Types of hand embroidery. A really large selection of seams and stitches for hand embroidery... it's worth saving! Main types of satin stitch embroidery

To mom

Surely every woman and girl has things in her wardrobe that they have worn only a couple of times, or maybe not worn at all.

Over time, skirts, blouses and other clothes became outdated and went out of fashion. How to give them a second life? There are many ways to make something completely new out of an old one. And one of them is various types of embroidery.

The most famous and popular types of embroidery are cross stitch and satin stitch. Let's find out more about them.

Types of cross stitch

Cross stitching is the simplest and most common method. It has several varieties.

A simple cross stitch - embroidered from right to left, starting at the top and ending diagonally at the bottom. In this case, all stitches should be made in the same direction.

Elongated cross - the technology is the same as in a simple cross. Only here the stitch occupies more than one cell on the canvas.

Rice stitch - large crosses are embroidered on the entire surface of the canvas, each with four threads. Then the stitches themselves are embroidered. They must pass through the four points of the large cross. This is how new crosses are made.

Straight cross - embroider horizontal and vertical stitches.

The “Slavic” cross is the same as the elongated one, only with a slope and crosses.

Types of satin embroidery

Satin stitch is an embroidery technique using dense stitches. It can be two-sided or one-sided.

Double-sided satin stitch - the embroidered pattern is the same on both the front and back sides.

One-sided satin stitch - the wrong side is radically different from the front side.

Decorative satin stitch embroidery is used mainly for embroidering flowers, leaves, etc. Petals are embroidered from the edge to the center, and leaves are embroidered to the middle, as the veins are arranged.

In verkhoshov embroidery, the front side is embroidered with dense stitches, and the back side is done in the form of dotted lines.

Beads, ribbons, gold or silver threads can be used for embroidery.

It looks very nice. Beads convey all shades. The drawings seem to come to life in your hands. For bead embroidery, a thin fishing line is used, but you can also embroider with regular thread. The main thing is that the beads are the same size, and the needle easily passes through the holes of the beads.

Gimp embroidery - this technique uses exclusively gold or silver threads. They can be replaced with lurex or plastic-based threads.

The gimp itself is attached to the fabric using thread in one of three possible ways. It can be attached like beads by threading a thread through small pieces of thread. You can stretch the gimp and thread a thread through it, and then attach it to the fabric in several more places. The rigid gimp needs to be stretched and sewn to the fabric with small stitches, but there is no need to thread the thread through it.

Ribbon embroidery is the easiest technique of all types of embroidery. It does not require particularly scrupulous execution and provides the opportunity to realize the flight of your imagination in needlework.

The article lists only the most famous types of embroidery. But her techniques continue to develop and improve. You can learn more about the types of embroidery in special literature for needlewomen.

The traditions and culture of the people pass through the centuries through embroidered canvases. Embroidery is a fascinating activity that continues to be popular today. Embroidery, like love, suits all ages. Young and old are captivated by the process, the result of which amazes the imagination and pleases with incredible beauty. Embroidery is equal to painting - the possibilities of self-expression are not limited. And in modern terms, it is also a relaxing anti-stress activity. Perseverance and concentration will seem burdensome to many, but as soon as you make the first stitches, your thoughts change dramatically.

But few people know how many embroideries and techniques there are, about their richness and diversity:

  • cross;
  • ribbons;
  • smooth surface;
  • Italian Assisi;
  • Richelieu;
  • beads;
  • in Brazilian;
  • golden royal embroidery;
  • soutache;
  • handarger;
  • diamond

Let's look at all types of embroidery in more detail.

Cross

Cross stitch is one of the oldest techniques, dating back to the origins of weaving. The coarse fabric was one color, and cross stitching made it more pleasing to the eye.

This technique is simple and straightforward. One evening is enough to learn how to embroider crosses. One caveat - it is important to sew stitches in one direction. The process is simple, but you will have to use the diagram and keep track. In the diagrams, the drawing is divided into squares (pixels). Schemes can be purchased and created independently on a PC. The canvas for work comes in different colors, and the size of the cells is different (i.e., as a result, the crosses will be large or very small - this is influenced by the chosen canvas). As for threads, you can use cotton, silk or wool. To add special highlights and mother-of-pearl to the picture, you can take floss with lurex.

Ribbons

The technique of embroidery with ribbons is at the peak of popularity today. But to call it new would be wrong - it has been known since ancient times, but the limited materials have led this type of embroidery to temporary oblivion. But modern needlewomen have revived this art. For embroidery, choose ribbons of various thicknesses made of satin, silk or delicate organza. The subjects are mostly floral. Flowers on canvases with ribbon embroidery seem alive. This technique looks unique on clothes.

