Embroidery is the art of embellishing fabric with designs that are sewed with strands of thread or yarn using a needle.
Embroidery makes use of other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills and sequins as a means of further ornamenting a fabric.
There are several classifications of embroidery deigns.
Embroidery design can be classified according to the basic foundation fabric used by the embroiderer.
For example, free embroidery is one design where stitches are made without taking into account t the knit of the basic fabric.
Crewel embroidery and traditional Chinese embroidery are in this category.
Palestinian embroidery design requires one stitch after another in succession with tremendous skill and accuracy.
It takes a lot of free time and patience, always with an eye of the final product.
Its like building a house, as the embroiderer has to take time to make the stitches, and it is not complete until the last stitch is embroidered.
Probably the most elaborate and wearying form of embroidery is the Zardosi workmanship that originated in India.
It uses metal thread instead of the customary silk or rayon.
The fabric which is usually silk or velvet is marked with the pattern and then the artist covers the pattern with metal thread embellishing it with stonework beads.
Another form of embroidery is the Ari work -- also form India.
This work is done by stretching the fabric on a frame and creating the stitches with a needle.
The needle also carries tinsels, beads and other trimmings to decorate the pattern.
India is a country rich in embroidery with almost seventy two forms of embroidery unique to every region.