Grids were printed on paper or card and then designs were hand painted onto the grids following a pre-determined pattern. Later these designs were machine printed. These pre-printed patterns made it easier for embroiderers to work a wide range of designs. The advent of these charts and style of embroidery also saw developments in a wide range of canvases, materials such as aida, and related techniques such as tramming. The influence of Berlin wool work and indeed many designs can still be found at the beginning of the twenty-first century in commercial canvas embroidery kits.
See also the digital TRC exhibition, Berlin Work Charts (TRC, Leiden, 2018).
Sources:
- PROCTOR, Molly G. (1986). Victorian Canvas Work: Berlin Wool Work, B.T. Batsford Ltd., London.
- www.needlepoint.org/Archives/01-01/berlinwork.php (retrieved 6 June 2016)
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