Surface

Beautiful, spectacular, and, rightfully, the most picturesque embroidery - satin stitch. A needlewoman needs extraordinary experience to create a masterpiece. A voluminous pattern shimmering in different colors will decorate any textile. You don't need a diagram for this type of needlework. The contour drawing is applied to the working canvas, and its voids are filled with threads. Accuracy, a sense of color combinations and mastery of different types of seams are the most important tasks for the master.

Italian Assisi

Holbein stitch combined with a cross stitch is an Assisi technique that appeared in the Italian town of the same name. The work is done with threads of the same color using counted crosses (elongated or regular). The main difference between this technique is that it is not the pattern that is sewn up, but its background. This stylish and sophisticated technique has not lost its popularity among modern needlewomen, thanks to its simplicity. In addition, working with a single color thread speeds up the painstaking process of creating a masterpiece.

Richelieu

The cutwork technique is based on satin stitch embroidery. A distinctive feature is that only one color is used. The difficulty is punctures and cutting through the fabric according to the design, and further careful processing of the edges. The result of this work is very similar to lace - openwork, light and elegant.

Richelieu is not a complicated process, but it is labor-intensive. To begin with, the selected special pattern or design is transferred to the fabric (the lines must be straight, and future cuts must be correctly distributed - take this into account if you want to draw the design yourself). Next, each element is embroidered using stitches using the satin stitch technique. The final stage is cutting holes and finishing the edges. Clarity and confidence of movements are the key to an impeccable result.

Clothes decorated with elements embroidered using the cutwork technique look impeccable.

Beads

Freshwater pearls today have become an archaism. Instead, modern needlewomen have chosen glass beads - beads. Bead paintings are unique, magical canvases that will not leave anyone indifferent. The essence of the technique is to sew beads of a certain color to the canvas. Chaosity is inappropriate here, and therefore you will have to use patterns that are no different from patterns for cross stitch. Bead by bead, square by square - and soon you will get an incredibly beautiful result. Hand beading of handbags, wallets, and belts looks flawless and expensive. By the way, it is better to choose threads that are strong and match the color of the fabric.

In Brazilian

Brazil is famous not only for its carnival. In the vastness of this country, the most exotic type of embroidery originated. The result of using the Brazilian embroidery technique is a three-dimensional pattern of elements. Each one is created from special twisted threads using a needle. Sometimes it seems that this is not embroidery at all, but an ornament crocheted with the finest crochet. The interweaving of artificial silk threads is revealed by intricate lace petals.

Golden royal embroidery

The name speaks for itself. And if today needlewomen work very carefully and scrupulously with metallized threads, then craftswomen in the eleventh century had to work with the thinnest and very fragile metal threads. Monastery embroiderers decorated velvet and woolen fabrics with magnificent gold patterns. Note that they had to work with pure gold. The fabric was not stitched with gold threads. Using other threads, thin wires of metal were sewn onto the fabric, creating intricate patterns. There is no need to talk about high demands on craftswomen.

Soutache

The principle of this embroidery is similar to gold embroidery. But the process is simplified by the fact that the decorative cord used in the technique is more pliable to work with. In addition, in the middle of such a cord there is a special groove through which it is sewn onto the canvas. The finished work is practical and does not require special care. This is why soutache embroidery is popular in clothing decoration.

Handarger

It turns out that such an outlandish word is used to describe the ornaments of Norwegian national costumes. The technique originates from Arab countries, but has gained particular popularity in the northern countries. Canvases using the handarger technique combine satin stitch and cross stitch. A geometrically correct pattern is obtained from uniform weaves and counted stitches. Externally, the handarger is similar to hemstitching, only openwork elements are used here in the center, and not along the edges of the product.

Diamond

This technique can easily be called mosaic. After all, the main thing is that a needle is not used here. Elements (colored rhinestones) are laid out on an adhesive base. The principle is similar to cross stitch or beadwork. It is better to varnish the finished canvas or hide it under glass. Such a mosaic is more of a decorative element that does not provide any practical use.

Basic rules for starting any embroidery

We've sorted out the techniques - with the naked eye you can see their similarities and cardinal differences.

But all techniques, without exception, have general rules:

  • hoop - without them it is difficult to hold the fabric correctly and not lose tension (or, conversely, tighten the thread too much);
  • embroidery needle;
  • embroidery threads;
  • for beginning needlewomen, it is better to choose a small plot;
  • buy a ready-made set - it will make it easier to master the basics;
  • excellent lighting (otherwise you risk being left not only without a masterpiece, but also without vision);
  • even if you only have 15 minutes of free time, pick up the needle.

