Don't Be Crewel Quiz | Hobbies

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When used as the verb the word that describes this needlework means "to grow together, to unite". As a needlework the yarn is looped together in consecutive rows (typically) using two or more needles. Which needlework is this?

Answer: Knitting

Knitting is described as being very similar to weaving. It produces - either by hand or by machine - a two-dimensional fabric from yarn (or, thread) by looping the thread back into itself with one stitch supporting the next to form a continuous pattern. Knitted fabrics do tend to have more stretch/elasticity than woven fabrics.

As with many arts and crafts it may take years to master the hundreds of different knitting stitches/patterns that are possible for hand knitted items. Combine that with the multitude of yarns available for knitting and the possibilities for projects may reach infinity.

2. This needlecraft is a type of embroidery that may also be called counted-thread embroidery. X-shaped stitches are sewn on a fabric (called the canvas) to form a pattern, design or picture. Which needlework is this?

Answer: Cross stitch

Cross stitch has been called the oldest known form of embroidery and its use can be found in cultures around the world. Many hobbyists enjoy its simplistic method; as mentioned in the question, stitches are made in an X pattern. The consecutive stitches form a design.

A design may be stamped on the canvas or stitches may be counted by following a pattern to form a design on a blank canvas. The work of cross stitch is most often used as an embellishment or decoration rather than as a production of an item.

Its finished work can be extremely intricate and, thus, very beautiful.

3. This form of needlework uses a needle that is most often called a "hook". The name of the craft comes from a French term that means "small hook". The hook is used to form continuous loops of yarn, thread or other material to produce a two-dimensional fabric. What is this needle craft?

Answer: Crochet

Crocheting is a needlecraft that can use a variety of fibers as its material. Often yarn or thread is used but crocheting may be done with wire, twine or (almost) any flexible strung material. Purists of the craft say that - unlike knitting - crocheting is always done by hand, never by machine. What crocheting does have in common with knitting is the endless variety of projects that may be made using it art. Also, as with knitting, it may take years of practice to master the stitches and patterns necessary to make the most beautiful and desirable finished items.

4. An amazing needlecraft art is one used to make lace from thread by connecting a series of loops and knots made from that thread. Some artisans use an instrument called a shuttle rather than a needle when making their lace. What is this needlecraft called?

Answer: Tatting

Those who do tatting also use the terms "chains and rings" (as opposed to "loops and knots") when describing its construction of lace. The lace projects are most often used to decorate the edges of another item but can be made into items such as doilies, collars and necklaces.

It is fascinating to watch those who are adapt at tatting as they count, connect and construct. As mentioned in the question an instrument called a shuttle may be used to hold and guide the thread as the stitches are made. These shuttles have made been made in a variety of sizes and shapes and from a variety of materials. Collecting unusual and/or antique shuttles has become its own - stand alone - hobby.

5. This needlecraft is a form of sewing that may be done by hand or by machine. Typically, two or three layers of fabric are sewn together to produce the desired effect. Its name is synonymous with the blanket-sized items produced by using this technique. What is it?

Answer: Quilting

The exact origin of quilting is unknown but it is known that quilting has been done for thousands of years. Archeologists have discovered quilted items dating back to the Egyptian First Dynasty - or about 3400 B.C. There are many styles of quilting but often it is done by sewing three layers of fabric together - each layer directly on top of the other.

The needle and its thread penetrate all layers in a downward direction and then the thread is brought back through all layers in an upward direction in a continuous stitch.

When there are three layers of fabric, the layers are called top fabric, batting and backing material.

6. This art (or craft) is named for one of the materials necessary for the activity. Using a material is often seen in jewelry and other decorative arts. Although its craft can be accomplished using a variety of skills it can be simply "strung" - one element in line with the other to form a pattern. What is this craft called?

