Hardanger Embroidery

If you like to do embroidery, then you need to do some Hardanger embroidery. Did you know that Hardanger embroidery came from ancient Persia and Asia? Then, around the Renaissance times, the Hardanger embroidery spread into Italy. From there it evolved in to Italian Reticella and Venetian lacework. Many variations of this type of embroidery had gone into northern Europe by the 1700s. From there, it was developed into Danish and Dutch Hedebo, Scottich Ayrshire work and Ruskin lacework. Hardanger embroidery is a type of embroidery that is traditionally worked with white thread on white even weaved cloth, known as Hardanger fabric. Hardanger embroidery is done by counting threads and drawn thread work techniques. Hardanger embroidery is sometimes called White Work embroidery.

When doing traditional Hardanger embroidery, your thread color should match the fabric, usually white or cream. The colored thread enhances the sculptural nature of the stitches; it also enhances the details that are found in some of the intricate filling stitches. However, many contemporary designs make use of colored, variegated and overdyed threads this as gives the Hardanger embroidery project great effect. When using normal Hardanger fabric, it is usually best to use Pearl cotton No. 5. Pearl cotton No. 8 is a thinner thread used for more delicate filling stitches and for surface details. With the uses of finer, higher count fabrics, the combination of No. 8 and No. 12 thread is more suitable.

To learn more about Hardanger embroidery, check out some websites on Hardanger embroidery. Here in these sites you will find lots of history on Hardanger embroidery. Plus, you can find many patterns so you too can do your own Hardanger embroidery.