Some Facts About Embroidery

Embroidery is an art of decorating fabric or other materials by stitching designs using thread or yarn and a needle. Sometimes, other materials such as metal strips, precious and semi-precious stones, and sequins are used to add to this decorative stitching technique.

Hand embroidery involves stitching embroidery designs by hand onto the fabric. This process is time consuming and painstaking but produces amazing results.

The use of embroidery to decorate clothes has been around since man began to wear clothes. A method of decorating and embellishing clothing, embroidered designs came about as a result of hard work and care. Embroidery as an art form has origins that can be traced far back to the Iron Age. This journey began when primitive man discovered that he could use thread to join pieces of fur to make clothes. As a natural progression, he also discovered that the same thread could be used to make decorative patterns on the clothes. He also used colorful beads, stones and bones to add to these decorations.

Several excellent examples of beautiful embroidery work are still surviving till date. Samples can be found from Ancient Egypt, China, Persia, India and England. Each country has its own distinctive style of embroidery, which incorporates the culture and imagery from their history and tradition. Embroidered clothing was also considered to be a symbol of wealth. Many scenes from history are often found embroidered onto fabric.