Mirror work

Mirror work is the art of stitching mirrors on to the fabric in a variety of designs.

Mirrors of different shapes Square, Diamond, Round etc and sizes are used for Mirror work.

Mirror work can be done on any fabric in sarees, blouse pieces, skirts etc. After fixing the mirror you can stitch beads around to make it more attractive.

Sequence is a plastic silver coated material available in different shapes and size. This is also used instead of mirrors.

Materials Required

Mirrors or sequence of desired shapes & sizes Embroidery ThreadNeedle

There are different ways of fixing mirrors of different shapes to the fabric. Two or three strands of thread are taken to fix mirrors or sequence.

First:

For Round MirrorsPlace the mirror on the cloth & draw the out line. Mark a dotted line 1/2 cm away from the outline. On the dotted line work chain stitch loosely.

Join the last & first chain . Then pass the thread through the inner chain. when it reaches the last chain, insert the mirror and pull the thread and make it tight. Bring the needle out through any chain and then take the needle down the fabric and end it with a knot.

Second:

You can also fix mirrors by stitching with the mirror placed on the cloth in position. Keep the mirror in position and start stitching. Refer to the figure on the right side and follow the instructions given below

Take the needle to B

Bring the needle to C

From C to D

D to E

E to F

F to G
G to H

Again come back to A. If you want a thicker appearance repeat once again

Do Button hole or blanket stitch on the thread .To give a finishing touch to the work, you can do Closed Herring Bone or Chain stitch as the outline of the mirror.

German Buttonhole stitch

Buttonhole stitch and the related blanket stitch are hand-sewing stitches used in tailoring, embroidery, and needle lace-making.

Buttonhole stitches catch a loop of the thread on the surface of the fabric and needle is returned to the back of the fabric at a right angle to the original start of the thread. The finished stitch in some ways resembles a letter "L" depending on the spacing of the stitches.

For buttonholes the stitches are tightly packed together and for blanket edges they are more spaced out. The properties of this stitch make it ideal for preventing raveling of woven fabric. This stitch is also the basis for many forms of needle lace.

Examples of buttonhole or blanket stitches include:

Blanket stitch
Buttonhole stitch
Closed Buttonhole stitch-> in which the tops of the stitch touch to form triangles
Crossed Buttonhole stitch-> in which the tops of the stitch cross
Detached Buttonhole stitch-> in which rows of buttonhole stiches are worked to form a "floating" filling stitch Buttonhole stitches combined with knots
Top Knotted Buttonhole stitch
German Knotted Buttonhole stitch
Tailor's Buttonhole stitch
Armenian Edging stitch

Blackwork Embroidery

Blackwork Embroidery is often referred to as 'Blackwork'. It is a simple embroidery, which is done using a back thread on a white to off white fabric.





Usually done on an even weave material, Blackwork embroidery uses any ordinary black thread that has firmly twisted threads to give it a more thicker appearance.


Blackwork is a form of counted-thread embroidery and is usually stitched on even-weave fabric. Any black thread can be used, but firmly twisted threads give a better look than embroidery floss. Traditionally blackwork is stitched in silk thread on linen or cotton fabric. Sometimes metallic threads or coloured threads are used for accents


The stitches used are double running stitch (which is also called holbein stitch) backstitch, and sometimes stem stitch.



Blackwork Embroidery Technique:

To help you learn blackwork let's continue to build your library of blackwork fill patterns worked in double running stitch. This small pattern is useful for small areas of a design, and gives a dark overall effect.

This pattern breaks down basically into vertical and horizontal rows. Start working it by following row 1 on the step by step diagram above. Each stitch is worked over 1 Aida block (as shown) or 2 evenweave fabric threads.

Starting with step 2 of the diagram I have coloured all the existing stitches in this pattern in black, with the new stitches for the current row in blue. So for step 2 fill in the gaps with vertical stitches.

Repeat these steps to fill the area with the first layer of the pattern.

For step 3 we will work horizontally by working diagonal stitches (again the current row is in blue). Be careful to stitch them in the right place.

