Produced commercially in Berlin in the early 19thC using wool that was for the first time coloured with aniline dies, producing characteristic strong, durable colours. These brightly coloured floral and geometric designs were worked for chair coverings, stools, cushions and for very ambitious floor rugs and table covers.
* The canvases are worked in cross stitch. They were originally plain and the patterns copied from hand-painted charts; today of course they are pre-printed, which makes life very much easier. Being more useful perhaps, they took over in part from the samplers, which all middle class children were once required to spend their time stitching.
* Although usually workedwith tapestry wools, other yarns, including silk, chenille beads, embroidery threads and wool of all plies (see ply) are used in more advanced stitchwork and designs.
* Elizabeth Bradley’s Berlin wool work kits for cushions have graced many a country house sofa.