Beadwork (not stitched on ground fabric/paper): Beads stitched together to form a freestanding item, such as a necklace. Including but not limited to Bead Weaving and Bead Looming.

Canvaswork: Stitches worked on even, openly woven canvas background.

  • Traditional: Pieces worked in tent stitch, or in three or fewer different stitches.

  • Multi-stitch: Pieces worked in four or more different stitches.

Counted Thread: Embroidery worked on an evenly woven ground fabric.

  • Assisi: Background of a design is worked in cross stitches and outlined in double running stitch.

  • Blackwork: Straight stitches worked on a light ground fabric forming a geometric pattern, usually stitched in a single color thread, although not always black.

  • Cross Stitch: Crosses stitched over one ore more threads of the ground fabric.

  • Drawn Thread: Threads are removed from the fabric to create a pattern and the remaining strands are wrapped in groups (including hardanger).

  • Miniature: Designs stitched over single threads of 32 or higher count background fabric.

  • Pulled Work: Stitches pulled to open spaces in the ground fabric.

  • Sampler: Traditional or Multi-stitch(4+)

Surface Embroidery:

  • Brazilian: Surface embroidery using rayon threads.

  • Crewel: Uses 100% 2-ply wool threads on a tightly woven ground fabric.

  • Goldwork: Surface embroidery couched or laid to a ground fabric using metal and/or metallic threads.

  • Traditional Japanese Embroidery: Fine silk and metal threads are sewn, laid or couched in traditional Asian or European motifs.

  • Japanese Bead Embroidery: Beads are stitched on patterned ground cloth using Japanese techniques.

  • Needle Punch

  • Sashiko: A Japanese quilting technique using running stitches to form geometric patterns on woven fabric.

  • Silk Ribbon: Surface embroidery worked with silk ribbons.

  • Stumpwork: Raised embroidery featuring covered forms and wires with silk, cotton or metal threads to create three-dimensional shapes.

  • Temari: Needlewoven designs on a thread-wrapped ball.

Fine Hand Sewing: Manipulation of finely woven fabrics coupled with fine laces and trims assembled by hand.

Needle Lace: Detached embroidery worked with needle and thread onto foundation threads. Including but not limited to Needle Tatting and Battenburg.

  • Battenburg: Lace tape shaped and held together by decorative connecting stitches.

  • Filet Guipure: Knotted, creating a decorative item.

Quilting: Items created with joined layers of fabric and filling that are stitched through all layers to create a design (perimeter limit of 144 inches).

Smocking: Stitches worked over a series of rows, gathering the fabric in even folds or pleats, giving an elastic characteristic to the fabric.

Questions about needlework technique?

Please reach out via email to the Nelly’s Needlers at nellysneedlers@gmail.com.