Crewel Embroidery: It carefully highlights uniformity and consistency in stitches with fine thread knots. It is mostly done with delicacy of details, the motifs are generally floral, tree of life, birds, geometrical and animal motifs etc. Crewel embroidery has been a timeless art, mostly done by skilled craftsmen specializes in uniform and consistent stitches done patiently with fine thread knots. Crewel embroidery word crewel can be found in the english records back to the 13th century. It is thought to have come from the east of Egypt, then to France and Rome, where it traveled with the Roman conquests. Crewel by definition, is the application of a variety of stitches to the surface of fabric, following a design applied to the fabric. Designs: Designs range from the traditional to the more contemporary patterns and modern-cotemporary and Jacobean style. It features abstract, portraits, camouflage, paisley, floral and animal motifs, with vines and leaves twining about. Crewel embroidery uses a variety of stitches, including satin, long and short, chain, French knot and vine stitch. To combine the jewel-like color and aspiration towards the infinite that is modern art with the immensely fine crewel-work is to produce a work of decadent utility. That's an oxymoron, we know, but there is no better way to describe these fabrics heartily crewel in wool or silk in heart-stopping color and sheen. Soft to the touch and crisply bright and bold to the eye, these crewel fabrics can be used with virtually any type of furnishings. The fabrics can be used as curtains, cushion covers, wall art, bed throws and has many more aplication. Jersey Lily Handicrafts’ line of decorative, embroidered fabrics and curtains is pure art in crewel. Browsing the curtains category of our website is like browsing an art gallery. These embroidered curtains are a 15th-century handcraft finely honed into contemporary art. The designs of the curtains are a mixture of art across the centuries worked into the finest craftsmanship the world has to offer. The floral designs take ancient motifs and translate them into modern art. From traditional motifs like lotuses and the tree of life to fanciful flowers perceived only in the imagination, modern artisans have created refreshing modern works interpreted in the palette of colored silks and wool. You see water lilies on royal ponds, hidden gardens, and wild nature portrayed in heart-stopping color and sheen. Flowers have always conveyed a deep meaning to people throughout the ages, and these artistic representations, interpreted into art for crewel curtains have much to say. To combine the jewel-like color and aspiration towards the infinite with the immensely fine crewel-work is to produce a work of decadent utility--lush works of art handcrafted into embroidered curtains. These fabrics can create a focal point in your décor that will raise the very vibrations of the room, the home, in which they are displayed. Crewel embroidery is of two types: A single ply woolen yarn is used for this type of embroidery. The lower yarn cost results in a cheaper fabric which allows for more range when selling the product to customers. Using a more durable 2-ply woolen yarn for embroidery, it is costlier of the two and is known to last decades if cared for properly. The finer wool gives these fabrics a more neat and uncluttered appearance in comparison. The crewel making process begins with the selection of a design - "Tree of Life", "Jacobean" and "Maple" are some of the most commonly used designs by our artisans. Custom designs whether traditional or modern are also made specific to customer request. CARE: Crewel Embroidery is a delicate art and needs to be cared for properly. Over time your fabric may become dirty requiring it to be cleaned. Most crewel fabrics are suggested to be professionally dry cleaned to avoid dye bleeding from the embroidery yarns. White on white fabrics may be hand washed at home safely and spin dried in a washing machine. Ironing out the wrinkles however is something you should consider seriously before deciding to go that way and overall it is best to leave the cleaning job to professionals.