Each embroidered canvas is a work of art. The interior will be transformed, hundreds of ideas for gifts for family and friends will appear, there will be no time for sadness and longing. Handicraft is a world of colors and inexhaustible inspiration.

Literally 10-15 years ago, only old women could see embroidery hoops in their hands, and the valances, pillows, and towels embroidered by our great-great-grandmothers were hidden far away in the closet.

Now the situation has changed - everyone is embroidering, both schoolgirls in home economics classes and young mothers guarding their little ones at the sandbox.

Show business stars and famous athletes publicly declare their passion for embroidery.

Handicraft stores offer ready-made kits that include a drawing diagram and the necessary materials - canvas, threads, needles. It is fashionable to embroider; it is fashionable to decorate not only your home, but also your clothes with embroidery.

Types of embroidery

Traditional cross stitch, known since ancient times, is the most popular. And it is not surprising - this is the simplest type of embroidery, there are only two thread directions - the lower one from corner to corner of the cell, and the upper one crossing it.

If you understand what we are talking about, you are our person, that is, a needlewoman, you have your own “hamster hole”, in which there are stocks of threads-sets-patterns under the general name “I will embroider this”.

This is about cross stitch.

But there are other embroidery options:

  • Satin stitch is not for everyone; experienced craftswomen undertake satin stitch embroidery, and the result is amazingly beautiful voluminous colorful works.
  • Long stitch is a somewhat similar version of satin stitch embroidery, but simpler - the work is carried out in a vertical direction, the stitches are laid next to each other, they only differ, except for the color of the threads, in their length: long-short, they create the effect of volume.
  • Bead embroidery - for it, ready-made bases with a pattern are usually purchased, the craftswoman applies stitches with beads to the design - this gives a volume effect - the shine of the beads emphasizes and highlights the individual elements of the panel.
  • Diamond embroidery - in fact, not really embroidery - small square elements of the future picture are placed on a sticky base with a pattern.

The work also requires accuracy and painstakingness - if you put a square crookedly, it will stick, and it’s difficult to correct the mistake.

But such paintings look impressive - the mosaic elements are usually faceted and shine, shimmering.

There are other embroidery techniques, we have named only the most popular ones. Any technique requires perseverance, painstakingness, and accuracy, so many people take on the job, but not everyone completes it.

But those who once got hooked on embroidery are unlikely to give it up, even if the fashion for needlework passes.

How to distinguish a real needlewoman

A true embroiderer, having mastered the basics, will not stop there. She is no longer satisfied with the proposed sets and patterns - she takes on more complex works over and over again - this is how embroidered copies of famous paintings, portraits made from photographs, and author’s patterns appear.

Look at the photo of the embroidery - it is difficult to distinguish an embroidered picture from a painted one.

Recently, embroidery on clothes has become fashionable - denim jackets are embroidered with a cross or satin stitch - the cross pattern on the back of such a model looks impressive. Embroidery complements jeans, children's clothing, women's blouses, men's shirts - satin stitch embroidery on the shelf near the chest pocket looks voluminous.

Note!

Pillows embroidered by grandmothers are taken out of the closet and decorate the sofas. They are complemented by modern embroidered “thoughts”.

Bags embroidered with a cross and rhinestones complement the modern wardrobe of a stylish lady, and even an evening outfit can be complemented with a hand-embroidered clutch.

Paintings, panels, samplers decorate the walls of apartments. A true embroiderer also pays careful attention to the design: in framing workshops, such embroidered paintings are complemented by a passe-partout, a baguette, turning them into a work of art.

The passe-partout is made single, double, figured, often completed with drawing, as if it were a continuation of the picture. A true needlewoman knows all the subtleties - how best to design embroidery.

Master class on embroidery at home

If you really want, you can achieve perfection in any form of art, and handicraft is also an art.

Japanese craftswomen embroider amazing works with the finest silk threads on silk fabric - probably nothing can compare with them. This is not embroidery - every work is a masterpiece.

Note!

If you want, you too can achieve perfection. In the meantime, here are a few recommendations on how to do your own embroidery.

To get started, choose a simple pattern - it’s better to buy a set with selected threads. The icons on the diagram correspond to the thread numbers indicated in the key to the diagram.

Choose a dense canvas - a soft, loose cross will not turn out smooth if you are just learning the basics of embroidery. Whether or not to hoop the canvas is a matter of habit. It is difficult to embroider by hand - buy a hoop; a stretched canvas will allow you to lay the thread evenly.

Do not make the floss threads long, they will get tangled and the embroidery will turn out ugly. Never make knots - neither at the beginning of work, nor when securing the thread. The canvas stretched into a baguette will not be able to hide unevenness.

