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Embroidery is so
much a part of our lives that we may not even notice
it. However, when a shirt or skirt features fancy
stitching, when a baseball cap has a stitched logo,
or when a sweater is monogrammed, embroidery is the
cause. Granted, this kind of embroidery is done by
machine, but beautiful stitching is also possible
through the age-old art of hand embroidery.
Hand embroidery, of one kind or another, is
thousands of years old. It was used in Ancient Egypt
to decorate the hems of royal robes, in tapestries
in the Middle Ages, and in ladies?samplers during
the Colonial and Victorian eras. It continues as an
art form today. Many people are familiar with
counted cross stitch ?a cousin to hand embroidery
?and it seems that counted cross stitch has nearly
eclipsed it. However, there are many people who
still love to work hand embroidery, and it decorates
wall hangings, pillowcases, quilts and table
runners.
Hand embroidery differs from counted cross stitch in
that it uses many different types of stitches to
achieve texture and interest, whereas counted cross
stitch uses a single stitch and relies on color and
shading for texture. Counted cross stitch is worked
from a graph, where the printed design is rendered
as a series of X’s and the artist stitches the
design accordingly. Embroidery designs may be
stamped or drawn on the material, or they can be
done freehand. Embroidery uses embroidery floss and
an embroidery needle, which has a slightly larger
eye but is still sharp.
Five stitches form the basis for hand embroidery.
There are more, but an artist who learns these five
can work 95 percent of the kits available. The
stitches are: outline, satin, lazy daisy, cross and
French knot. The outline stitch is a running stitch
that, as the name implies, outlines a design. The
satin stitch fills in open areas with closely worked
stitches that give the appearance of satin. A lazy
daisy makes small flower petals, while the basic
cross (X) stitch also fills in open areas, or forms
designs. The French knot is used to suggest small
dots, such as eyes, pebbles, flower centers, and so
on.
A beginner in hand embroidery should start with a
small design that uses mostly outline, cross and
lazy daisy stitches. These are the easiest stitches
to master. The item may use satin stitch, but it
should only be in small areas. Veteran embroiderers
may want to tackle a project that is made mostly
from satin stitch, but this is strictly for those
who have mastered it. Satin stitch is simple enough
in theory, but making it look smooth and shiny, with
no gaps or uneven stitches, takes a while to master.
Many craft books on needlework are available. They
will give instructions for the five basic stitches,
and others as well. Community education classes may
also be available and instructions for the basic
five stitches are even available on the Internet.
Kits are available in any craft store.
Hand embroidery is a beautiful art that almost
anyone can learn. It is an art that should be
preserved and well worth learning.
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