HOW MANY TYPES OF EMBROIDERY ARE THERE?

If you’re new to needlepoint, you may come across a lot of unfamiliar phrases at first. Today, on this Beginner’s Guide to Five Types of Embroidery, we’ll go over the five major types you’re likely to come across in your needlework exploration: blackwork, whitework, stumpwork, cross stitch, and crewel embroidery. You’ll discover what these phrases imply, the history behind them, and how to learn and master the embroidery methods that fall into each category.

1. Black work

Black threads on white fabric were traditionally used in both surface stitchery and numbered work in blackwork embroidery. It has been considered as a counted thread embroidery since the 1920s, generally created with black thread on a light background. This method fills design units with recurring geometric patterns. Reversible blackwork is a specific method in which the embroidery is worked in the double running thread so that the underside has the same, or a similar, stitch pattern. This style of black work is also known as Holbein embroidery.

2. White work

Whitework refers to any embroidery that is colorless and done with white, unbleached cotton, or linen thread. Whitework is classified into several kinds, the most common of which being coarse work and fine work. Cutwork, Mountmellick, Hardanger, old hedebo, and reticello are examples of coarse whitework embroidery methods. Ayreshire, Carrickmacross, chikan work, Dresden work, and shadow work appliqué are some examples of exquisite whitework.

Early instances of whitework originate from the 15th century, while documents indicate that it was created earlier. Many of these techniques were employed to adorn household linens or construct religious objects such as altar cloths and church vestments throughout China, India, and most of Europe.

3. Stump work

Stumpwork, sometimes known as raised embroidery, is a modern word for high-relief silk and metal thread embroidery that is distinguished by certain motifs and standards. Some believe that authentic stumpwork embroidery must include representations of one or more persons. Bullion, bullion embroidery, cabinet, casket, cotton wool, embossed (emboss) work, embroidery on the stamp, figures, jewels, krinkle, mica, mirror surround, needlepoint, padding, paillette, pearls, purls, raised embroidery, rococo, sequin, slip, spangle, symbolism, vellum, wire frames, wooden mould are all terms associated with stumpwork embroidery. Stumpwork employs nearly every stitch in the needlework lexicon.

4. Cross stitch

As the name suggests, this technique employs two stitches that cross one another in a diagonal pattern. The cross stitch is a basic embroidery stitch that has been worked by embroiderers all over the world. It has been discovered in ancient Chinese and Near Eastern embroideries. Its simple elegance is comprised of points that form a perfect square. Cross stitch embroidery is separated into two techniques: one that is counted on evenweave cloth and the other that is worked on fabric with the stitches printed on it. Counted cross stitch designs are created using a chart or graph, with each square on the paper representing a cross stitch.

Bottom line:

Embroidery is the craft or skill of embellishing fabric with thread and needle. Embroidery techniques are now commonly utilized to display custom artwork, names, and logo designs of organizations, clubs, and other businesses. Counted thread embroidery, whitework technique, candle wicking embroidery, shadow work embroidery, and many more are examples of machine-driven and Custom Embroidery processes. Let’s take a quick look at several embroidery techniques.