Needlework technique using ribbon

Abstract

There is disclosed a technique analogous to needlepoint employing a ribbon and a needlework canvas. The ribbon is worked through the mesh openings of the canvas to lay a multiplicity of flat untwisted sections along perpendicular axes to completely cover the canvas between suitable margins.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of making a needleworked ribbon piece on a needlework canvas having a front, a back and a multiplicity of equally spaced 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 axis;   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 axis for completely covering the canvas front between margins of the piece;   the steps including juxtaposing, inside the margins, four sides of each first section to a side of a different second section,   juxtaposing, inside the margins, four sides of each second ribbon section to a side of a different first section; and     securing the ribbon ends to the piece.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first steps comprise repeatedly passing a ribbon end through first mesh openings to the canvas front then to the canvas back through second mesh openings spaced from the first mesh openings along the x axis by at least one intermediate x axis mesh opening;   repeatedly manipulating the ribbon to lay the first flat untwisted sections across the intermediate x axis openings in the direction of the x axis; and   tensioning the first sections.   
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein the second steps comprise repeatedly passing a ribbon end through third mesh openings to the canvas front then to the canvas back through fourth mesh openings spaced from the third mesh openings along the y axis by at least one intermediate y axis opening;   repeatedly manipulating the ribbon to lay the second flat untwisted sections across the intermediate y axis mesh openings in the direction of the y axis; and   tensioning the second sections.   
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of repeatedly passing the ribbon end across the intermediate x axis mesh openings comprises repeatedly passing the ribbon end through the first mesh openings to the canvas front then to the canvas back through second mesh openings spaced from the first mesh openings along the x axis by a single intermediate x axis mesh opening.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of repeatedly passing the ribbon end across the intermediate y axis mesh openings comprises repeatedly passing the ribbon end through the third mesh openings to the canvas front then to the canvas back through fourth mesh openings spaced from the third mesh openings along the y axis by a single intermediate y axis mesh opening.   
     
     
       6. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of repeatedly passing the ribbon end across the intermediate x axis mesh openings comprises passing the ribbon end through the first mesh opening to the canvas front then to the canvas back through the second mesh opening spaced from the first mesh opening along the x axis by a single intermediate x axis mesh opening, and   twisting the ribbon on the back of the canvas and passing the ribbon end through a first mesh opening adjacent the last mentioned intermediate x axis opening and spaced therefrom along the y axis to the canvas front then to the canvas back through a second mesh opening spaced from the first mesh opening along the x axis by a single intermediate x axis opening.   
     
     
       7. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of repeatedly passing the ribbon end across the intermediate x axis mesh openings comprises passing the ribbon end through the first mesh opening to the canvas front then to the canvas back through the second mesh opening spaced from the first mesh opening by a single intermediate x axis mesh opening, and then   passing the ribbon end through a first mesh opening adjacent the last mentioned second mesh opening and spaced therefrom along the x axis to the canvas front through a second mesh opening spaced from the first mesh opening along the x axis by a single intermediate x axis opening.   
     
     
       8. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of repeatedly passing the ribbon end across the intermediate x axis mesh openings comprises repeatedly passing the ribbon end through the first mesh openings to the canvas front then to the canvas back through second mesh openings spaced from the first mesh openings along the x axis by a multiplicity of intermediate x axis mesh openings.   
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of repeatedly passing the ribbon end across the intermediate y axis mesh openings comprises repeatedly passing the ribbon end through the third mesh openings to the canvas front then to the canvas back through fourth mesh openings spaced from the third mesh openings along the y axis by a multiplicity of intermediate x axis mesh openings, including   alternately passing the ribbon end over and under the first ribbon sections.   
     
     
       10. 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.   
     
     
       11. The needlework piece of claim 10 wherein the ribbon repeatedly extends from the front surface of the canvas to the rear surface thereof within the margins of the piece. 
     
     
       12. The needlework piece of claim 10 wherein the entrance and exit openings of at least some of the first ribbon sections are at least partially covered by adjacent second ribbon sections. 
     
     
       13. The needlework piece of claim 10 wherein each ribbon section spaced interiorly of the margins extending in the direction of one axis being wholly .[.boarded.]. .Iadd.bordered .Iaddend.by four ribbon sections extending in the direction of the other axis. 
     
     
       14. The needlework piece of claim 10 wherein the first and second mesh openings are spaced apart by a multiplicity of intermediate openings. 
     
     
       15. The needlepoint piece of claim 14 wherein the third and fourth mesh opening are spaced apart by a multiplicity of intermediate openings. 
     
     
       16. The needlepoint piece of claim 14 wherein the third and fourth mesh openings are spaced apart by a single intermediate opening. 
     
     
       17. The needlepoint piece of claim 10 wherein the first and second mesh openings are spaced apart by a single intermediate opening. 
     
     
       18. The needlepoint piece of claim 10 wherein the third and fourth mesh openings are spaced apart by a single intermediate opening. .Iadd. 19. 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. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20.  A method according to claim 19 wherein at least selected x-axis and y-axis ribbon sections extend through the same length, the intermediate and the exit openings for one ribbon section of a given type being alongside respectively the entry and the intermediate openings for the adjacent ribbon section of the same type on one side, and the entry and an intermediate opening for said one ribbon section being alongside respectively the intermediate and exit openings for the adjacent ribbon section of the same type on the other side, whereby said ribbon sections of each type are disposed in diagonal rows with respect to the x and y axes of the canvas. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. A method according to claim 20 wherein each of said selected ribbon sections is passed across a single intermediate opening between its entry and exit openings. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. A method according to claim 21 wherein said selected y-axis ribbon sections in one diagonal row utilize as y-axis entry openings the x-axis intermediate openings for the selected x-axis ribbon sections in a diagonal row adjacent thereto. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 23. A method according to claim 21 wherein said selected x-axis ribbon sections in one diagonal row utilize as x-axis entry openings the y-axis intermediate openings for the selected y-axis ribbon sections in a diagonal row adjacent thereto. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 24. 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. .Iaddend.