Needlework: English Vocabulary List

a decorative design made by cutting out and stitching a different piece of fabric or material onto a larger piece to create a pattern or picture

"Colorful fabric applique."

"The dress had beautiful colorful applique designs on the sleeves and neckline."

a needlework technique that involves creating intricate geometric patterns and designs by using straight stitches of various lengths and colors

"Bargello stitches create flame patterns."

"Bargello is a needlepoint stitch creating flame patterns by working long vertical stitches over multiple canvas threads."

a type of needlework that originated in the mid-19th century in Germany, which involves using wool yarn to create intricate patterns and designs on canvas or other fabrics

"Berlin wool work used colored charts."

"Berlin wool work used printed charts for counted cross stitch on canvas with wool thread."

a type of embroidery that uses black thread to create intricate and decorative designs and patterns on white or light-colored fabric

"Blackwork uses black thread on white."

"Blackwork embroidery uses black thread on white fabric popular in Tudor England for clothing decoration."

a small cylinder that holds thread, which is used in a sewing machine or a hand-held sewing tool

"The bobbin holds thread underneath."

"The sewing machine ran out of thread so she had to wind a new bobbin before continuing her project."

a type of needlework that involves cutting out floral or other motifs from printed fabrics and appliqueing them onto a base fabric to create a decorative composition

"Broderie perse appliqués cut motifs."

"Broderie perse appliques cut out fabric motifs onto a background fabric for quilting."

a type of embroidery that uses unbleached cotton thread to create a textured and raised design on a cotton or linen fabric

"Candlewicking uses thick unbleached cotton thread."

"Candlewicking uses thick unbleached cotton thread for tufting and knotting on white fabric."

a type of embroidery stitch that involves creating a series of looped stitches that form a chain-like pattern

"Chain stitch forms looped links."

"Chain stitch forms linked loops like a chain commonly used in embroidery and sewing."

a type of embroidery technique that involves attaching a decorative thread or yarn to a fabric surface by laying it on top of the fabric and securing it in place with small stitches or knots

"Couching lays thick thread down."

"Couching lays thick thread onto fabric and stitches it down with small stitches of fine thread."

a type of embroidery that originated in Brazil and is characterized by the use of high-sheen rayon thread

"Brazilian embroidery uses rayon thread."

"Brazilian embroidery uses rayon thread for raised effects and textured stitches on fabric."

a type of embroidery that involves creating designs on fabric using counted stitches

"Counted-thread embroidery follows fabric grid."

"Counted thread embroidery follows the fabric's grid for precision stitches counted over a specific number of threads."

a type of embroidery that uses wool yarn to create a variety of decorative stitches on a fabric

"Crewel embroidery uses wool thread."

"Crewel embroidery uses wool thread on linen for decorative plant and animal motifs."

a technique to make fabric that is done by hand and the threads of cotton or wool are connected by using a needle with a hook on its end

"Crochet uses a single hooked needle."

"Crochet loops yarn with a single hooked needle to create fabric or lace."

a type of embroidery stitch that involves creating X-shaped stitches on a fabric

"Cross-stitch forms X-shaped stitches."

"Cross stitch forms X shaped stitches on an even weave fabric following a counted chart pattern."

a sewing technique that involves repairing holes or tears in fabric by weaving or sewing new threads over the damaged area

"Darning repairs holes in fabric."

"Darning repairs holes in fabric with weaving stitches using thread that matches the original material."

to sew decorative patterns on a piece of cloth with colored threads

"She embroidered flowers on the pillowcase."

"She spent many hours to embroider colorful flowers onto a plain white pillowcase as a gift for her mother."

a type of embroidery that uses metallic threads, such as gold or silver, and sometimes beads or sequins, to create intricate and decorative designs and patterns on fabric or other materials

"Goldwork uses metal threads."

"Goldwork embroiders with metal threads for decoration on religious garments and ceremonial uniforms."

the skill or act of making a piece of clothing from threads of wool, etc. by using a pair of special long thin needles or a knitting machine

"Knitting is calming."

"Knitting helps reduce stress for many people because the repetitive motions have a calming effect similar to meditation or deep breathing exercises."

a type of lace-making technique that involves creating lace designs and patterns using a needle and thread

"Needle lace makes lace with needle."

