crewel

wool yarn

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Last updated

June 25, 2026

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Crewel is a type of worsted wool yarn that is loosely twisted and used for embroidery. This embroidery style, known as crewel work, is characterized by the use of this specific yarn rather than particular stitches. Crewel work typically features designs embroidered on a twill foundation, often made of linen and cotton, or sometimes on pure linen or cotton cloth.12

The fashion for crewel work was particularly prominent in England and its American colonies during the 16th and 17th centuries. Designs were often inspired by European pattern books and Indian textiles, such as the "tree of life" motif.1

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crewel work
…two-ply worsted wool yarn called crewel used for embroidering the design on a twill foundation (i.e., linen warp and cotton weft) or sometimes on pure linen or cotton cloth. The initial fashion for crewel work dates from the 16th and, especially, the 17th centuries and was largely centred in England…
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…two-ply worsted wool yarn called crewel used for embroidering the design on a twill foundation (i.e., linen warp and cotton weft) or sometimes on pure linen or cotton cloth. The initial fashion for crewel work dates from the 16th and, especially, the 17th centuries and was largely centred in England…
Read More