How Do I Tell the Difference Between Hand-Embroidered and Machine-Stitched Tatreez?
Hand-Embroidery
Hand-embroidered tatreez is a time-consuming, labor-intensive process typically stitched by women. It can take weeks or months to complete one item and inherently encourages slow-fashion more than over-production. The tell tale signs that an item is hand-embroidered are:
1) Front stitches appear in an "x" shape while back stitches appear in straight lines
2) Cotton DMC thread is used, with only one strand
3) Human error can be found in the stitching and design
Machine-Stitching
Machine-stitched tatreez refers to items stitched by either a human-operated machine or an industrial one. This type of stitching is helpful for creating more intricate designs in less time, serving an advantage that hand-embroidery cannot offer. The tell tale signs that an item is machine-stitched are:
1) Both front and back stitches appear in the shape of an "x"
2) Polyester all-purpose thread is used, with multiple strands overlapped in order to imitate the texture of hand-embroidery
3) Few errors can be found, providing an almost perfectly-stitched design
