The top 10 most searched for embroidery styles have been revealed in the UK. It seems that border embroidery is a heavy favourite in the UK, having nearly 3 times as many searches as the second favourite.
The research was conducted by embroidery design experts Design Bundles. Over a three-month period, the number of searches for each embroidery style was tallied. The number of searches for the months of; November, December, and January were averaged out to give a top 10 ranking, as shown below.
As previously mentioned border embroidery was the favorite. Border embroidery had an average of 2,900 searches each month. Crewel embroidery came in second place with an average of 1000 searches. The full top 10 is shown in the chart below.
| Rank | Top 10 Embroidery styles | Searches each month |
| 1 | Border Embroidery | 2,900 |
| 2 | Crewel Embroidery | 1,000 |
| 3 | French Knot Embroidery | 1,000 |
| 4 | Sashiko Embroidery | 1,000 |
| 5 | Chain Stitch Embroidery | 880 |
| 6 | Cross Embroidery | 880 |
| 7 | Bead Embroidery | 720 |
| 8 | Blackwork Embroidery | 720 |
| 9 | Paraffle Embroidery | 720 |
| 10 | Applique Embroidery | 590 |
What is border embroidery?
As the name suggests border embroidery is a type of decorative stitching that creates a border on your sewing projects. The design runs lengthwise down the edge of a piece of clothing or fabric. This type of embroidering is typically used to outline a border on clothes, tableware, and quilting.
There are many different stitch styles you can employ to create border embroidery patterns. This includes:
- Threaded running stitch
- double-threaded running stitch
- Stepped running stitch
- Whipped backstitch
- Pekinese stitch
- Herringbone ladder
- Wheatear stitch
- Tulip stitch
- Rosette of thorns
- Chevron stitch
- Double chevron stitching
- Herringbone stitching
As you can see there are many different patterns to chose from and yet more still. Perhaps this is why it is the most searched for UK embroidery design. Now let's look at the rest of the design patterns.
What is crewel embroidery?
Crewel embroidered textiles stretch back nearly 1000 years as crewel embroidery patterns were used in the Bayeux Tapestry. The Bayeux Tapestry uses crewel embroidery to depict the Battle of Hastings in 1066. This long history of use is perhaps why it is the second most popular style with 1000 searches each month.
What makes crewel embroidery different from other designs is the thickness and texture of the embroidery. Wool fibers and yarns are used for the thread, and this thicker thread gives it more dimension and texture.
Crewel embroidery designs used to be used to style tapestries, clothing, and curtains. However, as this type of embroidering fell out of fashion its use changed. It is now more commonly used in art, or decorative pillows for example.
French Knot Embroidery designs
French knot embroidery designs are one of the most popular stitches with 1000 searches each month. French knots are notoriously difficult to sew, and to unknot, which may explain why it is searched for so many times.
A designer or hobbyist will undoubtedly need online support and guidance when trying it for the first time. There are many guided tutorials, and videos online which show its popularity lies in its difficulty.
However French knots are 1 of the best tools for filling in patterns such as circles or the center of a flower. Textiles can be embroidered with small flowers using French Knots. It can also help add a woolly texture to projects.
What is Sashiko embroidery?
Although Sashiko embroidery designs are around 400 years old, it is now more popular than ever. The design started in rural Japan as a way for the poor to keep warm during winter. This type of stitching could be used on cheap hemp material, in such a way that it could trap warm pockets of air between layers. This created beautifully unique embroidery.
In the 20th century, this fell out of fashion in Japan. As the country developed and grew into wealth, the Japanese began to wear western clothes. They also did not want to be reminded of their history of poverty and the innovative ways they survived.
However, in recent years Sashiko embroidery designs have become very popular. Sashiko now amasses 1000 searches on Google each month.
Sashiko translates to 'little stabs' after the small stitches used in the embroidery designs. Sashiko uses a running stitch in the creation of a patterned background. Typically the thread will contrast against the fabric in geometric patterns, including repeated patterns of curved or straight lines.
Chain stitch embroidery
Completing the top 5 most searched embroidery designs is chain stitching. It is also the first embroidery design to drop to 3 digits at 880 searches per month. Although it is the most basic stitch in the chain stitch family it is still a tricky stitch.
Much like the French Knot, a multitude of tactics and methods can be found using a search browser. Many a website will give out tricks of the trade and inspiration which may explain why it is searched for so often.
As the name suggests chain stitches resemble a chain making it a very useful design tool. It is most commonly used as an outline stitch but can also be used as a filling stitch.
Summarising the top 10 most searched embroidery designs
The UK has long had an affinity for fashion and textiles. This trend was further ignited during the pandemic with many stores reporting an increase in embroidery sales.
Border embroidery is the UKs favourite embroidery design with 2,900 searches each month. This was nearly three times as much as Crewel Embroidery, French Knot Embroidery, and Sashiko Embroidery which were searched for 1000 times each. Chain stitch embroidery completed the top 5 with 880 searches each month.
The remaining designs were:
- Cross Embroidery (880)
- Bead Embroidery (720)
- Blackwork Embroidery (720)
- Paraffle Embroidery (720)
- Applique Embroidery (590)
These figures by Design Bundles showed a 3-month trend in which there was no movement in the rankings.