Su Embroidery

Art is painting poetry. We also paint by needles. We introduce the world famous Su Embroidery into wall decoration, and combine it with our handpainted wallpaper.

What is Su Embroidery?

Su embroidery (su xiu 苏绣) is the most celebrated of the four main styles of Chinese silk embroidery, hailing from Suzhou and surrounding towns of Jiangsu province. Renowned for its subtle and refined needlework, Su embroidery is praised for its use of the finest threads, balanced compositions, dense stitching and smooth finish.

Compared to the other three embroidery styles -- Xiang of Hunan; Shu of Sichuan and Yue of Guangdong, Su embroidery is characterized by distinct stitching techniques, use of split silk threads and a breadth of art themes.

Su Embroidery Stitching

Evolving over 2,500 years, Su embroidery has developed from 10 basic stitches to more than 40. Two well--regarded techniques are “even embroidery” (ping xiu) and “random embroidery” (luanzhen xiu).

“Even embroidery” stresses uniformity, and the avoidance of overlapping threads. Fine and neat, it is also known as 'delicate embroidery' . Breaking the tradition of 'even embroidery', 'random embroidery' was developed by Su embroidery master, Shouyu Lv in the 1930s. As opposed to neat, parallel stitches, she used oblique and crossing lines of different colors of thread, layering them to form figures, animals and scenery. In this method not only is uniformity discouraged, but also threads other than silk are welcomed. 'Random embroidery' methods are often used in silk embroideries that resemble Western oil paintings, bringing greater expressiveness to the pieces.

Traditionally handed down from mother to daughter, Su embroidery is an art form that takes decades to master. From design and stitching to mounting and framing, a single piece of handmade Su embroidery art usually takes months to create.

Su Embroidery Threads

The use of varying thread thickness is another important characteristic of Su embroidery. Silk is predominantly used, and the threads usually are as fine as human hair. Su embroiderers usually split each silk strand into thinner threads --in half, in quarters, eighths, sixteenths and so on.

Finer threads allow for more delicate embroideries, and require greater mastery of stitching techniques. Of the Suzhou embroidery masters, Jinzhen Gu was known to split a single silk strand into 96 finer threads within 3 minutes; her unique ability was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.

Different thread thicknesses are used to embroider different subjects. A thinner thread is used for tails of goldfishes, to capture its swift dexterity. Thicker threads may be used for the gold fish body, stones of trunks of trees however.

Over time, Su embroidery has come to adopt the use of different materials aside from silk, such as cotton, nylon and gold. Their uses depend on the subjects of embroidery and the effects sought after.

Of the four major styles of embroidery, Suzhou embroidery is renowned for using the finest threads to achieve subtle and elegant works of art.

Double-sided Su Embroidery (shuang mian xiu)

Perhaps most famous of all is Suzhou's double-sided embroidery, where a single image can be viewed from either side of a piece or even different images on each side.

Double-sided embroidery is the most complex of all embroidery methods. A fine gauze or near transparent silk cloth is used and the artist must first plan the design and stitching techniques thoroughly before beginning a piece. Instead of tying knots, the embroiderer stitches over the ends of the threads, weaving them into the needlework. This is done in two layers--first using short stitches to hide the ends, and then with longer stitches to conceal the short stitches within the final artwork. Done well, the result is immaculate embroidery from any angle.

Even more complex are double-sided embroideries with different images on each side. These require the artist to simultaneously embroider two different patterns, using one needle. Where colors on both sides are to be the same, a single thread may be used. However, where different colors are needed, the embroiderer uses two threaded needles, stitching in one style above, and in another below. Double-sided embroidery is undoubtedly the epitome of Su embroidery as an art.

Nowadays, with our efforts, Su embroidery’s use of infinitely fine and delicate threads, intricate and expressive needlework finds into way into interior wall decoration. You can enjoy this special Chinese handcraft in Marina Bay Sands Casino Singapore, Royal Garden Hotel Hongkong, Waldorf Astoria Beijing and many other world renowned hotels.