Spinning wheels, looms, shuttles, embroidery hoops, crochet hooks and needles all contributed to the preparation of such trousseaus, as colored silk and gold and silver wires were threaded through the eyes of needles and the light of the maker’s eye fell over the whole.
Among the traditional types of embroidery, some such as satin stitch and ‘broken wire’ are done with fine gold or silver wire. All of them, including petit point, cutwork, drawn work, chain stitching and the French knot, are done on an embroidery hoop. Another form of embroidery, also done by stretching the fabric over an embroidery frame or hoop, involves threading the needle with strands of colorful silk and knotting them around the counted threads of the fabric. Still another type of embroidery, ‘tel kirma’ or ‘broken wire’, is done by stretching a piece of gauze-like colored fabric over a frame and weaving thin silver or gold wires over and under it to form a pattern which is the same on both sides. The embroidered pattern is then pounded into the cloth with a stone. Eye-catching and sumptuous, this embroidery is used frequently for bridal veils.