Embellishment is a term used in sewing and crafts. It refers to anything that adds design interest to the piece. Turn of the century sewing in Detroit, Michigan An old sewing machine Sewing is an ancient craft involving the stitching of cloth, leather, animal skins, furs, or other materials, using needle and thread. ... It has been suggested that Handicraft be merged into this article or section. ...

Common examples of embellishment

• appliqué
• embroidery, done either by machine or by hand
• piping made from either self-fabric, contrast fabric, or a simply a cord.
• lace, either pre-made or home-made
• fringe (sewing)
• beads

Items that normal serve a function are also used as embellishment. For example Lace appliqué and bow at the bust-line of a soft nylon nightgown. ... Gold Embroidery Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with designs stitched in strands of thread or yarn using a needle. ... White lace is often used in collars and other fabric borders. ... Tatting shuttle Tatting pin Pine Pattern Collar in Tatting Tatting is a technique for handcrafting lace that can be documented approximately to the early 19th century. ... Look up bead in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

• buttons can be placed anywhere on the piece
• zippers can be unzipped and be used as piping, or simply stiched on
• buckles can be placed anywhere on the piece
• grommets can be placed anywhere even no cord is looped through them

A small flat button Metal, plastic, and leather shank buttons. ... Closeup of the zipper on a pair of jeans Zippers are commonly used as a fastener for the front of a pair of pants. ... Archeological bronze buckles from southern Sweden A buckle (from Latin buccula) is a clasp used for fastening two things together, such as the ends of a belt, or for retaining the end of a strap. ... Some rubber grommets. ...

See also

• Sewing
• Trim