petit point

American  

[pet-ee] / ˈpɛt i /

noun

1. a small stitch used in embroidery.

2. embroidery done on a canvas backing and resembling woven tapestry.

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petit point British  

/ ˈpɛtɪ ˈpɔɪnt, pəti pwɛ̃ /

noun

1. Also called: tent stitch.  a small diagonal needlepoint stitch used for fine detail

2. work done with such stitches, esp fine tapestry

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Etymology

Origin of petit point

1880–85; < French: literally, small stitch

Example Sentences

John Thomas Paradiso stitches pansies on leather in what looks like petit point.

From New York Times • Feb. 21, 2014

A young Chicago couple stared glumly at their living room wall, where a petit point sampler proclaimed "God Bless Fairchild Camera."

From Time Magazine Archive

Guenever was doing some petit point in the gloomy room, which she hated doing.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

When I went into the sitting room she was already in her chair, her left foot on the footstool, with its petit point cushion, roses in a basket.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

There’s a hard little cushion on it, with a petit point cover: faith, in square print, surrounded by a wreath of lilies. faith is a faded blue, the leaves of the lilies a dingy green.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood