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Glite Dictionary
hand-stitched embroidery

hand-stitched embroidery

4.3
Decorative patterns sewn by hand rather than by machine
  • noun
translation icon : bordado a mano
  • The artisan spent weeks completing the hand-stitched embroidery on the decorative pillows.

Examples

  • Her wedding dress was adorned with exquisite hand-stitched embroidery along the hem.

  • This dress features beautiful hand-stitched embroidery.

  • Collectors often prize garments featuring hand-stitched embroidery for their craftsmanship and uniqueness.

  • I love the hand-stitched embroidery on this pillow.

  • The artist displayed her beautiful hand-stitched embroidery at the local craft fair.

  • For her wedding dress, she chose a design adorned with intricate hand-stitched embroidery.

  • Each piece of hand-stitched embroidery tells a unique story about the culture it represents.

How Handmade

hand-stitched embroidery
4.3

Surface Forms

hand-stitched embroidery singular
hand-stitched embroideries plural

Morphology

hand-stitched + embroidery

The phrase combines the transparent compound 'hand-stitched' (stitched by hand) with 'embroidery' (decorative sewing), so the meaning 'embroidery sewn by hand' is directly inferable from the parts. This is a regular compositional pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily understand it.

Etymology

Hand-stitched embroidery describes decoration on cloth made stitch by stitch with a needle moved by a person's hand. Hand-stitched means done by hand and embroidery means decorative stitching, so the phrase refers to 'sewn by hand' rather than by a machine. Because each tiny stitch is made slowly and carefully, the work is unique and shows skill, so it is often valued for its high quality.