Embroidery and its many forms is a hobby that hold’s enjoyment for people the world over. As much as some people enjoy the crafting art that is embroidery, they may not be aware of its history or other fascinating attributes. Here are some interesting facts about embroidery to entertain you and feed your brain!
1. Embroidery and its many forms is a hobby that holds enjoyment for people the world over. Whilst it was originally a skill that was passed down by the older generations of the family, it is now much more commonly taught, and with things like machine embroidery designs, anyone can create amazing embroidery designs. But, as much as some people enjoy the crafting art that is embroidery, they may not be aware of its history or other fascinating attributes. Here are some interesting facts about embroidery to entertain you and feed your brain!
2. Historians do not precisely when embroidery first came about but there are very early examples which date back to ancient Egypt, the Chinese Zhou Dynasty and even the Iron Age in Northern Europe. In fact, silk thread which has been used in chain stitch in China has been dated back to the the 3rd Century during the Warring States period. Not that many years ago, a fossil was discovered which had evidence of embroidery on the hunting items used.
3. In early Muslim societies, embroidery was viewed as a sign of high social ranking. Embroidery became prevalent on all sorts of wares such as handkerchiefs, slippers, uniforms, sheaths for swords and knives, robes, tunics, shoes, and even trappings for horses. Craftsmen became very adept at embroidering using gold and silver thread. This trade employed hundreds of people throughout the land and was considered one of the most prestigious jobs to know how to do.
4. The largest example of embroidery in the world is the Bayeux Tapestry in northern France at the Bretagne museum. It is a historical piece which depicts events leading up to the Normans overrunning England and tells the story right up to the Battle of Hastings. The entire tapestry measures 70 meters long and 50 centimeters high. It is a well-known tourist attraction and people come from around the world to see its beauty and intricacy.
As you can see, there are many fascinating things about this art form beyond just needle and thread. Indeed, embroidery is an important piece of culture throughout the world. Plus, with these amazing factoids, you can amaze your friends with your in-depth knowledge of all things embroidery.
4. The dawn of cross stitch came about slowly in 1800’s England. Mass production initially consisted of a mixture of machine looms and scores of women who embroidered by hand.
5. Nowadays, most embroidery performed on a large scale is done by computers. The machine itself is computerized and relies upon special software which digitizes the pattern. The digitization allows the computer to render the design much quicker and more efficiently than could be done by hand. This is the technique that is used to create embroidered designs on uniforms, gifts, and sports team apparel.
6. There are many specialty sites on the Internet which cater to embroidery enthusiasts. By searching the web you’ll find sites that sells supplies, patterns, machines, and you can find all kinds of social media groups to mingle with other fans of the craft.
I used to do embroidery, but have not done it in many years. A person who is an expert can do a superb job, much better than a machine, in my opinion.
I haven’t done embroidery for several years now, but kept all my thread and hoops. I started it as a kid and loved embroidering my initials the most. I’d love to try out one of the machines but would still enjoy the hand embroidery. Must get back to it!