How to start a thread - there are different ways, choose the one that is convenient for you. Often a small end of thread is left on the back of the work, and then during the embroidery process it is passed under the threads of the crosses. And the wrong side will remain neat, and the thread will hold tightly. The thread is also secured at the end of the work - under the threads.

Note!

Embroider by guiding the thread from top to bottom, applying gentle tension so that the thread does not tighten or sag.

Sew the first row in a half cross - going through all the cells in the required color. Then place the second row on top - the result is an even row of crosses. The next row is sewn in the same way. If necessary, after finishing a thread of one color, take another color.

So, row by row, a masterpiece will be born from under your hands. Over time, you will master other types of seams and complicate the patterns. Create, decorate the world with your presence and the creations created by your hands.

DIY embroidery photo

Embroidery preserves not only the traditions and culture of past times, but also conveys to contemporaries the tastes and artistic preferences of mothers, grandmothers or anonymous craftswomen.

It cannot be said that the passion for embroidery is the lot of young ladies and peasant women who while away long empty hours with a piece of canvas. This type of needlework lives, changes and continues to delight needlewomen of all ages and occupations. Almost all types of embroidery are needle drawing. They provide as many opportunities for self-expression as painting. Just as an artist chooses the necessary techniques and means, so an embroiderer searches for the technique that best suits her character and taste.

Counting cross - the leader of the genre

Probably the simplest and most popular type of decorative embroidery. You can master it literally in an evening. If you like the technique, within a day or two you will have a small drawing made with colored threads. One main rule is that all crosses must be made in the same direction.
This type of embroidery appeared along with weaving. The homespun fabric was coarse and monochromatic; it begged for bright patterns: birds, flowers, ornaments.

Crosses can be made with cotton, silk or wool threads. Now there is an opportunity to purchase metallic or glow-in-the-dark floss. You can embroider even the sun, even the stars. Ordinary cute flowers and funny animals, of course, too. Flowers are more impressive made from cotton or silk crosses, and it is better to sew animals with wool - this way they turn out fluffy.

For always takes as a basis a diagram - a drawing divided into small cells. You can buy it, or you can make it yourself (using special computer programs) from any picture or photograph you like. The work is performed on a special uniform fabric () or on inserts made from it. Canvas comes in different colors and sizes of base cells, the choice is huge. Usually a cross-stitched plot is sewn to the main canvas if it is destined to become not a painting, but a practical item.

Ribbon embroidery - new from the forgotten old

The embroidery technique is also very ancient, but is now experiencing a new rise. It was so well forgotten that it became fashionable again. The popularity is explained not so much by a surge of interest in bouquets of satin flowers, but by the enormous possibilities in choosing materials, manuals and patterns.

Now craftswomen can afford to choose a wide variety of ribbons for work. They can be of any width, thick satin or translucent organza.
The most popular subject for is flowers. They turn out simply as if they were alive, absolutely recognizable and very tender.

Many sets have appeared on the market and they are easy to master on your own. Beginners can start with . It’s convenient that you can decorate any item of clothing with silk roses or snowdrops; the craftswoman is free to choose the base.

Smooth surface - painting with threads

The most spectacular embroidery technique, with a long rich history. It requires a lot of patience and practice, but the results are simply extraordinary. A huge plus is the ability to decorate any textile item with an elegant pattern; the material practically does not limit the needlewoman.

For satin stitch, you don’t need a diagram either, but you do need a contour drawing. It is the parts of this design that the embroiderer fills in with colored threads. This must be done carefully and in compliance with the picturesque principles of mixing colors and their smooth transitions, color-shadow. Several types of seams are used in satin stitch; the embroiderer must know everything and use them skillfully.

Professionally executed satin stitch embroidery is a real miracle. A voluminous, neat design, with tints of color, appears on the fabric and seems like an illustration from a beautiful book.

Assisi comes from Italy

One of the oldest types of embroidery, combining crosses and Holbein stitch, got its name from the “namesake” - the Italian town where it appeared. The technique involves using threads of the same color in the work, while using counted stitches (regular or elongated crosses) it is not the image that is sewn up, but the background.

For almost a thousand years, craftswomen have been working in this incredibly stylish and sophisticated technique, but even now it is often found. It’s easy to master; working with one color also speeds up the process, so beginners can be advised to take up the development of Assisi and expect quick success.

Richelieu, but not a cardinal

One of the varieties of satin stitch, almost always one-color. The design is applied to the fabric and each element is sewn with even, identical stitches, as in satin stitch embroidery. Richelieu involves cutting and piercing the fabric, followed by careful finishing of the edges. The finished product is like lace, very delicate and looks incredibly elegant.

