Hand vs Machine Embroidery

It is not hard to guess that machine embroidery would cost far less than hand embroidery for the basic reason that machine embroidery uses a machine for embroidery work and is completed much faster. What is hard and almost IMPOSSIBLE is to make out between Machine and Hand Embroidery if one does not know how to tell the difference.

To see for yourself, take a look at the 2 shawls below and try to figure out which one is Hand Embroidered and which one is Machine Embroidered?

Not sure? Here are a few tests which will help in determining if the Embroidery work is done by Machine or Hand. But before doing that let us take a look at the comparison of prices for Hand Embroidered and Machine Embroidered items in similar types of embroidery:

Item	Machine Embroidery Cost	Hand Embroidery Cost
SHORT JACKET	US$ 30-40	US$ 125-150
SHAWL	US$ 40-50	US$ 145-165
LONG JACKET	US$ 50-60	US$ 175-210
PONCHO	US$ 15-18	US$ 45-60
DRESSING GOWN	US$ 40-50	US$ 120-140

As you can see the price difference is enormous. It would therefore be proper to say that the buyer well informed, is the one who will buy smart - whether the item bought is Machine Embroidered or Hand Embroidered.

A Machine Embroidered jacket costs around 25% of its Hand Embroidered counterpart, but will sell comparatively higher because it was advertised as a Hand Embroidered jacket.

How to spot the differences:

Test 1. A LOOK AT THE WRONG SIDE: This is helpful only for items which don't have a lining (like Crewel Fabric, Shawls and Throws, Silk Sarees, Salwar Kameez, Kurtas/ Tunics). A first look at the wrong side will reveal clearly if the item is embroidered by hand or machine. Machine embroidery is a continuous stitching process and employs multi-colored thread for embroidery. It therefore has continuity in stitches with very few breaks. Hand-stitch on the contrary employs single-color threads for embroidery and the craftsman from time to time breaks off the earlier thread (color) to start a new thread (color) leaving behind a trail of threads hanging on the wrong side of the fabric.