The art of embroidery began thousands of years ago. Early examples can be found all over the world. There is ancient embroidery from Egypt, Northern Europe and China. Where and how it actually began will remain a mystery.
What we do know is that in Europe, embroidery was a status symbol. The use of a needle and thread in order to sew patterns on fabric was a sign of wealth and prosperity. It was considered a woman's work. Many royal and noble ladies spent hours embroidering. They embroidered everything, from tapestries to coats. These wealthy and powerful ladies were often depicted in portraits with their embroidery frame or other tools used for the craft. Many other cultures share Europe's use of embroidery as marking wealth and prestige. Persia, India, Japan and China also have richly embroidered fabrics. These were celebrated cloth and the ones who made them were artisans of high caliber.
Though embroidery began in the dimly remembered past in different regions, there are no variations in the basic stitching. The techniques have been the same since forever. While patterns and materials change according to fashion and availability, the process of adding the stitches remain the same everywhere.
Embroidery can be broadly classified into two types. These types influence the stitching of the fabric. The first type is stitched on top of the fabric. The second type stitches the thread through the fabric. This stitching creates a flat pattern in the material. Some mention another type of embroidery. This third type is more often used in lacemaking. It is called drawn thread. Here, the fabrics are cut and the hole is stitched over with lace or embroidered.
Embroidery uses many different kinds of fabrics and threads. It depends a lot on location. Silk, wool and linen are very popular in embroidery, both as a fabric and a thread. Thy have been used for millennia for that purpose. Modern thread used for embroidery makes use of synthetic materials like rayon. Some have also turned to cotton.
The most important piece of equipment an embroider needs is the embroidery hoop. This is a circular wooden frame. It is composed of two wooden circles that fit each other. A piece of fabric is placed in between the rings and stretches it tightly. The embroidery hoop clamps down on and holds it flat. The hoop helps embroiders a lot.
Another tool for embroidery is an embroidery machine. This is not used by hobbyists however. The machine is part computer and the owner can program it to create a certain pattern. These are usually used to add corporate logos on shirts and other team building apparel.
