Embroidery ABC

An Introduction of Silk Embroidery Quality

An Introduction of Silk Embroidery Quality

The quality of silk embroideries varies tremendously. Prices of silk embroideries varies with the quality. In terms of quality, silk embroideries can be divided into three groups, average quality silk embroidery, fine quality silk embroidery and top quality silk embroidery.

Average Quality

Average quality silk embroideries are often found in some tourist spots. They normally look not bad from a distance. While you take a close look at them, you will see they are not 100% hand embroidered. There is only little hand embroidery work in each silk embroidery picture. The background is often printed. The embroidery work is done with full silk threads and there is a noticeable space between each two silk threads. The stitches are very long. The whole embroidery work has limited colors and is always done with one layer.

Some people buy average quality silk embroideries because they are cheap, while others buy them because they don't know much about Chinese silk embroideries and they think all the silk embroideries are the same. An average quality silk embroidery can be a good choice as a tourist souvenir. But since the background is printed not embroidered, its colors may fade with time.

Fine Quality

Most of the silk embroideries people see in shops while they are traveling in China are fine quality silk embroideries. These embroideries look much better than average quality embroideries. They are 100% hand embroidered , not printed. The embroidery work is always done with split silk threads. (One silk thread can be divided into 16 thinner silk threads. Most of the embroidery work in a fine quality silk embroidery is done with 1/2 to 1/4 silk thread, using silk threads that are divided 2 to 3 times)

For an average customer who is interested in Chinese silk embroidery, a fine quality silk embroidery is a good choice. By using split silk threads, the embroidery work is very smooth and dense. A fine quality silk embroidery has more colors. The embroidery work is often done with 2-3 layers of embroidery. Since it is completely hand embroidered not printed, its colors won't fade over time. It is a good choice for wall decor and gifts on various occasions.

Top Quality

It takes from several months to even several years to complete one top quality silk embroidery. Top quality silk embroideries are very expensive and are only for serious collectors. The embroidery work is done with very thin silk threads, 1/16 silk threads or silk threads divided 4 times. Many of the silk embroideries in Suzhou Embroidery Research Institute (located in Jingde Road, Suzhou, China) are top quality silk embroideries, embroideries at the same quality level as depicted in the book "Threads of Light". Since top quality silk embroideries are too expensive to be affordable for many customers, there do not have many in stock always .

Customers interested in owning a top quality silk embroidery please contact us for custom embroidery project. We will quote you the price after learning which picture and what size you want.

Date：2009-5-8　【Return】