Roland-Designs

Preserving our needlework heritage

 Berlin woolwork

Berlin woolwork

Berlin woolwork embroidery originated in Germany and had its height of popularity in the early to mid 1800's, it was traditionally worked in tent stitch with wool, on canvas.


The earliest patterns were delicately handpainted on a printed grid, each little square representing one stitch. Later on the quality dropped significantly  with patterns being mass produced, or cheaply printed as lithographes.


The popularity for Berlin woolwork ended around the time of the Arts and crafts movement. 


Naturally the patterns will look just as lovely if stitched in cross stitch on aida, or linen even weave. If you feel adventurous why not add a little variety and texture to your stitching by adding seed beads, details in silk floss, or work some highlights in  petit points just like ladies did in the Victorian era.


At Roland-designs we do quality reproductions of those antique patterns, the charts are re-charted by hand one square at a time to ensure the best possible results.


Some of the patterns are in very bad conditions (ripped, faded, missing corners, etc...), so we do sometime have to fix a little here-and-there, while staying  as true as possible to the original design.