Needlework technique using ribbon

A needlework piece comprising

• a needlework canvas having a multiplicity of perpendicular strands defining generally identical mesh openings, the strands extending along perpendicular x and y axes and being small relative to the openings;
• and
• a ribbon having a width between 1-2 times the distance between the centers of adjacent parallel strands;
• the ribbon extending through a multiplicity of first mesh entry openings to a multiplicity of front surface positions on the canvas, then to a multiplicity of back surface positions on the canvas through a multiplicity of second mesh exit openings, each first mesh opening being spaced from the second mesh opening by at least one intermediate mesh opening, the first, intermediate and second openings being parallel to one of the axes;
• the ribbon extending through a multiplicity of third mesh entry openings to a multiplicity of front surface positions on the canvas, then to a multiplicity of back surface positions on the canvas through a multiplicity of fourth mesh exit openings, each third mesh opening being spaced from the fourth mesh openings by at least one intermediate mesh opening, the third, intermediate and fourth openings being parallel to the other of the axes;
• the ribbon providing a multiplicity of first and second flat untwisted ribbon sections across the intermediate mesh openings on the front surface of the canvas;
• the first and second ribbon sections being alternately exposed on the canvas front;
• the first and second ribbon sections extending in the directions of the x and y axes respectively and completely covering the canvas front between margins of the piece;
• and
• each ribbon section spaced interiorly of the margins extending in the direction of one axis and being juxtaposed by four ribbon sections extending in the direction of the other axis.

A method of making a needleworked ribbon piece on a needlework canvas having a front, a back and a multiplicity of interconnected strands lying along perpendicular x and y axes and defining a multiplicity of mesh openings, comprising

• first steps for laying up a multiplicity of first flat untwisted ribbon sections on the front of said canvas extending in the direction of the x axes;
• second steps for laying up a multiplicity of second flat untwisted ribbon sections on the front of the canvas extending in the direction of the y axes;
• and
• third steps including securing the ribbon ends to the piece;
• each said first step comprising the passing a ribbon end from the back to the front of said canvas through an x-axis entry mesh opening between pair of adjacent x-axis strands, passing the ribbon end on the front of said canvas across at least one intermediate x-axis opening between said pair of adjacent x-axis strands, and passing the ribbon end from the front to the back of said canvas through an x-axis exit opening between said pair of adjacent x-axis strands beyond said x-axis intermediate opening to provide an untwisted x-axis ribbon section extending between said x-axis entry and exit openings,
• each said second step comprising the passing a ribbon end from the back to the front of said canvas through an y-axis entry mesh opening between pair of adjacent y-axis strands, passing the ribbon end on the front of said canvas across at least one intermediate y-axis opening between said pair of adjacent y-axis strands, and passing the ribbon end from the front to the back of said canvas through an y-axis exit opening between said pair of adjacent y-axis strands beyond said y-axis intermediate opening to provide an untwisted y-axis ribbon section extending between said y-axis entry and exit openings,
• at least some of said x-axis entry and exit openings being y-axis intermediate openings, and at least some of said y-axis entry and exit openings being x-axis intermediate openings, whereby said untwisted x-axis ribbon sections conceal the underlying y-axis entry and exit openings, and said untwisted y-axis ribbon sections conceal the underlying x-axis entry
• and exit openings.

A needlework piece comprising

• a needlework canvas having a multiplicity of perpendicular strands defining mesh openings, the strands extending along perpendicular x and y axes and being small relative to the openings;
• and
• a ribbon having a width between 1-2 times the distance between the centers of adjacent parallel strands;
• the ribbon extending through a multiplicity of first mesh entry openings to a multiplicity of front surface positions on the canvas, then to a multiplicity of back surface positions on the canvas through a multiplicity of second mesh exit openings, each first mesh opening being spaced from its associated second mesh opening along the x-axis by at least one intermediate mesh opening, the first, intermediate and second openings being aligned with the x-axes;
• the ribbon extending through a multiplicity of third mesh entry openings to a multiplicity of front surface positions on the canvas, then to a multiplicity of back surface positions on the canvas through a multiplicity of fourth mesh exit openings, each third mesh opening being spaced from its associated fourth mesh opening along the y-axis by at least one intermediate mesh opening, the third, intermediate and fourth openings being aligned with the y-axes;
• and
• the ribbon providing a multiplicity of x-axis and y-axis flat untwisted ribbon sections across the intermediate mesh openings on the front surface of the canvas;
• said first and second mesh openings for the x-axis sections constituting intermediate openings for the y-axis sections, and said third and fourth mesh openings for the y-axis sections constituting intermediate openings for the x-axis sections.