Traditional Chinese embroidery is the oldest embroidery known to the world. Exquisitely fine work is the hallmark of the best Chinese embroidery, with some threads as fine as a strand of hair. Here, for the first time, the secrets of this ancient craft are revealed with clear text, step-by-step line drawings, and stunning photography of finished antique and modern pieces. It covers: - Brief history of Chinese embroidery - Special equipment, such as frames and needles - Fabrics - from the various silks to the use of man-made fabrics - Threads and their preparation - splitting, twisting and plying - Flat stitches, including satin stitch and its variations as well as scale piling (used to create fish scales) with step-by-step illustrations and instructions - Knot stitches, including Pekin knot, seed stitch, Bullion Knot, Long-tailed knot and Pekinese stitch with step-by-step illustrations and instructions - Double-sided and Double-faced embroidery, in which the embroidery is exactly the same on both sides with step-by-step illustrations and instructions.