Embroidery adorns some of the world's oldest and most elaborately decorated artifacts. Embroidery can be seen on ancient tapestries and ceremonial clothing. Examples of medieval embroidery exist in the form of samplers and wall hangings. This ancient art has always denoted quality and wealth, and, until fairly recent times, it was rarely seen on common objects. This was largely because, until the advent of the sewing machine in the late 19th century, embroidery was done by hand, and the process was fairly time-consuming. Only the rich could afford embroidered objects as the craft took a lot of artistry and time. Simply put, embroidery is decorative needlework created by stitching strands of thread over another material. It is primarily an embellishment to an already-existing piece of clothing or household item. Embroidery is making a comeback in fashion, where embroidered jeans are the hot new denim trend. There are several commonly used embroidery stitches. The back stitch outlines shapes, blanket and chain stitches are used for decorative edging, and the cross stitch creates an X shape. Specialty stitches are used for special effects and to fill in spaces. Bullion knots are worked by twisting the thread around the needle. The two most efficient methods of doing embroidery are the hand-sewing method and the stab method. The kind of stitches and materials being used determine which method is best. Embroiderers usually have personal preferences for their favorite method. Machine embroidery is also within reach of the home sewer, thanks to the advent of the embroidery machine. Paints and transfers help the beginner create embroidery designs on the backing material, so that the stitcher can easily make the design. | 
