• Thread- Cotton or linen
• Hoop- necessary for most types of embroidery work to hold fabric taut for stitching. They keep a section of fabric stretched between two rings. The outer ring usually has an adjustable screw or a spring that allows the hoop to hold different weights of fabric. Frames work by keeping the entire fabric taut.
• Needles- Crewel, chenille, tapestry

It takes patience and care to create a piece of embroidery. you should aim for stitches that give just the right tension and a finished product that is neat and even on the wrong side as well as the right side.

Embroidery stitches are used in basically two ways: they either outline or fill in a particular shape in a design. The shape can be filled in solid, so that none of the fabric shows through, or it can be filled with open stitches for a lacy effect.

• Goldwork is not for the timid or beginer. Mayvar's page on goldwork brings information of this truly beautiful, but functional artwork.
• Blackwork - is a special category of counted thread embroidery, in which "diaper" or repetitive patterns are used to fill in designs. It is called Blackwork because, traditionally, black silk thread was worked on white linen. -On Pern we would use cotton, or a cotton/linen blended thread. Blackwork is done on even-weave fabric, typically even-weave linen. The best Blackwork is totally reversible, only a slight darkening where you've buried the ends of your threads.
• Cross-stitch - worked exclusively in a basic crossed stitch, and relies heavily on color for patterning.
• Assisi Embroidery - a variation of basic cross-stitch in which design areas are left open and the background filled with basic cross-stitch.
• Huck Embroidery - also called darning, is a type of needlework in which the surface of Huckaback fabric is decorated. Huckaback is a towelling fabric distinguished by raised threads that occur at regular intervals on both sides.
• Open work/ Pulled thread Embroidery - often used to decorate linens. Each stitch pulls the fabric threads together, creating open, lacelike patterns- Usually stitched on even-weave fabrics.
• Drawn Thread work - a type of openwork embroidery in which some of the weft and warp threads are drawn out or removed from the fabric. The remaining threads in the drawn area are then grouped together by different stitches, creating an open patterned effect. Hemstitching is the most common type of drawn thread work, grouping threads within a drawn border.
• Hardanger - is characterized by precisely worked blocks of satin stitch called kloster blocks.
• Openwork/Cutwork - a form of openwork embroidery, primarily for table linens and decorative details on blouses and dresses. it may look delicate, but it is quite sturdy because each part of the design is outlined in a fine buttonhole stitch.
• Shirring- involves the gathering of material with stitches using a elastic thread. The cotton thread is wound around a fine elastic core. Fine fabrics are best for shirring, since the finer fabric can stretch and self-adjust. You will find only Lady and Lord Holders having this treatment to gather outfits, as it is very time consuming and not widely done.