The Tools And Materials Of Embroidery

By Author: Ryan Sidebotom
Total Articles: 3
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Embroidery is a handicraft in which needle or thread is used to decorate fabrics or other materials. A characteristic of embroidery is that the basic techniques or stitches of the earliest work—chain stitch, buttonhole or blanket stitch, running stitch, satin stitch, cross stitch—remain the fundamental techniques of hand embroidery today.

There are many kinds of embroidery. And it can be classified according to whether the design is stitched on top of or through the foundation fabric, and by the relationship of stitch placement to the fabric. In free embroidery, for example, designs are applied without regard to the weave of the underlying fabric. Counted-thread embroidery patterns are created by making stitches over a predetermined number of threads in the foundation fabric. Counted-thread embroidery is more easily worked on an even-weave foundation fabric such as embroidery canvas, aida cloth, or specially woven cotton and linen fabrics although non-even weave linen is used as well.

Surface embroidery techniques such as chain stitch and couching or laid-work are the most economical of expensive yarns; couching ...
... is generally used for gold-work. Canvas work techniques, in which large amounts of yarn are buried on the back of the work, use more materials but provide a sturdier and more substantial finished textile. In both canvas work and surface embroidery an embroidery hoop or frame can be used to stretch the material and ensure even stitching tension that prevents pattern distortion.

The fabrics and yarns used in traditional embroidery vary from place to place. Wool, linen, and silk have been in use for thousands of years for both fabric and yarn. Today, embroidery thread is manufactured in cotton, rayon, and novelty yarns as well as in traditional wool, linen, and silk. Ribbon embroidery uses narrow ribbon in silk or silk/organza blend ribbon, most commonly to create floral motifs. Silk Ribbon embroidery is fast becoming popular. Silk ribbon embroidery (commonly called SRE) can be used to embellish lots of things: household items like decorative pillows, book covers, clothing, and even greeting cards.

Much contemporary embroidery is stitched with a computerized embroidery machine using patterns "digitized" with embroidery software. In machine embroidery, different types of "fills" add texture and design to the finished work. Machine embroidery is used to add logos and monograms to business shirts or jackets, gifts, and team apparel as well as to decorate household linens, draperies, and decorator fabrics that mimic the elaborate hand embroidery of the past.

Traditionally, one has had to search in department stores and niche gift shops to find the material to make embroidery. Nowadays, one can find silk ribbon embroidery items at the touch of a button. The internet has made it possible to not only find patterns, ribbons, and other material for your embroidery project; it also offers a wide selection of such products. One is able to compare and contrast different venues and usually buy all the material needed for work. The best thing about all this is that it can be done from the comfort and convenience of one's home.

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