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Hand Embroidery v/s Machine Embroidery: Differences and Identification
Hand Embroidery v/s Machine Embroidery
It is not hard to guess that machine embroidery would cost far less than hand embroidery for the basic reason that machine embroidery uses a machine for embroidery work and is completed much faster. What is hard and almost IMPOSSIBLE to tell is the differences between Machine and Hand Embroidery if one does not have the required knowledge.
If you don't believe me, take a look at the 2 shawls below and try to figure out which one is Hand Embroidered and which one is Machine Embroidered?
As I am sure you would like a hint, I shall detail a few tests which are useful in determining if the Embroidery work is done by Machine or Hand. But before doing that let us take a look at the comparison of prices for Hand Embroidered and Machine Embroidered items in similar types of embroidery:
Item Name
Machine Embroidery Cost
Hand Embroidery Cost
SHORT JACKET
US$ 30-40
US$ 125-150
SHAWL
US$ 40-50
US$ 145-165
LONG JACKET
US$ 50-60
US$ 175-210
PONCHO
US$ 15-18
US$ 45-60
DRESSING GOWN
US$ 40-50
US$ 120-140
So as you can see the price difference is enormous. It would therefore be proper to say that the buyer well informed about how to identify machine embroidery, is the one who will buy smart - whether the item is machine embroidered or Hand Embroidered.
A Machine Embroidered jacket costs around 25% of
its Hand Embroidered counterpart, but will
sell comparatively higher because it was advertised as a
Hand Embroidered jacket.
How to spot the differences:
Test 1.
A LOOK AT THE WRONG SIDE: This is helpful only
for items which don't have a lining (like
Crewel Fabric, Shawls and Throws, Silk Sarees, Salwar Kameez, Kurtas/
Tunics). A first look at the wrong side will
reveal clearly if the item is embroidered by
hand or machine. Machine embroidery is a continuous
stitching process and
employs multi-colored thread for embroidery.
It therefore has continuity in stitches with
very few breaks.
Hand-stitch on the contrary employs
single-color threads for embroidery and the
craftsman from time to time breaks off the
earlier thread (color) to start a new thread
(color) leaving behind a trail of threads hanging on the wrong side of the fabric.
Hand embroidery leaves a lot of
threads hanging on the wrong side
Machine embroidery
leaves very few threads hanging on the wrong side
Test 2. A LOOK AT THE TRUE SIDE: This test will require
some good experience regarding familiarity
with machine-stitch and hand-stitch.
Hand embroidery is tidy with good variety of colors.
Notice the ascending shoot (brown color) with
its curves imparted by skilled hands.
Machine embroidery overlaps as it uses multiple dyes on the same yarn skein.
The shoot (brown color) here is more of
straight line type and overlapping onto the
leaves (green color).
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