Embroidery

Embroidery is an ancient variety of decorative needlework in which designs and pictures are created by stitching strands of some material on to a layer of another material. Most embroidery uses thread or wool stitched onto a woven fabric, but the stitches could be executed in, for example, wire or leather strands, and embroidery can be worked onto many materials. Non-woven traditional materials include leather and felt, but modern textile artists embroider on many non-traditional materials such as plastic sheeting. Often, specific embroidery stiches are used.

This discussion is predominantly about hand embroidery, which is embroidery done without the help of a sewing machine or similar electric tool. Machine embroidery has become a vast subject on its own. It is both used for creative work on individual pieces and for mass-produced clothing products.

Embroidery has traditionally been used to decorate clothing and household furnishings including table linens, tray cloths, towels and bedding, but you can literally embroider anything as long as it is made out of an evenly woven fabric and can be held firmly in the hand or in a special embroidery hoop or tapestry frame. The art of hand embroidery is a painstaking and laborious process, but today garments are often decorated with machine embroidery instead.

Embroidery has also been used as a form of art and for decoration, through the creation of embroidered or cross-stitch samplers, tapestries, wall-hangings and other works of textile art. Some types of patchwork also incorporate embroidery as a form of extra decoration.

Embroidery Styles and Techniques
Some embroidery styles include:

Assisi Embroidery
Bargello or Florentine embroidery
Blackwork Embroidery
Bunka Shishu
Canvas work
Counted-thread embroidery
Crewel embroidery
Cross-stitch
Drawn thread work
Goldwork
Hardanger embroidery
Tush kyiz (Kyrgyzstan)
Whitework

Business
Embroidery as a business is classified as an industry based on its purpose. It can be in the manufacturing industry as a textile product (NAICS Code 314999) if what is produced is a new product, such as an article of clothing. It can be in the arts industry if the embroidery is considered to be a work of art (NAICS Code 711510), rather than a product.

There are a variety of ways people make money from embroidery. Some sell their embroidery locally, at trade shows or via the internet. Others sell original patterns or kits they have designed themselves. And, still others teach embroidery. The best way to learn more about the viabiiity of any of these business models is to participate in associations and workshops, subscribe to magazines that are related to your interests, and read books that give more in-depth information about the business.

Books

The Basic Guide to Pricing Your Craftwork
Basic formulas for pricing craftwork, retail or wholesale.

The Basic Guide to Selling Arts & Crafts
Step-by-step help on over 150 topics for marketing your home made crafts.

The Basic Guide to Selling Crafts on the Internet
Unravels the mysteries of selling crafts online with clear, step-by-step advice.

Bead & Sequin Embroidery Stitches
Full-size templates enable you to recreate a dozen stunning designs, including a starburst, a heart with pattern, and a variety of flowers.

Business and Legal Forms for Crafts
A complete set of business and legal forms designed to meet the active craftperson's every need.

The Business of Sewing, Volume 1
Sample price lists; lists of organizations and lending institutions; payment methods you can offer your customers; how to get a merchant account for credit card sales; how to collect money on past due accounts; buying in bulk with a list of suppliers and a sample letter to contact them; business and financial plans; studio design, networking; time management; tackling your fears; turning sewing into a business and making the transition; how to avoid getting frustrated; industry statistics.

The Business of Sewing, Volume 2
How to make a "Consumer Price List", and how to structure a "Working Price List" and the use of both; what "Pricing" method is best for you and how to handle price resistance; how to conduct production analysis with a time and motion study; how to make a project inventory list; how to market your business; subcontractors or fabricators and how to hire them; E-commerce and on-line merchant accounts, web design, shopping carts and E-newsletters; how to write books and articles, teach seminars and workshops, and produce sewing audios and videos.

Chinese Embroidery: Traditional Techniques
Traces the history of this ancient craft comprised of stunning animals, birds, butterflies, flowers, and figures, and presents readers with the necessary tools, techniques, and fabrics used to recreate these elaborate designs.

Color and Design for Embroidery
A practical handbook for the daring embroiderer and adventurous textile artist.

