The origins of embroidery can be traced back to the Warring States period in China (500-300BC) and to 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 refined 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. Bored Panda 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: mymodernmet)
#1 Embroidered Cat Shirts By Hiroko Kubota
Image source: Hiroko Kubota
#2 A 92-year-old Grandmother Creates A Spectacular Collection Of Embroidered Temari Spheres
Image source: nanaakua
#3 Embroidered Vegetables By Veselka Bulkan
Image source: Veselka Bulkan
#4 Artist Embroiders On Metallic Objects
Image source: Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė
#5 Artist Meredith Woolnough Uses Home Sewing Machine To Capture Nature’s Most Delicate Forms With Embroidery
Image source: Meredith Woolnough
#6 Instead Of Taking Photos, Teresa Lim Embroiders Her Travels On-site
Image source: Teresa Lim
#7 Urban Cross Stitch
Image source: urbanxstitch
#8 Embroidered Animals By Chloe Giordano
Image source: Chloe Giordano
#9 Embroidered Portraits By Cayce Zavaglia
Image source: Cayce Zavaglia
#10 Embroidered Animals By Claire Moynihan
Image source: Claire Moynihan
#11 Artist Ana Teresa Barboza Creates Landscape Embroidery Art That Leaps Out Of Its Frames
Image source: Ana Teresa Barboza
#12 Artist James Merry Decorates Sport Logos With Embroidered Flowers
Image source: James Merry
#13 Artist Lauren Spark Recreated Van Gogh’s ‘starry Night’ Using Only Needle And Thread
Image source: Lauren Spark
#14 Embroidered Leaf Art By Hillary Fayle
Image source: Hillary Waters Fayle
#15 Artist Danielle Clough Embroiders On Old Tennis Rackets
Image source: Danielle Clough
#16 Artist Chara Embroiders Notebook With Veins, Holograms, And Floral Patterns
Image source: Chara
#17 Cross-stitched Solar System By Navid Baraty
Image source: Navid Baraty
#18 Embroidered X-ray Film By Matthew Cox
Image source: Matthew Cox
#19 Toast Embroidery By Judith G. Klausner
Image source: Judith G. Klausner
#20 Artists Spent Up To 100 Hours Embroidering Paint On Clothing
Image source: Lisa Smirnova
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