This section will introduce you to the different traditional embroideries and give a step-by-step guide to those embroideries. Every culture around the world had developed the art of needlework unique to themselves and laden with historical information. There had also been an exchange of the art of embroidery between cultures and countries over the ages and every time, it evolved into something newer!
The art with thread and needle has been an ongoing and evolving process. While many hand embroidery forms must already be extinct, many others have managed to pull through. Hand embroidery is now evolving with modern expressions. In short, hand embroidery has moved from being a mere necessity to being a form of art as well.
If you are absolutely new to the art of Hand Embroidery, then I recommend you to check the For Hand Embroidery Beginners section first.
Which traditional hand embroidery would you like to explore today?
Sarah has been researching and sharing hand embroidery lessons for over 17 years, making it accessible to everyone around the globe.
Dearest Sarah,
I am in absolute awe of your knowledge and ability to communicate your extremely high level of skill through simple explanations, pictures and diagrams. Your stitch library and personal advice/explanations/help is unparalleled. All I really want to say is thank you! You have my deepest appreciation and respect, thank you for so willingly and generously sharing and imparting your wide breath of knowledge with inspired strangers on the internet.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
-Audrey
Dear Audrey,
Thank you so much for your lovely comments. Words like these make us happy and motivate us to make more quality tutorials. Enjoy learning more from our pages.
Much love,
Sarah
I am trying to also identify this stitch. Is this a form of a brick stitch?
Hi Patricia,
I am looking at the front and the reverse of these pieces and my first impression is that it is the Cable Stitch. When placed close to each other, they do throw out a brick-like formation. The reverse of the Cable Stitch looks like the Back Stitch, which is what I observe in these photos. I will try to look more into it and let you know if I get more or different information about this.
Beautiful works!
Thank you so much for your observation and insight.
I have been trying to figure out how it is sewn, because it sure is not side to side and I think I found a photo to help explain and further your idea of a cable stitch On the table lying inside out is a fabric with a red and green diamond zigzag. The cable stitch looks good
This form of a cable stitch also has an element of the counted stitch to achieve such detailed geometrics?
I am just not seeing the brick/cable stitch when I look at the back or inside of the bag. There must be another. I see I already attached the bag (top two images) outside and inside. This is some sort of counting stitch or how is this design so geometric?
Hi Patricia,
The Cable Stitch/ Brick Stitch is on the good side of the bag. The wrong side must show Back Stitches. What I infer is that it is applied as a counting stitch. Check the Tent Stitch, as it is called in Needlepoint. It is definitely a great stitch to create geometric patterns. I am sure going through the Tent Stitch will make more sense to you.
Hey Sarah, you’re doing a great job with your picture dictionary but I cannot find one of my stitch there. it would be great if you tell me what my stitch is. i have attached it below. I’m sorry about the clarity of the image:(
Hi Golda! Thank you for contacting me. This stitch looks like the Weaving Stitch or the Weave Stitch done with 6 strands of the embroidery floss.
Please check this link for the tutorial: https://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/weaving-stitch/weaving-stitch/
In the tutorial, the threads are placed at a distance to make the lesson clearer (probably the reason why you were not able to find it in the dictionary). Follow the technique, with the stitches placed closer to each other. I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
regards,
Sarah
Hai.
I am very happy to see your embroidery stitches. They are very easy to learn. I want to know the stitch you are used in your hand embroidery home page. That is in the box required for hand embroidery box. Will you please tell the stich name
Fantastic job Sarah……plz help me out with jali work of chikankari. I desperately want to learn iit😊
I will try to make a tutorial for it, Neelima. 🙂
Hi sarah,
i am very much interested in doing hand embroidery. But i know only few basic stitches.After seeing your site, i learned many stitches.You have done a great job.
Thank you, Priyanka! 🙂
Hi Sarah,
I am very much interested to learn embroidery . I was looking for tutorial to learn hand embroidery. I do not have any basic idea of embroidery. So i wanted to check with you that do you take any weekend classes?