Answer: Beading

The individual elements, i.e., beads, may be hand strung, strung using a needle and thread, woven into fabric using a loom. Beads are often used in the making of any number of jewelry items: earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc. and given their variety of size, color and composition the possibilities are endless. Beads work may also incorporate the use of embroidery to decorate a fabric; again with what would seem an endless capability - everything from a wedding dress to a throw pillow.

There is also an art format called bead weaving with is different from the hand stringing art. With bead weaving, beads are sewn or stitched or woven together to form a pattern that can be used (or, worn) alone or then added to fabric. Bead weaving is done both by hand and by using a loom.

7. One popular needlework art is named for the material onto which the needlework is stitched. The project is completed by following a gridded pattern and sewing stitches onto a blank canvas while following that pattern. The flexibility of the material used allows both two-dimensional and three-dimensional projects to be completed. What is this artwork called?

Answer: Plastic canvas

Most often plastic canvas uses a thick or course yarn that is sewn on a plastic mesh canvas. Very similar to counted cross, the plastic mesh canvas is blank and the artisan must follow a pattern to create the design on that canvas. Flat (i.e., two-dimensional) items like pictures, coasters, table toppers, Christmas tree ornaments, etc. can be made. Flat items can be sewn together to form three-dimensional items like a tissue box, pencil holder, novelty box or hand bag. Truly, there are a multitude of possibilities for projects made from plastic canvas arts.

8. There are several types of needlework that may be referred to, simply, as embroidery. What is the term(s) for the needlework that is distinguished by it flat stiff canvas, its use of a variety of stitches and it is completed by working from a pattern that (typically) fills the entire canvas?

Answer: Needlepoint (or tapestry)

The terms needlepoint and/or tapestry are often used to refer to the same activity or the product of that activity. Needlepoint is one of the decorative arts that evidence has shown was in use as early as the ancient Egyptian civilization. Needlepoint does offer the beginner a simple format - needle, thread, canvas and pattern are all that is really necessary but, as with many arts, it may take years to master all of the stitches (It has been estimated there are over 150 possible stitches of needlepoint!) and other intricacies to produce those tapestries that are truly beautiful, useful and valuable.

9. This needlework was initially done to give elasticity or stretch to basic flat fabric - more functional, less decorative. As materials like elastic and other man-made fibers became common this needlework evolved to more decorative art. Named for the farmer's garment on which it was sewn in its earliest use, what is it called?

Answer: Smocking

In England in the Middle Ages a farmer's work shirt was called a smock. Those who were not of the upper class had little resources for anything other than necessity. Many forms of embroidery and those finished products were reserved for the wealthy. Smocking is a very simple sewing (or, embroidery) technique of gathering the material and sewing those gathers in place to form pleats, thus giving the fabric some stretch and was more often seen on the clothing of the working class.

As with many of the needlework crafts there is a variety of stitches that can be done with a variety of yarns (or, threads) on a variety of fabrics.

As the decorative potential emerged the needlework of smocking evolved to become a hobby (or, luxury) as then became more widely accepted among the upper classes.

10. Although this needlework is an embroidery in its art category it differs from many of the other types of embroidery in that it is NOT a counted stitch work. This one is done by sewing a pattern onto the canvas with one or more types of "free" stitches. Which one is this?

Answer: Crewel embroidery

It is crewel embroidery. As mentioned in the question, the main difference between crewel embroidery and some of the other formats is the variety of stitches that are often used to make the same project. Crewel is most often done with a yarn or yarn-like thread which gives the finished product more texture than may be possible with cross-stitch work. Also, most of the time when sewing crewel embroidery, the artisan will use a frame or embroidery hoop to hold the fabric, to keep the fabric taunt and allow those "free" stitches to be placed exactly right.

It is an art that produces very lovely products; many of which have taken hours and hours to complete.

Source: Author cowboybluedog

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor WesleyCrusher before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Don't Be Crewel Trivia Quiz

With origins that may date back more than one thousand years, crewel embroidery is a needlework craft which uses a variety of stitches to decorate the surface of a fabric. Would you like to learn a bit more about it and other needlework arts?

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