Embroidery
Embroidery can take many forms, and has a long history as a means of embellishing clothing and household items. Embroidery can be done by hand, by a small home machine, or by very large scale embroidering equipment.
Embroidery is the art or craft of decorating a piece of fabric with designs in thread or yarn, done with a needle. Metal, beads, sequins and other embellishments can be incorporated into embroidery. There are several specific types of embroidery, some of which apply to only hand embroidery, while others can be done by hand or machine.
Free embroidery is worked on the fabric without regard to the weave of the fabric. Traditional Chinese embroidery and crewel work are two examples of this time of embroidery. Counted thread work, including cross stitch and needlepoint, rely upon the threads in the warp and weft of the fabric for structure and design. While counted thread work is often done on evenly woven fabrics with an equal number of warp and weft threads, it does not have to be.
Embroidery is also classified as surface work or canvas work. Needlepoint rugs are an example of canvas work. In canvas work, the stitches entirely cover and obscure the base fabric. In surface work, including machine embroideries, the stitches embellish the base fabric, but do not fully cover it.
While the earliest history of embroidery is not known, we do have extant examples of embroidery from ancient Egypt, the Iron Age, and the Song dynasty in China. In short, people began attempting to embellish cloth with embroidery nearly as soon as they had the tools and technical ability to do so. Embroidery on clothing and household goods has been a mark of status in many historical periods, across cultures.
One of the most famous historical embroideries is the quite inaptly named Bayeux Tapestry, dating to approximately the 1070’s. This massive piece of handwork is not a tapestry at all, but surface embroidery, using techniques akin to modern crewel work. A number of stunning Chinese embroideries have survived centuries, including the tenth century piece found at the Tun Huang, depicting the ten Buddhas.
Embroideries have also embellished clothing, textiles, and household goods in India, Persia, the Byzantine Empire, Vietnam, Korea and many other regions of the world for many centuries. In the west, embroidery has traditionally been a women’s art form, from stunningly elaborate Jacobean embroideries through the charming samplers from 18th and 19th century America, the table linens and pillowcases of the 1950’s and onto a modern revitalization of this longstanding art form. Embroidery has offered a means of both bringing beauty to everyday itxyems and also creating elaborate and exquisite works of art intended for the few as opposed to the many.
Hand embroidery takes several forms popular today. Some of these reflect back on traditional embroidering, while others are new and innovative. Today, you will find hand embroidery supplies sold at many large retailers, as well as at craft, fabric, and specialty stores. Counted cross stitch, elaborate samplers, and free surface embroidery all remain common crafts in today’s marketplace.
Counted cross stitch uses a simple cross stitch to cover large areas of a piece of evenly woven fabric. By and large, counted cross stitch pieces are framed and hung as artwork. Surface embroidery, on the other hand, is much more apt to be used for functional pieces, be they clothing or household linens. Pillowcases, dish towels, aprons and even baby clothes can all be embroidered with surface embroidery by hand.
As a craft, embroidering is easy to learn, very portable, and quite affordable. While counted cross stitch has been the most popular form of hand embroidery for some time, today more and more young women are opting for surface embroidery, choosing fun retro styled elements to decorate clothing, dishcloths, and other goods. Other crafters often use bits and pieces of hand embroidery in their work, embroidering relevant information on quilts, or using small bits in a larger collage.
Home embroidery machines are becoming more affordable and more popular each year. While home machine embroidery is not a particularly inexpensive hobby, it can allow you to do everything from monogram towels and tote bags to creating elaborately detailed and stylish children’s clothing.
There are several things you should be aware of if you are considering purchasing a machine for embroidering. The majority of embroidery machines use a card which holds a number of embroidery designs. Your machine also likely comes with some fonts and designs pre-installed. If you want additional designs to embroider, you will be adding to your initial investment in embroidering. You should know that you will likely be looking at an ongoing expense for new designs, or you will need to purchase a device which allows you to transfer designs from your computer to the data cards used by your embroidery machine. Many sewing machine companies allow you to purchase data cards preloaded with a set range of designs; however, this is less versatile and more expensive than choosing to transfer designs of your own creation or those bought online to a card compatible with your embroidery machine.
Other essential supplies include bobbins, machine embroidery threads, and stabilizer. You may be able to purchase an introductory kit from your dealer to allow you to begin embroidering at once.
Commercial embroidery operations offer large scale embroidery work and are the ideal choice if you need a significant amount of embroidery done. While home embroidery machines embroider only a single item at once, the ones used in commercial applications may be able to embroider a number of items at a single time.
Commercial embroidery shops also provide you with a standard level of embroidering quality. While home embroidery machines may vary, commercial ones provide crisp, durable embroidery. Typically, the embroidery shop can order the goods you need, or blanks. Tee shirts, polo shirts, button down shirts, hats, bags and more are all commonly available at quite affordable prices from a commercial embroidery shop. Your commercial embroidery shop may also be able to help you with the design for your finished embroidery.