Return across the area as in step 4 to complete the pattern

Blackwork Diagram

Half Rhodes Stitch

The Half Rhodes stitch is the same as the Rhodes stitch, except the "Half Rhodes" only has 5 stitches. The addition of a small horizontal stitch, known as a bar can be used to keep the stitch neat and hold it together..

This stitch is normally stitched on evenweave fabric and requires 5 stitches and the small bar to make the Half Rhodes stitch. The Half Rhodes stitch does not work well on Aida fabric.

Start the stitch by passing the needle through the material from the back to the front at the bottom left hand side of the stitch.

Next stitch the first diagonal to the top right hand side covering squares of two, four or more threads of evenweave fabric.

Build up the stitch working anticlockwise around the square, progressing step by step until the first 5 stitches have been completed. As the stitches are added, the centre of the stitch raises up, giving the 3D effect.

Finally stitch a small horizontal stitch across the middle of the stitch (the bar). If you are stitching a series of these stitches, keep the sequence to build up the stitch, the same on each to maximise the neatness of the stitches. Sometimes the bar is stitched in a different colour to give a more interesting effect

Hand Embroidery Stiches

Types Of Hand Embroidery Stiches

Assisi Embroidery Stich
Algerian Eye Stich
Alternating Cross Stich
Alternating Barred Chain Stich
Arrow stitch
Arrowhead Stitch
Arrowhead Stitch Threaded

Bargello Stich
Blackwork Embroidery Stich
Back Stitch
Back stitch threaded
Back stitch whipped
Back stitched spider's
Barb Stitch
Barred Chain
Basque Stitch
Basque Knot stitch
Basque Loop stitch
Bead edging stitch
Beaded stitch
Berlin stitch
Berwick Stitch
Blanket stitch
Blanket stitch up and down
Bonnet stitch
Braid chain
Briar stitch
Broad chain stitch
Bullion Knot
Bullion stitch
Butterfly chain Stich
Buttonhole Bar Stich
Buttonhole Wheel Stich
Buttonhole Stich
Buttonhole stitch: Bonnet
Buttonhole stitch: Buttonhole Bar
Buttonhole barb stitch
Buttonhole stitch: Berwick Stitch
Buttonhole stitch: Closed Buttonhole
Buttonhole stitch: Closed Feather stitch
Buttonhole stitch: Crossed buttonhole
Buttonhole stitch: Detached Buttonhole
Buttonhole stitch: Feather stitch
Buttonhole Stitch: Feathered up and down buttonhole
Buttonhole stitch: Mirrored (Up and down buttonhole)
Buttonhole stitch: Rosette of Thorns
Buttonhole stitch: Up and down buttonhole
Buttonhole Stitch: Up and down buttonhole feathered
Buttonhole stitch: Wheel
Bunka Shishu Stich

Casalguidi Stich
Cast on Stitch
Crewel embroidery stich
Cast on stitch Double
Castelguidi Stich
Catch stitch
Caterpillar stitch
Chain Stitch
Chain stitch Alternating barred chain
Chain stitch Barred chain
Chain stitch butterfly
Chain stitch detached
Chain stitch feathered
Chain stitch Heavy chain
Chain stitch open
Chain stitch Oyster
Chain stitch Reversed
Chain stitch Rosette
Chain stitch twisted
Chain stitch whipped
Chain stitch zig zag
Chained feather stitch
Chevron Stitch
Chevron stitch half
Chinese stitch
Closed Buttonhole
Closed Feather Stitch
Colonial Knot Stich
Coil stitch
Convent stitch
Coral knot
Coral Stitch
Couching or Simple Laid Work
Cretan Stitch
Cretan stitch: Open Cretan Stitch
Cretan stitch: Knotted Cretan Stitch
Crewel stitch
Cross Stitch
Cross stitch alternating
Cross stitch Double cross stitch
Cross stitch Half
Cross stitch Long arm cross stitch
Cross stitch Montenegrin
Cross stitch Quarter
Cross stitch Rice stitch
Crossed Buttonhole Stich
Crossed corners Stich

Daisy stitch
Damask stitch
Detached Buttonhole Stich
Detached Chain
Double Cast on stitch
Double Cross
Double knot stitch
Double Herringbone Stich
Double running stitch Interlaced
Drizzle stitch

