This project was undertaken together with a group of people on Compuserve who were carrying out a knot garden stitchalong. I had the problem that I did not know what a knot garden was, so when people explained, I went out and researched Renaissance herb gardens, which were normally in a Celtic Knot formation. I eventually found a design which was not too complicated, and transferred that to squared paper and eventually to canvas.
The plan was to stitch the background in tent stitch then to stitch the flowers in crewel over the top, so there was no need for a very fine canvas, and I opted in the end on twelve gauge canvas for the ground. The whole is stitched in Appletons Crewel wool and the needlepoint ground is stitched using three strands. Normally the strands are tweeded to give the impression of, for instance, golden marjoram in the hedges.
The flowers are embroidered on top of the needlepoint ground, in a method which I believe was popularised in the 1970s by Erlca Wilson as crewelpoint. The flowers are copied from the excellent book by Jane Greenoff and Sue Hawkins, 55 Flower Designs, ISBN 0-7153-0237-X. I fear that the flowers are Victorian cottage garden flowers embedded on a bed of Renaissance herb garden - I'm told by one who knows that this approach is eclectic. Who am I to argue!
I should add that since then I have discovered that embroidery knot gardens don't have too much in common with Renaissance herb gardens, and this does not look too much like an embroidery knot garden. Perhaps those who see it and enjoy it may choose to try and broaden the definition of an embroidery knot garden!
To discuss the contents of this article, or for advice or information about needlepoint, write to me by clicking here.
Copyright © 1996 Robert Tusler
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