Cutwork embroidery is a rather labor-intensive process, but someone may have had the opportunity to make a small ornament even during labor lessons at school. This is completely within the capabilities of a needlewoman without experience and does not require any special fabric or thread. Any cotton or linen fabric and matching threads will do.
For cutwork, special patterns and designs are used that need to be transferred to fabric. It can also be drawn by hand, the main thing is to make the lines even and correctly distribute the “hole” areas.

Luxurious beadwork

The technology is very old. In ancient times, the first types were made with river pearls; they had not yet learned how to make glass beads. This technique is similar to a cross; the work is also carried out according to a pattern where each colored square corresponds to a bead of a certain shade. Gradually, bead by bead, a whole pattern is formed. Beads should be sewn to the base using very strong threads of the same tone as the fabric. Cross stitch patterns can be used for beadwork and vice versa.

The finished work is a truly magical picture, softly shimmering in different colors.
The ability to choose a wide variety of beads to work with opens up inexhaustible possibilities for creating strange flowers and birds. Any of them will turn your cosmetic bag or evening bag into an expensive masterpiece. You can also embroider simply fabulous decorations. Bracelets, headbands, brooches decorated by you will decorate you incredibly.

Embroidery in Brazilian style

One of the exotic “representatives” is Brazilian embroidery. A technique for creating three-dimensional design elements using artificial silk threads. The peculiarities of the threads (their crowding) allow you to “weave” real petal lace using a needle.

The craftswomen of this school use a lot of seams and in the finished product the flowers, leaves and birds look simply fabulous and weightless. Ready-made ornaments look like appliques made from finely crocheted elements. This technique is chosen by energetic people who like a carnival of bright colors.

Royal gold embroidery

Gold embroidery dates back to the eleventh century. As a type of manual labor, it developed in monasteries. They did not stitch the fabric with the finest threads of pure gold, but decorated it by attaching metal wires with other threads, matching or contrasting. The technique is very complex, the material is incredibly brittle and capricious, so the qualifications of goldsmiths have always had the highest requirements.

Now this type of decorative embroidery continues to exist; metallized threads have made it more accessible, but no less labor-intensive. Embroidery with gold or silver threads is very good on dark velvet and wool.

Affordable soutache embroidery

This is a type of embroidery in which an applique of decorative cord - soutache - is made on the base fabric. The cord has a convenient groove in the middle, which allows you to easily stitch it and sew it in the forehead position. Essentially similar to gold embroidery, but much easier to perform and the finished work does not require any care when handling it.

Decorating summer clothes, making them in... is very popular.
The choice of soutache cord is very large; you can use contrasting colors or completely repeating the shade of the base - in both cases the item turns out to be unusually impressive.

Handarger - originally from the north

This type of decorative sewing originated from Arab countries, but gradually reached the northern countries, settled in Norway and gained great popularity there in the manufacture of national costume.

This style of embroidery combines cross stitch and stitch in an amazing way. That's what it's called - countable surface. The work is done on fabric of uniform weave and the stitches are necessarily counted, the design is geometrically correct. The handarger is a little similar to our hemstitch; it also uses a lot of openwork elements, but not along the edge, but in the center.

The openwork handarger looks great in combination with cross-stitched elements.
Works embroidered in this style will wonderfully complement the rustic style; they combine perfectly with folk motifs.

Diamond embroidery - pattern without a needle

This technique is very close to cross stitch, but is essentially a mosaic. You need to lay out rows of colored rhinestones on the adhesive base. It does not require any experience or training. The only thing is that it’s better to start with a small set in order to evaluate your strengths and the technique itself.

Schemes for are available in a wide variety; almost any design can be made using this fashionable technique. Agree that a little glitter will decorate any drawing, especially something magical or romantic. It is best to varnish the finished mosaic or place it under glass.

Where to start: pre-start briefing

All types of hand embroidery are easily recognizable and have their own individual personality, but there are general rules for working in any technique:

  1. - a must, a special needle is highly desirable.
  2. Anyone can embroider a small plot, so it’s better to start getting acquainted with it.
  3. A ready-made set in the chosen technique is a direct path to success.
  4. High-quality embroidery can only be done in excellent lighting.
  5. Get to work if you have at least 15 minutes of free time.

Various embroidery techniques allow you to create real paintings, many of which can easily be called works of art. The type of needlework you choose will decorate your life literally and figuratively: a lot of elegant things will appear around you and every day will become brighter and more interesting.