Eyelet Stitch

Florentine embroidery stich
Feather Stitch
Filling Stitches
Feathered Chain stich
Feathered up and down buttonhole stitch
Fern Stitch
Figure eight knot Stich
Fly Stitch
Fly stitch Closed
Fly stitch Plaited
Fly stitch Reversed
Fly stitch Reversed
Fly stitch threaded
Fly stitch Whipped
Fly stitch whipped reverse
French dot Stich
French Knot Stich

German knot stitch
Ghiordes Knot
Greek stitch
Grub knot

Half Chevron stitch
Half cross stitch
Heavy Braid chain Stich
Heavy chain Stich
Herringbone Stich
Herringbone double Stich
Hardanger embroidery Stich

Indian herringbone stitch
Interlaced Running Stich

Kensington outline stitch
Kloster stitch
Knot stitch
Knotted stitch
Knotted stitch
Knotted Cretan
Knotted loop stitch
Knotted Pearl stitch

Ladder stitch
Laid Work Stich
Lazy daisy stitch
Long legged cross stitch
Long-armed Cross Stich
Long-armed feather stitch
Long-armed fly stitch
Loop stitch

Mirrored buttonhole Stich
Mirrored buttonhole feathered Stich
Montenegrin Stich
Mossoul stitch

Old English knot stitch
Open Chain Stitch
Open Cretan Stich
Open loop stitch
Outline Stitch
Oyster stitch

Padded Satin Stich
Palestrina stitch
Palestrina stitch Basque Knot
Palestrina stitch Reversed
Palestrina stitch Sorbello
Palestrina stitch Triple
Pearl stitch
Pekinese Stich
Persian stitch
Persian stitch
Plaited Slav stitch
Plaited stitch
Porto Rico rose Stich
Portuguese stitch
Post stitch

Queen stitch
Quilt knot stitch
Quarter cross stitch

Raised spider's web wheel Stich
Renaissance stitch
Reversed chain stitch
Ribbed wheel
Rice Stitch
Roman chain stitch
Rosette chain
Rosette of Thorns Stich
Running Stitch
Running Stitch- Interlaced Running Stitch
Running Stitch- Interlaced Double Running Stitch
Running Stitch- Stepped Threaded Running Stitch
Running Stitch- Threaded Running Stitch
Running Stitch- Whipped Running Stitch
Russian cross stitch
Russian stitch

Sampler stitch
Satin Stitch
Scottish Stitch
Scroll Stitch
Sham hem stitch
Single coral stitch
Single feather stitch
Single knot tufting
Single knotted line stitch
Single knotted Smyrna rug stitch
Slav stitch
Smyrna stitch
Snail trail
Sorbello Stitch
South Kensington stitch
Spider's web Stich
Split Stitch
Square chain stitch
Stalk stitch
Star eyelet stitch
Star stitch
Stem Stitch
Stepped and Threaded Running Stitch
Straight or Single Satin Stich
Stroke stitch
Surface embroidery Stich

Tall chain stitch
Tambour stitch
Threaded Arrowhead
Threaded Back
Threaded Fly Stitch
Threaded reverse fly stitch
Threaded Running
Tied coral stitch
Tied loop stitch
Tufted knot stitch
Turkey rug knot Stich
Twilling Stitch
Twist stitch
Twisted Chain stich
Twisted daisy border Stich
Twisted daisy stitch
Twisted knot stitch
Twisted Lattice Band Stich

Up and down blanket stitch
Up and Down Buttonhole stitch
Up and down buttonhole stitch feathered

Vandyke chain stitch

Whitework Stich
Wheatear Stich
Wheel stitch
Whipped attached fly stitch
Whipped Back Stitch
Whipped Chain Stich
Whipped Fly Stich
Whipped reverse fly stitch
Whipped Running
Whipped Spider's Wheel Stich
Whipped Stem Stich
Witch stitch
Worm stitch
Wound stitch
Woven Spiders Wheel
Woven spoke stitch
Woven spot Stich
Woven wheel Stich

Y stitch
Zigzag Chain Stich
Zigzag sham hem stitch