As technology advances, more people strive for speed and efficiency. However, sometimes, slowing down and making things by hand offers a deeper sense of meaning. Embroidery is a handicraft that captures this art of slowness, bringing out the joys found in little moments of immersion and accomplishment. Enter the delicate world of the needle and thread and find inner peace with the Sungkyun Times (SKT).
Tracing Threads Through Time
-Culture Stitched Across History
Embroidery is a technique that uses a needle and thread to create patterns, letters, or images on fabric or other materials. Since around 3000 BC to 2000 BC, embroidery has been intertwined with daily life and developed across various cultures. The East and the West have cultivated distinct embroidery styles, reflecting their unique artistic sensibilities and traditions.
In East Asia, influenced by Buddhism and Taoism, embroidery mainly featured natureinspired elements such as flowers, clouds, and mythical animals with flowing, curved patterns. It was an art form and an essential part of royal attire, traditional ornaments, and ceremonial objects.
Meanwhile, Western embroidery frequently contained plants or geometric patterns. Influenced by Christianity, it also depicted scenes from the Bible. It was incorporated into religious artifacts and royal garments, particularly in medieval tapestries, where thick textile pieces were embroidered with intricate designs. For a long time, embroidery has developed across various cultures by showcasing their values and aesthetics, and it continues today with delicate handiwork imprinted with artistry.
-What Makes Embroidery Unique?
Embroidery has noteworthy traits among all kinds of handicrafts. First, embroidery allows for more detailed and wide ranges in design. Unlike quilting and knitting, it is relatively easier to shape details by stitching lines, similar to drawing pictures on paper. One can also achieve various textures and shapes by using different stitch types, as well as thread thicknesses and hues, creating endless variations of artwork. Moreover, embroidery does not limit the type of fabric, adapting to diverse everyday materials such as leather, knit, or denim. In an interview with the SKT, a Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) student said, “Over knitting or quilting, I am more satisfied with my completed embroidery works because I can utilize numerous fabrics.” Lastly, while embroidery resembles painting in that it fills fabric with colorful thread, it offers a unique advantage: mistakes can be easily reversed by simply undoing the stitches. This perfect balance between the free-flowing creativity of painting and the reversibility of handcrafting makes embroidery an accessible and relaxing hobby for beginners seeking mindfulness and stress relief.
Embroidery in the Modern Day
-From Thread to Art
Embroidery continues to be recognized for its value in the art field. Han Jung-hye, an embroidery artist, has continued the tradition of Korean embroidery while integrating unique elements from other art techniques by combining painting and digital textile printing techniques with embroidery. In her fourth solo exhibition, Han also showed many artworks inspired by traditional Korean folk paintings, emphasizing that the reinterpretation of traditional elements from a modern perspective can make artworks more diverse. These works show the depth and emotions of embroidery, proving that they are an art form that continuously changes to reflect the times and culture.
In fashion brands, embroidery can be a key point of the brand’s quality and identity. Luxury houses such as Dior and Chanel work with several professional embroidery workshops to make garments. Casual and streetwear brands such as Tints Streetwear in the United States also sell clothes handembroidered with threads naturally dyed from plants. Such brands allow consumers to experience the value of handmade embroidery, where each piece is unique with slight differences and details — an impossible observation in ready-made clothes. In this way, embroidery seamlessly sews together tradition with modernity, serving as a medium of expression across art and fashion.
-Stitching For Hobby and Mind
As interest in slow living has grown, embroidery has emerged as an excellent pastime for people who enjoy taking things slow and making things by hand. With easily accessible do-it-yourself (DIY) kits and YouTube videos, it has been reborn as a modern-day hobby rather than simply a leisurely activity associated with past traditions. In addition, embroidery has been known to affect people’s minds positively. In psychology, repetitive actions such as knitting or stitching decrease levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Because of this, several counseling centers even use embroidery as a form of therapy to relax people’s minds. Moreover, embroidery helps target modern-day problems such as digital fatigue and dopamine dependence, as it is an analog activity that requires the use of hands. One SKKU student told the SKT, “I do embroidery when I have time on the weekends. It helps ease my stress as it keeps my hands busy and even gives me a sense of accomplishment.” Through the joy and confidence that each work of embroidery gives, people can find stability and unwind from the daily stress.
A Simple Guide for Embroidery Beginners
For Kingos who want to start embroidery, SKT will introduce the materials needed and the steps to finish their first piece.
-Materials
To start, one must prepare a needle, embroidery floss, an embroidery frame, fabric, scissors, and a chalk or watersoluble pen. For beginners, rather than buying these individually, it is recommended to purchase all-in-one DIY kits instead.
-Embroidery Process
➊ Sketching the Design
Draw the outline of one’s desired design by using a water-soluble pen. Stencils and tracing paper will make it easier to draw a more precise design.
❷ Preparing the Embroidery
Secure the fabric between the embroidery hoops. Make sure to be careful, as the fabric might stretch or escape while stitching if the hoop is too tight or loose. Then, using a piece of floss that is 40 to 50 cm in length, thread it onto the needle. Adjust the number of threads used depending on the desired thickness of the stitch.
❸ The Stitching Process
Start with a beginner’s stitch, such as the straight or running stitch, which involves filling in the empty space freely. Once mastered, try learning other unique types of stitches by referring to embroideryYouTube channels, such as Modern craft and HandiWorks.
❹ Finishing Touches
After tying off the final stitch, lightly wash the fabric to erase the outline drawn. Finally, clean up any scraps, such as frayed fabric or loose threads, to complete the embroidery piece.
Embroidery is greater than the art of creating patterns with thread. It is a process that allows one to reflect and find a sense of calm. Kingos can organize their thoughts and emotions, by carefully making each stitch. Why not take a journey into the world of embroidery that offers relaxation and deep concentration? Capture the beauty of spring on fabric and let one’s cherished memories bloom once again.