Embroidery is so much a part of our lives that we may not even notice it. However, when a shirt or skirt features fancy stitching, when a baseball cap has a stitched logo, or when a sweater is monogrammed, embroidery is the cause. Granted, this kind of embroidery is done by machine, but beautiful stitching is also possible through the age-old art of hand embroidery.

Hand embroidery, of one kind or another, is thousands of years old. It was used in Ancient Egypt to decorate the hems of royal robes, in tapestries in the Middle Ages, and in ladies' samplers during the Colonial and Victorian eras. It continues as an art form today. Many people are familiar with counted cross stritch - a cousin to hand embroidery - and it seems that counted cross stitch has nearly eclipsed it. However, there are many people who still love to work hand embroidery, and it decorates wall hangings, pillowcases, quilts and table runners.