble opinion, stitching is stitching , is stitching, whether you needlepoint cross stitch, knit or whatever suits you. It’s not a creativity contest, I paint and stitch my own needlepoint. I used to get aggravated at comments like Mr. X Stitch made until I heard the Queen of them all! One day a woman was looking at a piece I’d stitched and said if I didn’t stitch my painted canvas, I could be an artist, why didn’t I just paint on regular canvas? Apparently my stitching wasnt worth the effort. I was dumfounded. To me figuring out how to interpret the canvas and stitch it is much more difficult and much more fun than the painting! Thanks for letting me put my two cents in!
I think Mr. Xstitch is living in the dark ages. There is so much you can do with needlepoint now and I wish I could do it!!!! He, of course, has the right to his opinions . If doing embroidery makes people happy that’s what matters.