Plainweave

This article is about a type of background cloth for embroidery. For the type of weaving and the corresponding woven fabric, see plain weave.
Embroidered bookbinding on plainweave fabric. Executed by Elizabeth I of England at age 11 in 1544.

In embroidery, plainweave is a technical category of woven base fabrics that are suitable for working certain varieties of embroidery. Plainweave fabrics have a tight weave and individual threads are not readily visible. Surface embroidery may be performed on plainweave, such as crewel work, goldwork, stumpwork, cutwork, and candlewicking.[1]

Embroideries that can be performed on plainweave do not require the crafter to perform stitches at a precise thread count. Most woven fabrics that were not specifically manufactured for the purpose of embroidery qualify as plainweave.[1] Traditionally, linen plainweave is the preferred fabric for crewel embroidery. Other plainweaves suitable for crewel include denim, sailcloth, ticking, and organdy when worked in wool.[2]

  1. ^ a b Reader's Digest (2004), p. 10
  2. ^ Wilson (1973), pp. 15