Embroidery is a widespread type of decorative and applied art in which the pattern and image are made manually (with a needle, sometimes with a crochet hook) or using an embroidery machine.

on various fabrics, leather, felt and other materials with linen, cotton, wool, silk (usually colored) threads, as well as hair, beads, pearls, precious stones, sequins, coins, etc. For sewn appliqués (a type of embroidery, often with a relief seam) fabrics, fur, felt, leather are used. Embroidery is used to decorate clothing, household items, and to create independent decorative panels.
Infinitely varied types of seams:
for “dead” embroidery, that is, on a whole fabric, a cross, satin stitch, set, painting, vestibule, etc. are typical;

for “stitching”, that is, embroidery on fabric with threads pre-cut or pulled out in individual sections,
hemstitch, “weave”, flooring, guipure, etc.
Used both individually and in various combinations with each other, they allow you to create embroideries from completely flat to convex, from the lightest contour or openwork mesh (“lace”) to “carpet”, tightly covering the entire surface of the product. Drawings with geometric shapes are done primarily by counted embroidery (by counting the threads of the fabric), and curvilinear designs by “free” embroidery (along a pre-applied contour).
The main expressive means of embroidery as an art form:
identifying the aesthetic properties of the material (the iridescent shine of silk, the even shimmer of linen, the shine of gold, sparkles, stones, the fluffiness and dullness of wool, etc.);
using the properties of the lines and color spots of the embroidery pattern to additionally influence the rhythmically clear or whimsically free play of seams;
effects extracted from the combination of a pattern and image with a background (fabric or other base) that is similar or contrasting to the embroidery in texture and color...


Openwork embroidery (cutwork)
A type of embroidery in which the main lines of the pattern are covered with a satin roller, after which the fabric around the pattern is cut out. Embroidery arose during the Renaissance, in the 14th century, in Italy. Products made with openwork embroidery along a free contour, in which individual elements of the pattern were connected by jumpers (brides), were the privilege of the nobility. Cardinal Richelieu especially loved this type of embroidery, after whom it got its name. Currently, all types of openwork embroidery along a free contour with jumpers are called “richelieu”.


Assisi (from Italian assisi)
In cross stitch, a design is created by stitching a pattern onto a canvas. It turns out that there is also an opposite way of working, a kind of negative, now called the Assisi embroidery technique or, for short, Assisi embroidery, or even quite simply - Assisi. An embroidery technique in which the background is sewn together and the pattern is created from the unfilled areas. This technique owes its name to the town of Assisi in Italy, where Saint Francis was born, who, according to legend, brought a sample of Arabic embroidery from the Crusades, on the basis of which Italian craftswomen developed their own unique style of embroidery - Assisi.

Baguette
A smooth or profiled strip designed for making frames for embroidered paintings, etc. Sometimes this is the name for ready-made frames and other accessories for decorating paintings.


Biscornu(from the French biscornu - curved), “crooked”
An embroidered or beaded miniature three-dimensional product made from two squares of canvas, rotated 90 degrees relative to each other and sewn along the perimeter and in the center. Usually used as an accessory (pincushion, pendant, pendant).


Blackwork(from the English blackwork - black embroidery)
Counted embroidery done with threads of the same color on a contrasting base. In black embroidery, the “back needle” stitch is most often used, as well as the Holbein “double basting” stitch. Sometimes the style of black embroidery itself is called Holbein.


Backstitch(from the English backstitch - seam “back needle”)
The seam is used to mark borders in embroidery, edging. However, the style of embroidery using this stitch is also often called this way.

Vladimir seam or more often Vladimir seams.
One-sided decorative stitch, a type of satin stitch. The outline of this seam is not sewn. Usually embroidered in red in combination with others - black, blue. The stitches are located on the same contour line at a short distance: they seem to sink, which gives the embroidery a peculiar beauty.


Cross stitch (cross stitch).
An embroidery technique that uses two crossing diagonal stitches. The order of the seams is to make the bottom stitch from the bottom left corner to the top right corner, and the top stitch from the bottom right corner to the top left corner. For a row of crosses of the same color, first perform the bottom row in one direction (half cross), then the top row in the reverse order (full cross). All top stitches should face the same direction. If crosses of the same color are located close to each other (no more than 3 cm), then the working thread is not cut off, but broaches are made from the wrong side, i.e., from one cross to another, the thread is fastened (threaded) under the stitches.


Embroidery ribbons.
A type of embroidery in which thin pieces of silk or artificial ribbon are used instead of Gamma floss threads. Special stitches and the very texture of the materials allow you to create three-dimensional shapes. Most often, floral motifs are used in ribbon embroidery.

Smooth surface.
Embroidery with straight or oblique stitches, completely or partially filling the pattern along the free contour transferred to the fabric. Any fabric with a smooth surface can be used for embroidery - thin and dense, cotton, silk, with any weave of threads. The surface can be one-sided or double-sided, flat (without flooring) and high, or convex (on flooring), slotted, precise or counted, and free or drawn. The satin stitch is done in a hoop on tightly stretched fabric, otherwise the pattern

Smooth stitch attached.
A type of satin stitch that is used to quickly fill large areas with one color.

