Lace patterns are intricately embroidered fine pieces of fabrics. The size and shapes of laces are customised depending on the product they are used for. They can either be used to adorn the edges of a fabric or used to form a design on the fabrics itself. The applications of laces are varied, some of which include:

• Apparels
• Hand bags, purses and hobos
• Bed sheets
• Pillow and bed covers
• Sofa throws
• Curtains
• Rug throws
• Kitchen linen

Embroidered laces are usually machine made that employ softwares that deliver high precision and extremely fine finishes of designs. The patterns are however first intricately worked upon skilled embroiderers that produce a plethora of spell binding combinations. A host of stitches such as satin and chain in vibrant colors are harnessed to produce varying patterns.

Braided embroidery encompass patterns that resemble a platted knot.They are exploited in a number of ways to produce some of the most elegant combinations to adorn various fabrics. Braids can also be embroidered as borders lining the edges of apparels. Some common types of embroidery patterns that can be formed using braids are as follows:

• Floral patterns
• Leaf patterns
• Traditional motifs such as paisleys

Braids can also be harnessed in the form of applique and patchworks to be used on a variety of objects such as:

• Handbags and purses
• Apparels
• Bed linens
• Kitchen linens
• Towels
• Drapery
• Tapestry

The embroidery is basically done using machines which not only render fine finishes of designs but speedier production as well.

The Brick stitch is a very beautiful and majestic stitch. It is very versatile and a favorite of many beaders. The Brick stitch is also known as the Brick-Laying, Cheyenne Stitch or Comanche Stitch, is a bead weaving stitch with unknown origins in which individual beads are stacked upon each other much as bricks are stacked in a brick wall.The Brick Stitch is most often used in combination with the ladder stitch. Begin by making a ladder either using bugle or seed beads.

The Brick Stitch looks very similar to Peyote Stitch, is very different in construction, lends itself well to increases and decreases, and leaves no thread showing along the edge.The technique has been used by Native Americans for many years. It has also been found in beadwork in Africa, the Middle East, and South America (Guatemalan examples use beads of size 22/0 and smaller.) As the other names imply this is an off-loom technique perfected by the Native Americans. It is a relative of another off-loom technique called Peyote stitch or Gourd Stitch. A Brick Stitch pattern can be worked as a Peyote Stitch Pattern if you turn it 90 degrees.

The Brick Stitch You can make a diamond-shaped earring if you use either all seed beads or all bugle beads. Another option is the triangle shape which usually works best when seed beads and bugle beads are both used and a fringe is added at the bottom row. Fringes can be very elaborate and you can incorporate some really nice designs with your fringe.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There are different techniques for creating the Brick stitch. This is only one of them and it is probably not the best, but it is the only one that we know the instructions for. We have heard that there is a method which hides the thread within the finished stitch better.

How To Do Brick Stitch:

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: Varies 45 minutes to learn the stitch

Here’s How:

1. Bring your needle up through the first bugle bead on one end of the ladder making sure to leave a 6 inch tale.1. If you have enough thread to make the ladder and start brick directly afterwards, then you will already be positioned at your first ladder rung.

2. Thread on one seed bead (Usually size 11 Japanese are the best for brick, though you can use Czech. For graphics included here, I used size 6 Czech since they are easier to see.).

3. You