Styles of Embroidery
Embroidery styles range from the simple needle-stitch to gold thread works of art. Embroidery, which is the art and skill of sewing designs onto a base fabric, tends to be grouped by how the base fabric is used. The embroidery style utilized, which is the method of stitching, gets categorized by how the stitch is inserted into the base fabric.
Simpler embroidery styles
Free embroidery involves a creative streak, installing and placing designs arbitrarily. There is no conscious matching of the design to the direction of the base fabric weave. Chinese embroidery on clothes and banners represent an example of this approach. Counted-thread embroidery utilizes multiple stitches following a pattern of thread number that is pre-calculated. For beginners, this type of embroidery tends to be easier as it follows a set structure. It also tends to be applied more commonly on base fabric with an even weave such as that found in canvas or linen materials. Common examples of counted-thread embroidery include needle point and counted-stitch projects.
Fancy styles like reticella or goldwork embroidery
Cutwork embroidery involves embroidery on a base cloth or fabric where pieces of the design are then cut away. Common examples of cutwork embroidery involve doilies and table placements for a decorative cloth layer on dining table or side table. The work tends to be white on white in many types of embroidery projects, but colored cutwork embroidery and related stitching can easily be used as well. Reticella, otherwise known as Italian cutwork embroidery, tends to be the most famous of this format. Goldwork embroidery is so-named due to the metal thread involved in the production of the fabric and design. Silver, gold, and even copper can be used in the fabrication. Using a specialized stitch, the metal thread is interwoven into a base fabric, making intricate designs in pillows, cloths, mats, and furnishings. Today, goldwork embroidery is expensive to purchase as the skill involved requires hours of development to be adequate.
Copyright: Jörg Stumpf – Fotolia
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