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Ever since mankind found a way to pass a piece of thread through fabric, they have wanted to embelish that fabric. And so, the art of embroidery was born.

Embroidered fabric has been found in every part of the world - from an Egyptian graveyard, to Peruvian mummies.

What makes a historical study of embroidery interesting is that the same techniques and stitches are present in every culture - different names, different styles, but all recognisable.

It is this which makes embroidery truly the most global of art forms and that has constantly seen it´s practitioners grow over the centuries.

Embroidery can be as simple as stitching a line of contrasting thread on a fabric, to the exquisite reversable embroideries of the Chinese Imperial Courts - it can be done in threads from the finest silk to the coarsest twine, and on fabrics as fine as gauze and as heavy as canvas.

Embroiders have ranged from the professional Embroidery Guilds of the Middle Ages, to generations of women and girls stitching at home, to sailors at sea. Interestingly, after World War 1, embroidery was used as a rehabilitation technique for soldiers recovering from injuries.

Many of their embroideries show painstakingly tiny stitches in bright colours - and one cannot help but think of them stitching, the setting of the stitches, the beauty of the patterns and colours helping to bring their minds and souls back from the horror of war.

Embroidery can be the simplest cross stitch, to the most delicate lace, and everything in between.

Embroidery at BellaOnline will take you into the world of embroidery. You will discover new (and old!) techniques from articles, interviews, book reviews and Website reviews. The Embroidery Shop will have the best of posters, threads, accessories, books and magazines available for your purchase, and the Subject links will take you to the on-line world of embroidery.

I have taken care that only the best is offered to you - in articles, merchandise, links and other resources.

If you don´t wish to shop on-line, our list of needlework stores will be of great help to you, and our discussion board and chat room is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Needle and Thread - our Newsletter, will keep you up to date with what is happening at Embroidery, and our Exchanges and Round Robins will help you to make new friends all around the world.

From time to time, competitions will be held for you to win great prizes for both machine embroiderers and hand embroiderers - for we cater to all here.

Free Projects are always fun, and I will offer these as frequently as I can - and in as wide a range of techniques and styles as I can. If you have a free project that you would like to share, why not send it in and we can feature it for you.

If you have a favorite site, then why not "Suggest a Site" and send to me it´s URL. You can also nominate your favorite designer for our "Designer Spotlight".

The World of Embroidery is one of friendship and fun, and is a community that is growing all the time.

Come on in, sit down and relax with us.

Is there anything that you would particularly like to see an article on? If so, please e-mail me with your suggestions.

Happy Stitching

© 2001, 2002 Megan McConnell