The Journey of Embroidery Begins

Guest blogger George Laufert will be taking us with him on an artistic exploration of the art he loves

Embroidery is the handicraft of decorating fabric with needle and thread or yarn, which is available in a wide variety of colors. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as jewels, pearls, beads, and sequins.  Basic stitches on surviving examples of the earliest embroidery—chain stitch, buttonhole or blanket stitch, running stitch, satin stitch, cross stitch remain the fundamental techniques of hand embroidery today. 

Embroidery has been dated to the 5th-3rd century BC. The process of tailoring, patching, mending and reinforcing cloth fostered the development of sewing techniques, and the decorative possibilities of sewing led to the art of embroidery. In the development of embroidery, there have been no drastic changes of materials or techniques that can be interpreted as advances from a primitive to a later, more refined stage. On the other hand, we often find, in early works, a technical accomplishment and high standard of craftsmanship rarely attained in later times.

One of the easiest methods for learning crewel/embroidery is by practicing via stitching kits.  Sunset © brand kits were my introduction to stitching.  My wife, Ceil, while recuperating from surgery at home, was once given a Sunset crewel kit (a Koala bear design).  Watching her stitch the kit, I was taken with the results, and fascinated by how relaxed she was, given the pain she was experiencing. So I thought that I would give it a try.  It was fun and as relaxing as I hoped it would be.

I enjoyed stitching these kits for a few years, and then I decided to create my own designs, to which I could apply my acquired stitching skills.  I have been creating my own designs ever since.

Unfortunately, there are few if any crewel kits in the big-box craft stores today.  It seems as though fabric hobbyists have moved on to cross stitching, quilting, knitting, and crocheting. Consequently, there is a reduced interest in learning crewel or embroidery stitches, or techniques.  Additionally, there is always the time and cost factor.  If the lack of reasonably priced kits forces people to seek other learning methods, factor in instructional costs as well. Additionally, unlike quilting or some other sewing crafts, there probably won’t be any financial return on your products.  Recently, machines have taken over a large part of the embroidery business.  Consequently, there is less interest today in learning embroidery skills.

With this said, why would I want to teach people how to sew various embroidery stitches?  Why, without projects to which to apply learned skills, would anyone want to learn crewel stitches?  Well, it is my hope that by demonstrating how stitching can bring life to fabric and joy to the soul, I will be keeping alive skills that have survived thousands of years.  And, hopefully, I can interest a few people in taking up the skill, just for the sake of the art, and also just for the fun of it.

One thing I have to say at the outset is that I am in no way an expert.  I am just a volunteer with some basic skills.  I have sewn some very intricate projects, of which I am quite proud, and some of which may prove useful, in demonstrating techniques, stitches and the joy of stitching.

So, from time to time, I will be providing readers with stitching techniques, directions on how to sew various stitches, examples of their use within projects and suggestions for their own projects.