Dear Ranjini,
I am planning for embroidery classes and workshops. But, i might avoid most weekends.
Anyway, if you could email me your inquiry, I might be able to respond with more details ans work on a time that is most comfortable for both of us.
Sarah
Hi, I’m interested in learning embroidery. I haven’t tried my hand with stitching. So,wanted to check with you if you could teach me. Let me know a comfortable time for you . Thanks, have a good day
This is fabulous Design 🙂
Me encantan tus cursos y quisiera aprender mad
Such a wonderful collection of embroideries. Its useful to all
Hello,
What are your charges to teach hand embroidery? Duration of course? How many hours per day?
Hi Sarah. ,
Today only I saw ur website am very happy for it. Thanks to uploading the pictures how to stitch through e-book. Am very glad for it. Its very helpful for all ladies. And I request you that how can I learn aari works step by step in wedding blouse through online. It’s very helpful for me because I can’t to go any tailoring class due to economic problem. So that I eagerly to learn aari embroidery works through online. I hope uhu consider my request..
regards priya
hi madam nice work
plz help me which hand emberiodery design is suitable for plain chiffon saree
Hi Sarah..
Cud u plz show m a tutorial for phanda embroidery..
. Its a type of chikankari..i want to learn it..but m nt
. getting any help..
Dear Sarah,
At the outset, let me congratulate for your work. Great doing!!!
I have referred your tutorials on hand embroidery and have taken lots of print-outs for my reference. I would be very helpful if you can advice me about keeping a handbook of your tutorial. I am from Palakkad, Kerala and please let me know if your book is available in the market.
sry ur web sites
hi this my first embroidery …thanks for urban website……
Very nice tutorial. Could u plz give the tutorial about silk ribbon embroidery
hi
i am very happy to see your website. i am learning embroidery, with help of your tutorial. your website is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood. my hobbies and idea are increasing day by day, just by seeing your website.
if your are publishing the book please inform me i will bye your book
thanks
bye
hello,
i am interested in embroidery if u r taking daily classes can i join for that please reply me soon. thank u
hi, i saw al ur work they are really good, do u have any books of urs to refer the designs. If so pls sent me the link so that i can buy those book, i want the book which will comtain al kind of striches . thank u
hi sarah I am looking for a good embroidary website which can teach me every kind of stitch thoughrolly and I have got the best one.thanks to u.please update the gujrati stitch.I wish that I could wear a saree of gujrati stitches embroided by me.thanks once again.
hai, i am very much interested in embroidery stitching, i want to learn it.. i am the basic starter.. can u help me ??
hey sarah, i fine that your hand embroidery is very interesting. can i ask you some questions? this will help me for my embroidery project for school.
1.how long have you been doing embroidery?
2.do you teach other poeple?
3.do you sell your embroidery items e.g t-shirt ect
4.how do you feel doing embroidery?
5.when did you started doing emdroidery?
6. who taught you embroidery?
Hi! Sarah,
I would like to do hand embroidery designs on the legs of a pair of jeans. How would I attempt to do this? How can I separate both front and back sections so that I can put my designs on the front? Thank you for your assistance and I look forward to your response.
Dear Natalie,
Sorry for responding late as I was on a vacation. I don’t know if you already have got a solution.
It might be challenging to stitch on a pair of jeans comfortably, unless you open it up, do the embroidery, and then stitch it back up. If your jeans have room enough to accommodate a small embroidery hoop, you might be able to stitch without much hassle. That is, without opening up the jeans, or getting the needle go through the back side, or maybe even gathering up the jeans while stitching. I hope this gives some idea.
sarah, you know malayalam?
Threading the needle with multi-stranded thread can be tricky. Try folding it over the eye of the needle and pinching the fold between your finger and thumb nail. Sometimes it is easier to get a folded strand through the eye of the needle rather than a raw edge of cut thread.