(pronounced KRU-ehl)

“Don’t be cruel…to a heart that’s true…” No, Elvis did not get to the top of the charts singing about “crewel,” a loosely twisted, one- or two-ply worsted wool yarn used for embroidery. “Crewel fabric” is created when colorful crewel yarn is embroidered on plain weave fabric, adding a great deal of texture to what started out as a very ordinary material. The highly detailed and artistic “crewelwork” is typically a design motif utilizing outlines of flowers, vines, and leaves. Modern weaving technology can create traditional crewel looks with only weave effects and no actual embroidery.