"Needle lace makes lace using only a needle and thread without a fabric backing."

a type of embroidery that involves creating designs on canvas or other materials using a needle and thread

"Needlepoint stitches on stiff canvas."

"Needlepoint stitches wool yarn onto stiff canvas for pillows upholstery and decorative wall hangings."

a sewing technique that involves piecing together small pieces of fabric into a larger design or pattern

"Patchwork sews fabric pieces together."

"Patchwork sews small fabric pieces together into a larger design for quilting and clothing."

a small pad used to hold and store sewing pins and needles during sewing

"She sticks needles in pincushion."

"She kept her sewing pins stuck in a tomato shaped pincushion next to her sewing machine."

the top part of a sewing pin that is used to hold the pin in place and to provide a surface for gripping and pushing with the fingers

"Pinhead is the top."

"The intricate beadwork was described as pinhead-sized, referring to the extremely small scale of the individual beads used."

a type of embroidery that uses ribbon rather than traditional embroidery thread to create delicate and intricate designs and patterns on fabric or other materials

"Ribbon embroidery uses silk ribbon."

"Ribbon embroidery uses silk ribbon for decorative stitches in floral and nature designs."

a traditional Japanese embroidery technique that involves using a running stitch to create decorative patterns and designs on fabric

"Sashiko reinforces fabric with decorative stitching."

"Sashiko is Japanese decorative reinforcement stitching with white thread on indigo blue fabric."

the skill or practice of using a scissor, needle, thread, etc. to make or repair clothing

"Learn sewing skills."

"She learned sewing from her grandmother and now makes her own clothes at home."

a decorative embroidery technique that involves gathering fabric in small, even pleats and securing them with stitches to create a textured and elastic effect

"Smocking gathers fabric into pleats."

"Smocking gathers fabric into decorative honeycomb pleats with elastic thread for stretch and texture."

a knitting technique that uses a spool with pegs or nails to create a narrow, tubular cord or braid

"Spool knitting makes a knitted cord."

"Spool knitting makes a knitted cord using a small spool with nails around the top edge."

a type of embroidery that involves creating three-dimensional designs and motifs using a variety of materials such as wire, beads, and fabric

"Stumpwork raises stitches off fabric."

"Stumpwork raises embroidery stitches off the fabric surface for three dimensional effects using wire padding."

a type of embroidery that involves creating decorative patterns and designs on the surface of fabric using a variety of stitches

"Surface embroidery decorates fabric top."

"Surface embroidery decorates the top of fabric without counting threads or following a grid."

a small protective cap worn on the finger to prevent injury while pushing a needle through fabric when sewing

"She protects finger with thimble."

"She wore a metal thimble on her middle finger to push the needle through the thick fabric without hurting herself."

a type of quilting technique that involves creating a raised and padded effect by stuffing areas of a quilt design with batting or other materials

"Trapunto creates padded quilted areas."

"Trapunto creates padded effects by stuffing stitches from underneath through a slit in the backing fabric."

a type of embroidery that involves creating designs and patterns on white or light-colored fabric using white or neutral-colored threads

"Whitework uses white thread on white."

"Whitework uses white thread on white fabric for delicate bridal and christening garments."

a knitting stitch that creates a twisted and interlocking pattern resembling a cable

"Cable stitch looks like twisted rope."

"Cable stitch looks like twisted rope creating raised texture in knitting and embroidery."

to finish the final row or stitch of a knitted or crocheted item and secure the loops so that the project is completed and ready to be cut off

"Cast off the last stitches."

"She will cast off the final stitches to complete her beautiful hand-knitted scarf."

to create the first row of stitches on a knitting needle, often using a slip knot or a long-tail cast on method

"Cast on stitches to start knitting."

"The knitting instructor showed the beginners how to cast on the first row of stitches before they could start making their scarves."

a long, thin, pointed tool used in knitting to hold stitches and manipulate yarn

"She drops a knitting needle."

"She clicked her metal knitting needles together as she worked on a scarf for her husband."

a knitting pattern that creates a stretchy and textured fabric by alternating knit and purl stitches in a specific pattern

"Ribbing makes stretchy fabric edges."

"Ribbing creates stretchy fabric edges for cuffs and hems on knitted garments."

the craft of sewing for decorative purposes

"Needlecraft includes embroidery knitting crochet."

"Needlecraft includes embroidery knitting crochet and sewing as home crafts practiced with needle and thread."