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needleworker

needleworker

5.1
A person who sews or embroiders by hand
  • noun
  • /ˈniːdəlˌwɜrkər/
translation icon : costurera
  • At the local fair, many needleworkers showcased their handcrafted quilts and embroidered pieces.

Examples

  • Jantje van der Merwe encourages those needleworkers who have an aptitude for drawing to use subject matter that has a bearing on their personal experiences.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The needleworker carefully stitched the intricate design onto the fabric using colorful threads.

  • Nonetheless, some Protestant females entered careers as teachers and needleworkers rather than marrying.

    Academic text (1990)
  • In addition to events publicized in the South African press, needleworkers have represented disasters that have been the focus of worldwide media publicity.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Another tragedy—the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001—would form the subject matter of works made a year later, this time by needleworkers in the group coordinated by Rossinah Maepa, who make their embroideries at home.

    Academic text (2005)
  • She became a skilled needleworker, creating beautiful garments and home decor using various techniques.

Synonyms

seamstress
vsneedleworker
25 3.6

A woman who sews clothes for a living

is broader, applying to any person doing sewing or embroidery
quilter
vsneedleworker
3 3.7

A person who makes quilts by sewing pieces of fabric together

covers quilt making but also other needle-based crafts and embroidery
knitter
vsneedleworker
3 2.3

A person who makes clothes or fabric from yarn using needles

focuses on sewing and embroidery using a needle rather than looped yarn
stitcher
vsneedleworker
1 3.4

A person or machine that sews pieces of cloth together

includes that sewing action but also decoration and other needlework
embroiderer
vsneedleworker
1 5.1

A person who sews patterns and pictures on cloth by hand

is broader, covering sewing and other needle-based crafts too
garment-worker
vsneedleworker
1 3.5

A person who makes clothes in a factory or workshop

includes that work but also individual or home-based needle crafts
needlewoman
vsneedleworker
  • Archaic
1 7.0

A woman who sews and fixes clothes for a living

is neutral in gender and includes other needle handcrafts as well
needler
vsneedleworker
6.8

A person or machine that sews patterns onto cloth

is broader, including handcrafts beyond simple needle use
embroideress
vsneedleworker
  • Archaic
9.3

A woman who sews decorative patterns on cloth, often as a job

is gender neutral and covers decoration plus other needle crafts
garmentmaker
vsneedleworker
4.9

A person who makes clothes by sewing

covers garment making but also non-garment needlehand crafts
seamster
vsneedleworker
  • Archaic
9.1

A person who sews or fixes clothes for a living

is gender neutral and covers more needlecrafts beyond garments
knight of the needle
vsneedleworker
  • Archaic
9.9

A person very skilled at making clothes or quilts

is broader, covering all skill levels who sew or embroider

How Skilled

craftsman
39 2.8
artisan
55 4.1
needleworker
5.1
hobbyist
12 3.5
novice
46 3.4

Surface Forms

needleworker singular
needleworkers plural

Morphology

needleworker = needle + worker (transparent) = needle + work + er

The word is a straightforward compound meaning a person who works with a needle, and the structure is easily recoverable from its parts.

Etymology

Needleworker combines needle ('small sharp tool used for sewing') and worker ('someone who works'), so it literally names a person who works with a needle to sew, embroider, or make handcrafts.