Monograms and motif designs are the popular ones. Nowadays, not all designs are high-end, handmade ornate patterns, employed by fashion designers to decorate garments. As the illustrations were painted or printed in Berlin and bought by needlework artisans all over Europe and United States, the style came to be known as Berlin work. Biblical or historical themes, pictures of flowers, and even exotic Oriental paintings were now sought after. Berlin work added new vigor to the business. With the fabrication of the embroidery machine, mass production of embroideries gained momentum. Transition from folk to custom embroidery was seen. In the 19th century, new designs came to the picture. Nowadays, metal and other colors are added to lend depth to a single pattern. Gradually, the list of this monochromatic style expanded to include whitework, bluework, scarlet work, and goldwork. For example, blackwork (needlepoint using backstitch or outline stitch and double stitch) was first brought to England by Catherine of Aragon, the Spanish wife of Henry VIII. Over the years, countries developed their styles and these styles were exported. All the designs were painstakingly created by artisans and craftsmen who made sure that each piece was an example of perfection.
Though the handcraft was practiced much before, the term embroidery came into usage, for the first time, in the medieval era. Recording of stitches and patterns using samplers was first done in the 17th century. The more elaborate it is, more the number of stitches. A pattern is recreated by following a counting chart, or ironed on the fabric, or even by drawing freehand. A single type of stitch or more than one type of stitches can be used to make a pattern. Embroidery is a type of needlecraft that is used to create stitched decorations on a variety of fabrics including satin, tissue, leather, paper, etc. The craft of creating stitches with the help of a stitching needle and colorful threads is known as needlework or needlecraft.