Surface with flooring.
Double-sided satin stitch, which is made on a pre-laid flooring from threads thicker than working ones, to give volume and convexity to the embroidery. Stems, flowers and leaves are embroidered using satin stitch with flooring.

Satin roller.
A series of parallel stitches tightly adjacent to each other. It can be straight or inclined. To make the seam even, the stitches need to be laid evenly, not too loose and not too tight.


Tapestry (from the French gobelin).
A lint-free wall rug, hand-woven with cross-weave threads. Tapestries are woven from colored silk and/or wool threads in separate pieces, which are then sewn together. Today, not only carpets and fabrics are called tapestries, but also large embroidered paintings.

Tapestry stitch.
A stitch that is usually used to embroider large works - paintings, carpets. The stitch is very simple and looks like a regular half cross. But there are fundamental differences in the technique of making stitches, which allows paintings embroidered with tapestry stitch not to warp.

Holbein.
Double basting stitch. It is very often used in the blackwork embroidery technique, which is sometimes called Holbein. Cuffs and lace made using this technique can be seen in the portraits of the artist Hans Holbein the Younger, after whom the seam got its name.

Embroidery needles.
Embroidery needles are divided into two types: sharp and blunt. For embroidery on thick fabric, the first type of needle is used. For embroidery on canvas or fabric of uniform weave, in which there is no need to pierce holes, needles with a blunt end are used. To make it convenient to thread the floss, embroidery needles are made with a long eye. The diameter of the needle should correspond to the thickness of the holes in the canvas.

Canvas.
Mesh see-through cotton, less often linen, fabric made from twisted yarn, bleached or tinted, heavily finished. Produced using plain or leno weave. Used as a base or stencil for embroidery.

Gimp (from the French cannetille).
A thin metal (usually gold or silver) thread in the form of a helical spiral. In modern elegant fabrics, flat split threads made of aluminum foil, such as Lurex, are most often used. This also includes the concept Metallic.
Metallized threads for embroidery and needlework give embroidery special beauty and expressiveness.

Floss color card.
A table in which floss threads are presented by name, color picture and specific number. There are summary floss tables that summarize the numbers assigned to each color by different manufacturers.

Count (from the English count - number).
The numbers after the name of the canvas indicate the number of “squares” or threads per inch (2.54 cm). To understand how many “squares” or threads there will be in 10 cm, you need to divide the canvas number by 2.54 and multiply by 10. The larger the canvas number, the smaller the cells, and the denser the material itself.

Carpet crochet embroidery technique.
Embroidery on vinyl canvas, which is performed with a special crochet hook. With its help, pieces of wool or acrylic yarn are pulled through the weave of the canvas and tied into knots.

Longstitch (from the English longstitch - long stitch).
Individual stitches and embroidery techniques also bear this name. Long stitch is a stitch that is used along with backstitch to design embroidery and outline contours. The longstitch technique is a type of counted stitch. It is performed on canvas or fabric of uniform weave along the applied contour of the design. Inside the outline, the fabric is evenly filled with long stitches in a vertical or horizontal direction.

Melange.
A thread in which the color flows smoothly from one to another. When dyeing a thread, only one color is used, but its intensity varies along the entire length, from light to dark. Sometimes products made with such threads or yarn are also called this.

Hemstitch.
Through patterned stitching on fabric, made by pulling out transverse threads. It is made with threads matching the fabric along the threads and allows you to get delightful openwork paths of different widths and shapes.

Floss (from the French moulinet).
They appeared thanks to the DMC company, which at the end of the 19th century patented a new type of cotton, non-fading thread for embroidery, giving it the name floss. Later, other companies began to call embroidery threads by this very term.

Countless cross.
The technique of embroidering along contours previously applied to the fabric.

Pasma.
A bunch of six strands of floss. However, the skein can also be made from Iris threads or wool.

Passepartout (French passe-partout).
Initially, a piece of cardboard or paper with a quadrangular, oval or round hole cut out in its middle, a type of frame into which embroidery is inserted.

Loop stitch.
The buttonhole stitches are based on a simple chain stitch. It can be performed with various variations of thick or thin thread. All seams in this group consist of loops secured with short stitches. They are used both for embroidering contours and for filling the inside of the pattern. When filling the internal space, rows of chains are embroidered in the same direction.

Printed cross.
Embroidery technique based on a design completely printed with crosses on the fabric.

Flat surface.
A type of double-sided satin stitch in which the stitches fit tightly together.

