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This kind of work produced very durable and long-lived pieces of embroidery that could be used as furniture covers, cushions, bags, or even on clothing.
Berlin wool work patterns in colour were first published in Berlin, Germany, early in the 19th century. The first Berlin wool paterns were printed in black and white on paper and then hand-coloured. The stitcher was expected to draw the outlines on the canvas and then stitch following the colours on the pattern. But soon it became usual to publish counting patterns on charted paper, much like our cross-stitchCross-stitch is a popular form of counted-thread embroidery in which X-shaped stitches are used to form a picture. Other stitches are also commonly used in cross-stitch, among them, 1/4, 1/2 & 3/4 stitches and backstitches. Cross-stitch is usually execute patterns today. This made it easier to execute these patterns, because there was no need for translating the patterns into actual wool colors by the stichers themselves. They were published as single sheets mostly, which made them affordable for the masses.
Soon they were exported to BritainThe word Britain is used to refer to the United Kingdom (UK): i. the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (from 1927), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ( 1801- 1927) or the United Kingdom of Great Britain ( 1707- 1801). and the USA, where "Berlin work" became a craze. Indeed, Berlin work became practically synonymous with canvas work.
In Britain, Berlin work received a further boost through the Great Exhibition of 1851, and by the advent of ladies' magazines such as The Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine.
The popularity of Berlin work was due largely to the fact that, for the first time in history, a fairly large number of women had leisure time to devote to needleworkNeedlework is another term for the handicraft of decorative sewing and textile arts. Anything that uses a needle for construction can be called needlework. The definition is often expanded to include craft using a long and thin tool, such as crochet hook.
Subjects to be embroidered were influenced by VictorianJune 20, 1837) gave her name to the historic era. The Victorian Era of Great Britain is considered the height of the British industrial revolution and the apex of the British Empire. It is often defined as the years from 1837 to 1901, when Queen Victoria RomanticismRomanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in late 18th century Western Europe and stressed strong emotion, imagination, freedom from classical correctness in art forms, and rebellion against social conventions. It followed the and included Victorian paintings, biblicalThe Bible (From Greek βιβλια biblia meaning "books", which in turn is derived from βυβλος byblos meaning "papyrus", from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos which exported papyrus) or allegorical motifs, and quotations such as "Home Sweet Home" or "Faith, Hope, Love".
Later in the 19th century, Berlin work was superseded by William Morris and his Arts and Crafts movement.
In the 1850s to 1870s, the demand for Berlin wool work decreased dramatically, largely because the taste of the populace had changed, and the publishers failed to accomodate Berlin work to new tastes. Other, less opulent styles of embroidery became more popular.