Key Points
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Embroidery is the umbrella term: all about decorating fabric with stitches.
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Crewel is a type of embroidery using wool thread on linen.
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Needlepoint is more structured, worked on canvas with counted stitches.
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They all use needles and thread—but differ in materials, techniques, and vibes.
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You can start with something simple, like aZenera Embroidery Kit
I Thought They Were All the Same Thing (Oops)
So I once confidently told someone I was “really into crewel” when I was, in fact, doing regular embroidery on an old pillowcase using six-strand floss. They nodded politely. I later Googled it and discovered I’d been pretending to do a 17th-century wool craft when I was just stabbing fabric in a semi-decorative way.
Let this be your gentle nudge that you’re not alone if these terms confuse the thread out of you.
Embroidery: The Big Umbrella of Stitching Joy
Let’s start here.
Embroidery is basically the general category for anything involving a needle, thread, and decorative stitches on fabric. That includes:
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Simple line work
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Decorative florals
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Complex illustrative pieces
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Yes, even crewel and needlepoint (sort of)
You can use different types of thread (cotton, silk, metallic), a wide range of fabrics, and any stitch you like. It’s the free-spirited cousin who shows up with a basket of floss and an open mind.
Popular styles under the embroidery umbrella:
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Surface embroidery (like what’s in most beginner kits)
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Modern illustrative embroidery
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Free-form or abstract
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Monogramming or lettering
And yes, that very chill floral hoop you saw on Pinterest? Embroidery.
Crewel: The Grandma Wool Witch of the Family
Crewel embroidery is very specific. It’s:
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Done with wool thread (called crewel wool)
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Worked on tightly woven linen or linen twill
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All about textured, decorative surface stitches (think Jacobean leaves and medieval birds)
Crewel work has this cool historical energy—imagine something hanging in a castle that smells faintly of lavender and mothballs, but in a good way.
Unlike cross-stitch or needlepoint, crewel isn’t “counted”. It’s still free-form, like embroidery, but with thicker thread and more drama.
Stitches you’ll often see:
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Long and short stitch
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Split stitch
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French knots (obviously)
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Satin stitch, but chunky
Vibe check: If embroidery is a soft indie playlist, crewel is folk rock with harp interludes.
Needlepoint: The Graph Paper Perfectionist
Needlepoint is a whole other beast. It’s still needle and thread, but:
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Worked on stiff open-weave canvas (usually mesh or plastic)
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Uses counted stitches, often from a printed or gridded pattern
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Focuses more on filling the entire surface rather than floating designs on fabric
You stitch in rows, squares, and geometric precision. No freewheeling leafy swirls unless it’s on the chart.
Common projects:
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Tapestry-like wall hangings
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Cushions, eyeglass cases, ornaments
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Monograms and geometric motifs
Typical stitches:
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Tent stitch
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Basketweave
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Continental stitch
Important: It’s not cross-stitch (which uses Xs). Needlepoint is often diagonal and covers every inch of canvas like a thready mosaic.
Vibe check: If embroidery is your artsy friend who journals in watercolor, needlepoint is their spreadsheet-loving sibling who color-codes everything but still lowkey crochets during Zoom calls.
Let’s Get Tangential for a Second
One time, I tried to combine all three. It was... chaos. I had cotton floss, crewel wool, and needlepoint canvas, and I stitched a sad-looking mushroom cat hybrid. It was structurally unsound, but I framed it anyway. He lives on my wall now. I call him Sir Thistlefang.
Anyway, this is just to say: you can play with all of these. The rules are real, but also made up. Kind of like horoscopes.
How to Know Which One’s Right for You
Choose Embroidery If You:
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Love variety and want to experiment
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Want to stitch modern designs, florals, or quotes
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Like the idea of hand-stitching on clothes or gifts
Try Crewel If You:
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Love historical or botanical vibes
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Want rich texture and chunky drama
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Don’t mind a little fiber fuzz
Go for Needlepoint If You:
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Enjoy counted patterns and clean structure
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Like to fill the whole canvas (completion satisfaction!)
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Want to stitch while half-watching a Netflix documentary
But Honestly—Just Start Somewhere
You don’t need to commit to a full wall hanging or a Jacobean unicorn tapestry.
Start with a small kit, like the aZenera Embroidery Kit. It’ll teach you the basics, give you some early wins, and let you decide whether you’re more of a wool-loving crewel soul or a pattern-stitching needlepointer.
They’re All Cousins
Embroidery, crewel, and needlepoint each bring something different to the hoop.
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One’s expressive and free
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One’s textured and historic
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One’s geometric and satisfying
And guess what? You can totally do all of them. Just maybe not on the same mushroom-cat project unless you’re emotionally prepared.
Get yours now on azenera.com or #Amazon. Ships worldwide.
