Goldwork

Goldwork is the most regal and luxurious of embroidery techniques. Once accessible only to the wealthy, goldwork embroidery was used historically to adorn ecclesiastical textiles, military uniforms, and clothing and textiles for the nobility.

Today, goldwork is more accessible than it used to be, and is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity as a popular needlework technique.

Goldwork differs from other surface embroidery techniques especially when considering the threads used. Unlike threads from natural or man-made fibers (cotton, wool, silk, rayon…), the threads used in goldwork are made from real metal. With some types of goldwork threads, the metal is wrapped around a fiber core, while with other types of metal threads, the whole “thread” is all metal.

Often, goldwork is combined with silk shading, so that rich color accompanies the gold.

Back To: Types of Hand Embroidery on Needle ‘n Thread

Koala Conventions and Australian Needle Arts

Subscribe to our web feed

I learned to embroider when I was a kid - around 10 years old - when my aunt and older sisters were really into cross stitch. Eventually, I migrated to surface embroidery, teaching myself with whatever I could... read more>

Goldwork

Recent Comments

Featured Book