Hand and Lock Embroidery

Martha Stewart - Destination Weddings

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Most hand embroidery techniques are available, from simple running stitch through to silk shading and more. Just ask!

Quilting and padding, smocking, ribbon, raffia and chenille work can be done by hand if not suitable for machining. For example adding ribbon, raffia and chenille onto lace, produces the most wonderful body and texture.

This versatile machine demands a high level of experience and talent.

The Cornely machine embroiderer uses this machine’s ability to make a chain stitch and handle more than just threads, to make many beautiful effects.

The chain stitch can be used as line or to fill in larger areas and motifs. It can also appliqué, quilt, and cord quilt.
Ribbon, raffia, cording, and chenille can be applied to the surface in the same way. These can also be applied by hand embroidery if the fabric requires.

Chenille is a French word meaning ‘caterpillar’ and aptly describes the fuzzy texture of chenille yarn. This yarn is available in a range of lustrous colours.

Beads, crystals and sequins applied individually by hand can create great classical simplicity or outrageous theatricality. Scattered across lace they can add light and interest.

Individually applied Swarovski crystals, diamanté, lochrosen, pearls, beads, sequins, even shells, bring excitement to your designs.

We hold a comprehensive stock of goods. Do visit our online shop to buy our specially selected range of hand couture hand beaded crystal necklaces, at heavily discounted prices.

The Irish machine is able to produce a straight, side and satin stitch with variations in length and width. This gives the skilled operator the ability to almost ‘paint’ with thread.

This method of embroidery can cover large areas relatively quickly, and to great effect.

Some complex effects are achieved by the use of multiple colours or simply by the change of light on the direction of the threads.

Satin stitch appliqué, padded appliqué, cut work, and cut edges such as scalloping are most successful.

Apart from the high value gold and silver wire-work that we do for the military, couture and show business worlds, metallic thread embroidery on the Irish and Cornely machines can produce wonderful effects. Embroidering either individual motifs, or covering large areas.

There are many tones of silver, gold, bronze and copper to choose from.

Initials can be embroidered either as individual motifs or directly onto the finished article.

Clothing such as shirts, jackets, socks, and dressing gowns, can have from the smallest discreet embroidery under a pocket to large motifs on the back of a jacket. Household linens, such as towels and bed linens, or even fabric covered wastepaper bins and folders. All can be embroidered to personalise belongings, either by hand or by machine.

The tambour method uses a hooked needle to make a continuous chain stitch.

It has developed into an efficient way of applying beads and sequins at speed.

The Paris fashion houses of the 1920s popularised lavishly beaded evening wear.

Today we work on almost any cloth from furnishing fabrics to net and chiffon, embellishing them with beads and sequins in an endless variety of styles.

Individual motifs can be produced that can be sewn onto garments yourself.

We hold a comprehensive stock of beads, bugles, sequins, crystals, diamanté and pearls of all sizes and colours.

Using hand and tambour techniques we can custom make tassels and fringes ranging in size and colour, to your design requirements.

We hold a comprehensive stock of beads, bugles, sequins, crystals, diamanté and pearls of all sizes and colours.

Hand and lock provide a broad range of embroidery services, employing a wide range of techniques. From the design process through to the finished product, Hand & Lock have the experience to use a range of techniques in-house.

Product Development

Product Development is one of the main facets of Hand & Locks business although fashion and product designers (Designers) are more than capable of translating designs from their own ideas to paper the transfer of this to embroidery is an entirely different matter.

You can’t rub out embroidery.

The function of the embroidery designer is exactly that.


It takes 7 years to become an embroiderer with Hand & Lock, the Embroidery Designer is an integral part of that process.

Firstly the Designer requires an understanding of the principles of embroidery production; you can see in the above image how an initial design is drafted.

Next there requires an understanding of the various techniques and styles that can be used in embroidery.

In Product Development the Embroidery Designer uses his knowledge of both the embroiderers craft and the variety of techniques that can be used in order to translate the Designer’s requirements to what will work in embroidery terms.

Tassles and Fringing [see examples]

Using hand and tambour techniques we can custom make tassels and fringes ranging in size and colour, to your design requirements.

Using hand and tambour techniques we can custom make tassels and fringes ranging in size and colour, to your design requirements.We hold a comprehensive stock of beads, bugles, sequins, crystals, diamanté and pearls of all sizes and colours.

Tambour Beading [see examples]

The tambour method uses a hooked needle to make a continuous chain stitch.

It has developed into an efficient way of applying beads and sequins at speed.

The Paris fashion houses of the 1920s popularised lavishly beaded evening wear.

Today we work on almost any cloth from furnishing fabrics to net and chiffon, embellishing them with beads and sequins in an endless variety of styles.

Monograms [see examples]

Initials can be embroidered either as individual motifs or directly onto the finished article.

Clothing such as shirts, jackets, socks, and dressing gowns, can have from the smallest discreet embroidery under a pocket to large motifs on the back of a jacket. Household linens, such as towels and bed linens, or even fabric covered wastepaper bins and folders. All can be embroidered to personalise belongings, either by hand or by machine.

Metallic Thread Embroidery [see examples]

Apart from the high value gold and silver wire-work that we do for the military, couture and show business worlds, metallic thread embroidery on the Irish and Cornely machines can produce wonderful effects. Embroidering either individual motifs, or covering large areas.

There are many tones of silver, gold, bronze and copper to choose from.

Irish Machine Embroidery [see examples]

The Irish machine is able to produce a straight, side and satin stitch with variations in length and width. This gives the skilled operator the ability to almost ‘paint’ with thread.

This method of embroidery can cover large areas relatively quickly, and to great effect.

Some complex effects are achieved by the use of multiple colours or simply by the change of light on the direction of the threads.

Satin stitch appliqué, padded appliqué, cut work, and cut edges such as scalloping are most successful.

Beading [see examples]

Beads, crystals and sequins applied individually by hand can create great classical simplicity or outrageous theatricality. Scattered across lace they can add light and interest.

Individually applied Swarovski crystals, diamanté, lochrosen, pearls, beads, sequins, even shells, bring excitement to your designs.

We hold a comprehensive stock of goods. Do visit our online shop to buy our specially selected range of hand couture hand beaded crystal necklaces, at heavily discounted prices.

Applique Embroidery [see examples]

Appliqué is the application of motifs to a ground fabric, or by cutting back after stitching. It can be simple or complex, creating patterns over large areas of ground fabric, or as single motifs.

Many fabrics can be used. Anything from delicate wedding dresses to heavy duty interior furnishings. Depending on the fabrics, edges are sewn with chain or satin stitch by machine.

Padded appliqué produces an added dimension.

3d Embroidery [see examples]

Three dimensional flowers, or butterflies etc can be used as embellishments on clothing, bags, hats, scarves and chokers.

Lush satin or velvet roses, delicate chiffon, full-blown or bud roses, and wired orchids shimmering with beads and sequins. Almost anything you can think of can be made to your colour and size specifications.

Cornely Machine Embroidery [see examples]

This versatile machine demands a high level of experience and talent.

The Cornely machine embroiderer uses this machine’s ability to make a chain stitch and handle more than just threads, to make many beautiful effects.

Hand Embroidery [see examples]

Most hand embroidery techniques are available, from simple running stitch through to silk shading and more. Just ask!

Quilting and padding, smocking, ribbon, raffia and chenille work can be done by hand if not suitable for machining. For example adding ribbon, raffia and chenille onto lace, produces the most wonderful body and texture.