Needlepoint is a form of counted thread embroidery in which yarn is stitched through a stiff open weave canvas. Most needlepoint designs completely cover the canvas. Although needlepoint may be worked in a variety of stitches, many needlepoint designs use only a simple tent stitch which rely upon color changes to construct a pattern.

The degree of detail in needlepoint depends on the thread count of the underlying mesh fabric. Needlepoint worked on fine canvas is known as petit point. Due to the inherent stiffness of needlepoint, common uses include wall hangings, pillows, upholstery, holiday ornaments, purses and eyeglass cases.

The roots of needlepoint go back thousands of years to the ancient Egyptians, who used small slanted stitches to sew up their canvas tents. Howard Carter, of Tutankhamen fame, found some needlepoint in the Cave of a Pharaoh who had lived 1500 years before Christ. Modern needlepoint descends from the canvas work in Tent Stitch, done on an evenly woven open ground fabric, that was a popular domestic craft in the 16th century, DEvelopment of needlepoint also got significant contributions from 17th-century Bargello through the shaded Berlin wool work in brightly-colored wool yarn in the 19th CEntury. Upholstered furniture became the fashion in the 17th century, and this prompted the development of a more durable material to serve as a foundation for the embroidered works of art.

Kaffe Fassett (b.1937) is an American-born artist who is best known for his colourful designs in the decorative arts—needlepoint, patchwork, knitting, painting and ceramics. "Colour is his very medium, whatever the substance he uses."

Born 1937 in San Francisco, California, Fassett received a scholarship to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston at the age of 19, but shortly left school to paint in London and moved there to live in 1964.

Fassett's work attracted a considerable following. His work was the subject of a 1988 one-man show at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the first time a living textile artist had such a show there. The show toured nine countries.

Being more concerned with colour and design, Fassett has collaborated with quilter and teacher, Liza Prior Lucy, on the construction side of things since the 1980s. Working as a team has enabled Kaffe to design quilts, fabric, stage sets, and costumes for the Royal Shakespeare Company, while staying engaged in making rag rugs, knitting, tapestries, and mosaics.

Jonathan Adler (born in 1966 in New Jersey, United States) is a Jewish-American designer renowned for his "happy chic" approach to home furnishings and interior design. Adler launched his eponymous line of furniture and accessories in 1993 and began taking interior design clients in 2002.

A potter by trade, Adler sold his first designs to Barneys New York in 1993 and opened his first retail store in Manhattan in 1998. His company has since expanded to include 14 retail stores nationwide, a thriving e-commerce site, and a wholesale business boasting over 1,000 locations worldwide. Adhering to the company motto "If your heirs won't fight over it, we won't make it," Adler has developed a unique style that mixes modernist forms with bold colors and "groovy" graphics. Offerings include decorative objects, tabletop collections, bath accessories, bedding, candles, furniture, rugs, pillows, and lighting.

Adler has partnered with many companies to design products including Lacoste, 7 For All Mankind, Lifeguard Stationery, Steuben, Larson Juhl, Robert Abbey Lighting, and HSN. During Christmas 2010, he collaborated with Starbucks to create a limited edition Ceramic To-Go Cup and Gift Card that benefits (Red) and The Global Fund to improve the lives of those living with HIV.