Half cross.
An embroidery technique that is used as an independent stitch to fill the background, to create space in a painting, to indicate the shadow of an object.

Slotted surface.
Through embroidery, which is characterized by holes of various shapes and sizes pierced or cut into the fabric, trimmed with satin roller or buttonhole stitch. It is also often called openwork embroidery or the Richelieu technique.

Hoop.
A craft tool in the form of a frame or stand on which embroidery fabric is stretched taut.

Stramin.
The largest (27 squares per 10 cm), mesh, rigid canvas which is used for embroidering tapestries, carpets, pillows, etc.

Embroidery pattern.
An image divided into colored or symbolic squares, according to which embroidery is performed. Typically, embroidery kits include a color or black and white pattern, and a pattern with backstitch is printed separately. Sometimes the diagram can be applied directly to the canvas. Patterns are included in embroidery kits and can also be sold separately.

Counting cross.
Embroidery on canvas or fabric of uniform weave without a printed pattern.

Shadow surface
A type of smooth surface. It is performed in an oblique or straight stitch with or without “laying” with threads of the same color, but several tones (2-3, from light to dark). In a single-color shadow satin stitch, the color effect is created by the different directions of the stitches and the different reflections of light from the embroidered surface. For shadow satin stitch, it is better to use shiny silk threads or floss. The thread tension is not tight, the upper thread is weaker than the lower thread, so that no traces of the lower thread are visible on the front side of the product.

Removable canvas (overlay canvas).
A canvas with which you can transfer cross-stitch patterns to fabric not intended for such embroidery, for example, a blouse, shirt, curtains, tablecloths, decorate children's clothes or your favorite jeans. The removed canvas is applied to the fabric, and upon completion of the embroidery, the threads of the canvas are pulled out or dissolved.

French knot.
A stitch used to embroider small details on finished work. For example, you can embroider the middle of flowers with knots, thereby creating the effect of stamens. The size of the knot depends on the number of turns of thread or ribbon around the needle.
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Hardanger..
The Hardanger embroidery technique (named after a fjord in northern Norway) is a modern version of the ancient Scandinavian stitch embroidery technique. The history of this type of embroidery is still unclear. But it is likely that Hardanger embroidery was created as an imitation of lace, which was popular in the 1600s and 1700s in Europe. Hardanger is also a fabric for embroidery. see Hardanger.

Seam “forward needle”.
The seam is made with stitches of different lengths from right to left. The length of the stitches, frequency and distance between them depend on the purpose of the seam.

Aida.
The most common type of canvas, which was invented by the famous company Zweigart at the beginning of the twentieth century. Thanks to its special 4 by 4 weave technique, this fabric forms neat squares, which is very convenient for cross stitch. Typically, Aida canvas is marked with numbers: 8, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20. These numbers (counts) indicate the number of cells per 1 inch (2.54 cm).

Davosa 18
100% cotton canvas with 18 threads per inch or 71 cells per 10 cm. This is a high quality soft fabric with a special weave - the intersecting threads are not tightly woven together. The needle passes effortlessly through the spaces between the threads. It is most often used for embroidering tablecloths, napkins, and runners.

Evenweave(from the English weave - interlacing of threads in fabric, even - homogeneous, uniform).
Evenly woven fabrics used as a base for embroidery. These include Linda (100% cotton), Lugana (52% cotton and 48% viscose). Unlike Aida Gamma K04 canvas, evenly woven fabrics do not have clearly defined “squares,” which makes it more difficult to embroider on them; you have to count the threads while working. But the embroidery result is much better, since the part of the work not filled with crosses is a uniform canvas, without visible squares and holes. On fabric of uniform weave, a cross is usually embroidered through 2 threads (for one cross, 2 threads are counted horizontally and 2 vertically), in this case the number of crosses will be half the number of threads. For example, for Linda 27 canvas the number of crosses in 10 cm will be 53.

Hardanger.
Cotton fabric, dense to the touch, with a 2x2 thread weave, density 87 cells per 10 cm. The threads do not intertwine with each other, so there are no clearly defined squares, so cross-stitching is not very convenient, it is recommended to use it for embroidery with counted satin stitch, blackwork technique, and etc.

Linda 27
100% cotton canvas with 27 threads per inch. Lightweight fabric with even weave. It is used for sewing clothes, bed linen, tablecloths, napkins, as its edges are easy to process and it drapes well. But unlike the Aida canvas, where the square cannot be divided, Linda allows you to make two narrow crosses in the horizontal or vertical direction instead of one cross.

Lugana 25
Cotton blend fabric (52% cotton and 48% rayon) 25 threads per inch. One of the most popular fabrics from Zweigart. Elegant fabric for tablecloths, pillows and other decorative items. Great for cross stitch.