Hand-embroidered sheets: from Italian to international traditions

A panorama of the embroidery skills used on sheets, handed down through the generations.

The art of embroidery can be found in the stories of whole communities, going beyond national confines and evolving through different periods. Familiarity with one of the most elegant forms of handicraft there is means you can choose super-original furnishing items, especially for your bedroom.

A touch of bedroom elegance

The art of embroidery is all in the hands of the embroiderer, who skilfully creates neat compositions, transforming simple bed linens into products of the highest quality.

Skilful fingers need to preserve knowledge that has built up over time, skills from the schools of Venice and Florence, of the seamstresses and tailors in the employ of the nobility, and also of the humble housewife. It is necessary to know how to balance the different techniques and also to decide the colours to choose and even combine with other furnishing elements in the home.

Embroidered lace trims add a general air of pristine elegance. And it also adapts to any taste: a hand-embroidered linen sheet can add a classic touch to any bedroom, where its sober, linear design can bring a pretty touch to even the most modern of décors.

The art of embroidery throughout the world

The art of embroidery brings together the culture of every place and hand-embroidered sheets can be found in any country. The Islamic community, for example, has created fabrics with special gold and silver decorations, while Palestinians have focused on coloured motifs with hypnotic effects. In Central America there are multi-coloured bedspreads that reflect national identities.

And then there is India, a world where the technique of embroidery is combined with quilting to recycle materials that would otherwise be unusable. From the kantha of Bengal to the macramé of Godavari, where fine ecru threads are knotted together to become light, almost ineffable lace.

The silk artists of China specialise in creating multi-coloured compositions of flowers, animals and people, while in Japan. the Nui dô technique is a form of embroidery using gold and silver silk thread.

How to wash embroidered sheets

If you have decided to include fabrics with a delicate finish to your bedroom, then you also need to know about their care. To wash hand-embroidered sheets correctly, you may need to know how to soften a traditional old sheet: a cup of bicarbonate of soda with some white wine vinegar are perfect for softening fabric that has become stiff over time.

To prevent pulled threads, however, you need a reliable machine that uses cutting-edge technology. Washing machines, washer-dryers, and dryers from the Haier I-Pro Series 7 have a special Pillow Drum, a drum with a surface specially designed to guarantee that even the most delicate fabrics, such as woollen clothing embroidered by hand, remain in perfect condition. Results guaranteed!