What is whitework embroidery?

Whitework embroidery is an umbrella term for needlework done with white thread on white fabric.

Normal embroidery floss is often not strong enough so other threads are more commonly used. 

Originally used for ecclesiastical items, fine whitework became popular with middle-class women in the late 1800s who used it to decorate christening gowns and bonnets along with nightgowns and household linens.

While the material used has changed over the years, embroidery is still popular. However, it does take skill and concentration as, in many forms, it involves either the removal or bunching together of the fabric threads. 

Band 1 - Do the first filling stitch

Band 2 - Drawn thread work

Band 3 covers Pulled satin stitch and double back stitch

Band 4 introduces diamond eyelet stitch and double backstitch leaves

Band 5 - practice pulled satin stitch and also learn honeycomb stitch

Band 6 - learn three-sided stitch and ringed back stitch

Band 7 - diagonal four-sided stitch finishes off the sampler

Also known as drawn fabric or pulled work, this whitework embroidery does not rely on removing threads but rather moving them.

The stitches pull the threads into bunches allowing the holes formed to make the patterns.

Pulled thread work is not as effective when worked with coloured threads as the pulled thread stitches themselves are not meant to be seen.

Hardanger embroidery is named after the area in Norway where it originated.

This form of needlework uses pulled and drawn thread techniques with the addition of satin stitch motifs. The areas where the fabric threads have been removed, are wrapped or needlewoven and lacy filling stitches are worked in the gaps.

Traditionally Hardanger embroidery was used to decorate aprons, clothing, and household linens. Modern Hardanger often uses colour and can be effectively stitched this way.

My hardanger patterns can be found by clicking the link.

As I mentioned earlier, needlelace followed the early whitework embroidery techniques. Although lace is traditionally white, modern-day needlelace can be worked in many colors.

Using simple buttonhole stitches, it is possible to create gossamer fine needlelace or padded pieces that look like carved ivory. 

It is often employed nowadays to create items for stumpwork projects and add decoration to crazy quilt blocks.

Cutwork embroidery was the forerunner to later needle-made laces. It seems to have first been mentioned in 12th Century chronicles when it was worked by nuns and kept secret from the general public. In those times it was used on priests' sacramental robes and grave cloths for saints.

During the 15th to 17th Century, upper-class ladies took up creating cutwork. In addition to making altar cloths as gifts for the church, they also used it to decorate their fine linens.

The original cutwork techniques expanded and became the basis of various other techniques.

Richelieu was superseded by Reticella, apparently also known as Greek Point.

It was the first of the needlelaces with the fabric only used as a support while working. Threads were laid across a pattern, couched in place, and then overcast or buttonhole stitches were worked over them, decorated with picots.

It is considered the most beautiful type of needlework but takes time to construct.