Beadwork (not stitched on ground fabric/paper): Beads stitched together to form a freestanding item, such as a necklace. Including but not limited to Bead Weaving and Bead Looming.

Canvaswork: Stitches worked on even, openly woven canvas background.

  • Traditional: Pieces worked in tent stitch, or in three or fewer different stitches.

  • Multi-stitch: Pieces worked in four or more different stitches.

Counted Thread: Embroidery worked on an evenly woven ground fabric.

  • Assisi: Background of a design is worked in cross stitches and outlined in double running stitch.

  • Blackwork: Straight stitches worked on a light ground fabric forming a geometric pattern, usually stitched in a single color thread, although not always black.

  • Cross Stitch: Crosses stitched over one ore more threads of the ground fabric.

  • Drawn Thread: Threads are removed from the fabric to create a pattern and the remaining strands are wrapped in groups (including hardanger).

  • Miniature: Designs stitched over single threads of 32 or higher count background fabric.

  • Pulled Work: Stitches pulled to open spaces in the ground fabric.

  • Sampler: Traditional or Multi-stitch(4+)

Surface Embroidery:

  • Brazilian: Surface embroidery using rayon threads.

  • Crewel: Uses 100% wool threads on a ground fabric; may include a small amount of other embellishments, e.g. spangles, metallic threads

  • Goldwork: Surface embroidery couched or laid to a ground fabric using metal and/or metallic threads.

  • Traditional Japanese Embroidery: Fine silk and metal threads are sewn, laid or couched in traditional Asian or European motifs.

  • Japanese Bead Embroidery: Beads are stitched on patterned ground cloth using Japanese techniques.

  • Needle Punch

  • Sashiko: A Japanese quilting technique using running stitches to form geometric patterns on woven fabric.

  • Silk Ribbon: Surface embroidery worked with silk ribbons.

  • Stumpwork: Raised embroidery featuring covered forms and wires with silk, cotton or metal threads to create three-dimensional shapes.

  • Temari: Needlewoven designs on a thread-wrapped ball.

Fine Hand Sewing: Manipulation of finely woven fabrics coupled with fine laces and trims assembled by hand.

Needle Lace: Detached embroidery worked with needle and thread onto foundation threads. Including but not limited to Needle Tatting and Battenburg.

  • Battenburg: Lace tape shaped and held together by decorative connecting stitches.

  • Filet Guipure: Knotted, creating a decorative item.

Quilting: Items created with joined layers of fabric and filling that are stitched through all layers to create a design (perimeter limit of 144 inches).

Smocking: Stitches worked over a series of rows, gathering the fabric in even folds or pleats, giving an elastic characteristic to the fabric.