Custom Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with custom designs stitched in strands of thread or yarn using a needle. Custom embroidery may also use other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. Sewing machines can be used to create custom embroidery.

Types of custom embroidery

Detail of an embroidered silk gauze ritual garment from a 4th century BC, Zhou era tomb at Mashan, Hubei province, China.

Custom embroidery is classified according to the use of the underlying foundation fabric. One classification system divides embroidery styles according to the relationship of stitch placement to the fabric:

     In free custom embroidery designs are applied without regard to the weave of the underlying fabric. Examples include crewel and traditional Chinese embroidery.

     In counted-thread embroidery, patterns are created by making stitches over a pre-determined number of threads in the foundation fabric. Counted-thread embroidery is more easily worked on an even-weave foundation fabric such as embroidery canvas, aida cloth, or specially woven cotton and linen fabrics although non-even weave linen is used as well. Examples include needlepoint and cross-stitch.

A second division classifies custom embroidery according to whether the design is stitched on top of or through the foundation fabric:

     In Surface custom embroidery, patterns are worked on top of the foundation fabric using decorative stitches and laid threads. Surface custom embroidery encompasses most free custom embroidery as well as some forms of counted-thread custom embroidery (such as cross-stitch).

     In Creative Canvas work, threads are stitched through a fabric mesh to create a dense pattern that completely covers the foundation fabric. All creative canvas work is not counted-thread custom embroidery. There are custom printed and hand painted canvases where the painted or printed image is meant to serve as a color guide.

An important distinction between canvas work and surface custom embroidery is that surface work requires the use of an embroidery hoop or frame to stretch the material and ensure even stitching tension that prevents pattern distortion. Creative Canvas work tends to follow very symmetrical counted stitching patterns with custom designs developing from repetition of one or only a few similar stitches in a variety of thread hues. Most forms of surface embroidery, by contrast, are distinguished by a wide range of different stitching patterns used in a single piece of work.

Ribbon embroidery is custom embroidery performed with ribbon rather than standard six-thread string. Silk ribbon or a silk/organza blend ribbon are commonly used for this type of custom embroidery. There are many different styles of ribbon embroidery, such as woven rose, French knot, feather stitch, fly stitch, fly stitch fern, couching stitch, lazy daisy, looped petal flower, Japanese ribbon stitch, stem stitch rose, split stitch, and straight stitch. Those are usually taught to beginners who are just learning silk ribbon embroidery. Ribbon embroidery is most commonly used to create floral motifs. It's said to have a certain romantic and antique quality.

     In Machine embroidery, Custom embroidery designs are stitched with an automated embroidery machine. These custom designs are "digitized" with Embroidery Software. They can have different types of "fills" which add texture and design to the embroidery. Almost all basic types of custom embroidery can be created with Machine Embroidery. These include: Applique, Free Standing Lace, Cutwork, Cross-stitch, Photo Stitch, and Basic Embroidery. Most often this type of embroidery is associated with business apparel, business shirts, corporate apparel, corporate shirts, team apparel, team shirts, commercial apparel, commercial shirts, custom apparel, custom shirts.

History

The origins of embroidery are lost in time, but examples survive from ancient Egypt, Iron Age Northern Europe and Zhou Dynasty China. It has many roots all around the world and is being done in many different ways because of their cultures....

Elaborately custom embroidered clothing, religious objects, and household items have been a mark of wealth and status in many cultures including ancient Persia, India, Byzantium, medieval England (Opus Anglicanum or "English work"), and Baroque Europe.

Hand embroidery is a traditional art form passed from generation to generation in many cultures, including northern Vietnam, Mexico, and eastern Europe.

The Bayeux Tapestry is not a true tapestry; it is an elaborately embroidered wall hanging originally displayed at the Bayeux Cathedral, and now housed at a special museum in Bayeux, Normandy.