Large scale commercial embroidery machines do not use design cards. The design is created in a software application and sent directly from the computer system to the embroidery machine. The garments are stabilized and placed into the embroidery hoops, and the machine begins embroidering. Whether you need a large logo embroidered or simply your business name on your employee’s shirts, embroidering is a great way to spread the word about your company in a stylish and attractive way.
The supplies used for embroidery depend upon whether you are doing hand or machine embroidery. Hand embroidery requires only minimal supplies. A hoop to hold the fabric flat and taut, embroidery threads or floss, and a needle with a sharp point and a smallish eye are all that is required. Hand embroidery floss can be cotton, rayon or silk, and is widely available at many retailers. The base fabric can be as simple as cotton muslin or as lavish as fine silk, or it may be specialty fabric made just for counted thread work. Embroidering by hand remains popular as an easy to carry, fun handcraft.
Machine embroidery requires significantly more in the way of supplies, and the types of threads and stabilizers may depend upon the type of embroidery machine you are using. Typically, when embroidering by machine, a tear away stabilizer is used to give the fabric additional body. Machine embroidery threads are usually rayon or polyester and many people choose to buy thread kits to save on purchasing individual spools. Expect to need a wide variety of colors in order to stitch elaborate embroidered designs. Bobbin thread will also be required. Expect to purchase your machine embroidery supplies from a specialty retailer, either online or in person. Machine embroidering is becoming more popular each year as more and more people purchase home embroidery machines or combination sewing and embroidery machines.
What is to become of hand and machine embroidery? Hand embroidery is currently enjoying growing popularity as a new generation of crafters embraces this traditional art. This is one craft that appears on the rise. It is easy to learn, offers a relaxing pastime in our busy world, and produces decorative and attractive items.
Machine embroidery is becoming more commonplace as well as home embroidery machines become more affordable and more people become comfortable with the computer technology employed in embroidering machines. Whether you sew items for your home or children’s clothing, an embroidery machine can add style and fun to your end product. Some companies now even make machines that sew and embroider, making them a viable choice for the home seamstress or tailor with less to invest in their hobby. Many home embroiders take advantage of their embroidering skills by earning a bit of money on the side embroidering towels, totes and other items.
Commercial embroidery continues to grow as new machines make it more affordable and practical as a marketing tool, for uniforms, and even for advertising materials.
Embroidery has a long history and an equally long future ahead of it. This traditional art form has been reinvented and made available to the masses by technology, but remains a popular form of handwork as well.
Embroidery and embroidering have a number of uses, both personal and commercial. Hand embroidery remains a lovely way to embellish a gift, make a baby’s first gown extra special, or add a one of a kind touch to nearly anything. Vintage styled dishcloths, tablecloths and pillowcases all remain popular today. Machine embroidery is, however, the most common form of embroidering seen today. A trip through any store will reveal many, many garments decorated with embroidery. Embroidering may be used to put a cartoon character on a baby’s pajamas, add a logo to a shirt, or even as an allover fabric design for a tablecloth or pillow.
Many businesses use embroidery to mark their employees’ simple work shirts with a company logo, or the individual’s name. Embroidery can provide a uniform, professional appearance and may allow the use of higher quality materials than some uniform shops offer.
Elaborate embroideries are often found in women’s formalwear, and may be done by hand or machine. While not as common as they once were, delicate embroideries remain a popular choice for formal infant’s attire. Embroidering monograms on linens, towels and other household goods remains popular, and is an ideal wedding gift. Embroidery is so commonplace today that we often do not notice that it is there, thanks to speedier technology and means of machine embroidering. Whether you opt for hand or machine embroidery, embroidery still remains an ideal means of embellishing garments and housewares.
Most people, if they need to have something embroidered, will choose a machine embroider for their needs. You can typically choose between an individual with a home embroidery machine or a larger scale commercial embroidery shop. Hand embroidery may be used for wedding dresses, couture gowns, or baby things occasionally and your local needlework guild may be able to provide a recommendation.
Large orders, for instance, uniform shirts for a business, are best left to commercial embroidery shops. These shops can typically order the blank goods for embroidery quite affordably, and do the work at a fair cost and in a timely fashion. Many such shops also provide embroidery design services, helping you to create an appropriate logo, choose a font, and finalize your overall embroidery project. They may not, however, be a reasonable choice if you only need a few items embroidered.
Small scale projects may well be suited to an individual with a home embroidery machine. Local sewing machine shops often offer a bulletin board with listings of people willing to do monogramming or similar design work. This is an ideal choice if you would like to monogram towels, personalize your child’s sports gear, or other basic embroidery needs.