The origins of embroidery can be traced back to the Warring States period in China (500-300BC) and Sweden’s Migration period (300-700AD), and some would argue that it hasn’t changed much over the centuries:
“It is a striking fact that in the development of embroidery … there are no changes of materials or techniques which can be felt or interpreted as advances from a primitive to a later, more advanced stage. On the other hand, we often find in early works a technical accomplishment and high standard of craftsmanship rarely attained in later times” (The Art of Embroidery, 1964).
But these modern-day needle-and-thread pioneers beg to differ. A&D has put together this list of the best and most creative embroidery to prove that while the ancients were good, nothing holds a thimble to what these modern masters can accomplish! Which stitch do you find the most impressive? (H/T)
01. Embroidered Cat Shirts By Hiroko Kubota
02. A 92-year-old Grandmother Creates A Spectacular Collection Of Embroidered Temari Spheres
03. Embroidered Vegetables By Veselka Bulkan
04. Artist Embroiders On Metallic Objects
Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė
05. Instead Of Taking Photos, Teresa Lim Embroiders Her Travels On-site
06. Artist Meredith Woolnough Uses Home Sewing Machine To Capture Nature’s Most Delicate Forms With Embroidery
07. Urban Cross Stitch
08. Embroidered Animals By Chloe Giordano
09. Embroidered Portraits By Cayce Zavaglia
10. Artist Ana Teresa Barboza Creates Landscape Embroidery Art That Leaps Out Of Its Frames
11. Embroidered Animals By Claire Moynihan
12. Artist Lauren Spark Recreated Van Gogh’s ‘starry Night’ Using Only Needle And Thread
Lauren Spark
13. Embroidered Leaf Art By Hillary Fayle
14. Artist James Merry Decorates Sports Logos With Embroidered Flowers
15. Artist Danielle Clough Embroiders On Old Tennis Rackets
16. Artist Chara Embroiders Notebook With Veins, Holograms, And Floral Patterns
17. Toast Embroidery By Judith G. Klausner
18. Cross-Stitched Solar System By Navid Baraty
19. Embroidered X-ray Film By Matthew Cox
20. Artists Spent Up To 100 Hours Embroidering Paint On Clothing
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