Complete Encyclopedia of Needlework
Originally published in France in 1884, this anniversary edition provides fascinating historical information plus new additions that make it a classic.

The Complete Needlepoint Guide
Complete introduction to the art of needleworking, discussing the finer points of canvases, yarns, and the various materials available for creating beautiful pieces of homespun art.

Crafting as a Business
How to develop a thriving retail business.

Crafting for Dollars
Covers every aspect of starting and managing your own craft-based business.

Crafts and Crafts Shows
Good business practice in dealing with customers, pricing, and presentation in the show booth.

The Crafts Business Answer Book & Resource Guide
Answers to questions about starting, marketing, and managing a homebased business efficiently, legally, and profitably.

Creative Crewel Embroidery
A comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of Crewel - the art of embroidery with wool - with designs that range from the traditional to the truly innovative.

Decorative Embroidery
Detailed instructions for stitching and making up the projects, an illustrated stitch directory, and templates for every design are all included.

Elegant Stitches
An illustrated stitch guide and source book of inspiration.

Embroidery Machine Essentials
How to stabilize, hoop and stitch decorative design.

The Embroidery Stitch Bible
More than 200 stitches are photographed and accompanied by easy to follow charts in this essential reference for embroiderers.

Handmade for Profit
Hundreds of secrets to success in selling arts & crafts.

Make It Profitable!
The best ideas and information from 80 professionals in various fields of the craft industry.

Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches
Pictures and describes over 400 stitches; arranged by usage, they range from basic outline and border stitches to more complex detached-filling and pulled-fabric stitches.

The Needlepoint Book
A complete update of the classic guide, which has become known as "The Black Bible."

Painting with a Needle
Learning the art of silk embroidery with Young Yang Chung.

Royal School of Needlework: Embroidery Techniques
The distinguished reputation and specialist knowledge of the Royal School of needlework are combined in this colorful and inspirational introduction to the most popular hand embroidery techniques.

Stitch-it
Simple instructions and tools for 35 chic to classic embroidery projects.

Stumpwork Embroidery
A collection of fruits, flowers & insects for contemporary raised embroidery.

The Techniques of Japanese Embroidery
With its intricate patterning, silken and golden threads, and traditional symbolic motifs, Japanese embroidery is unlike any other embroidery technique.

Your Crafts Business: A Legal Guide
Explains legal principles that protect a crafts business and help it grow. It also provides practical advice on how to deal with day-to-day problems -- such as dealing with delinquent payments. The book provides over a dozen tear-out contracts and other legal forms, plus step-by-step instructions to fill them out.

Magazines

Australian Smocking And Embroidery
High quality photographs, step-by-step instructions, a center liftout pattern, beautiful projects, and kits for sale.

Beadwork
Beaded projects with clear instructions, articles filled with techniques, and features to keep you up-to-date with the beading world.

Crafts
For the crafter seeking excellent original design, full-size patterns and complete accurate instructions for how-to projects in general crafts, needle crafts and floral.

Designs in Machine Embroidery
Step-by-step projects - complete with photos and illustrations - handy pullout patterns, resource guides and information from the industry's leading machine embroidery experts.

Embroidery
Covers collections, exhibitions, interviews with experts, and reviews of books and products.

Embroidery & Cross Stitch
Projects in this magazine include a choice of traditional and contemporary styles from leading Australian designers. A double-sided pattern sheet presents charts, diagrams and design outlines in full size in every issue.

Embroidery-Monogram Business
Embroidery techniques, digitizing, design tips, sales & marketing, management strategy, industry news and events, pricing.

Inspiration
Features the work of top needlework, smocking, and sewing designers from Australia and around the world, complete with embroidery keys, full-size patterns, illustrations, and step-by-step directions for completing projects at home.

Piecework
Cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting, quilting, crochet, beading, lace making, and crochet, plus the stories and ethnic traditions behind the techniques.

Sew News
Articles, interviews, product reviews, patterns, the latest in professional techniques and time saving tips for the home seamstress.

Threads
First-hand instruction for creating beautiful garments and sewn home furnishings.

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