Embroidery is a centuries-old craft that has been used to decorate clothing, linens, and other fabrics.
Traditionally, embroidery was done by hand, using a needle and thread to create delicate designs.
Today, machine embroidery is also popular, and it offers a number of advantages over hand embroidery.
Machine embroidery is faster and more precise, and it can be used to create complex patterns that would be difficult or impossible to create by hand.
In addition, machine-embroidered designs are usually more durable than hand-embroidered ones, making them a good choice for everyday items like clothing.
However, hand embroidery still has its appeal, and many people enjoy the slow, relaxing process of stitching by hand.
1. Difference in material selection and use
The following threads are commonly used for dress embroidery:
The thread used in hand embroidery is made of silk, commonly known as “flower thread”, which has a natural luster and has tiny hairs when viewed against the light.
The thread used in machine embroidery is made of chemical fiber, which is smoother than silk thread.
2. Difference of threads used
The thread used in hand embroidery is made of natural silk and can be separated. Because of the process, different thicknesses of threads are used in the embroidery process, and if you look carefully, you will see that some of the threads are of different thicknesses.
Machine embroidery cannot be broken during the process, so it embroiders the same thread thickness, lack of flexibility, more single rigid.
3. Different handling of stitches
In hand embroidery, it is impossible for the embroiderer to make every stitch of the same length when embroidering.
With machine embroidery, the stitch length is usually the same, with no variation.
4. The applicable patterns are different
Hand embroidery has a wide range of motifs, and almost any motif can be embroidered.
Machine embroidery is computerized, and the patterns are fixed, most of them are oil paintings or hand landscapes, so the overall effect is better.
5. The weight of the finished product is different
Hand embroidery uses silk, so even if the whole piece of cloth is embroidered, the overall weight is lighter and softer.
Machine embroidery uses chemical fiber thread, which cannot be interrupted during the embroidery process, so the back side is also connected to the thread, resulting in a heavier weight of the embroidery.
For the same size embroidery, machine embroidery tends to be heavier than hand embroidery.
6. The back side of the embroidery is different
In hand embroidery, the embroiderer has a better grasp of the embroidery, so there are few stitches on the back of the embroidery.
The back side of machine embroidery is dense with connecting threads, and machine embroidery is layer upon layer, so it is thick and hard to touch, not as soft and comfortable as manual embroidery.
7. Price is different
Hand embroidery, material cost and labor cost are relatively high, so the price is also high. The cost of machine embroidery is cheaper, so the price is also cheaper.
In the end, the choice between hand and machine embroidery comes down to personal preference.
