Hand Embroidery Designs | Basic embroidery stitches # Part 8 | Stitch and Flower-98

Hand Embroidery Designs | Basic embroidery stitches # Part 8 | Stitch and Flower-98 Store: Remains of a Cro-Magnon hunter who lived in Russia 32,000 years ago include a fur garment decorated with rows of beads, the earliest embellished garment yet discovered. Because the desire to dress up utilitarian textiles appears to be universal, embroidery is a worldwide phenomenon. China was the first culture to elevate embroidery to a high art form. As early as 4500 years ago the Chinese were stitching with silk and precious metals. By 1200 BC, these textiles so beguiled visitors that the known world beat a path to the source (see the related story following). Many embroidery motifs found throughout Europe and Asia can be traced to Chinese designs. Until fairly recently, embroidery has flourished best when supported by political, religious, or economic power. The intensive labor and great cost of materials