Cutworks

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Decorative fabric created by making precise cut openings and stitching around the edges to form intricate patterns ; a textile technique involving removing sections of cloth and reinforcing the remaining material with embroidery ; a style of needlework characterized by strategic holes cut from the fabric and bordered by needle stitches to produce ornamental designs
2. A form of lace or embroidery crafted by excising parts of a fabric base and securing the voids with thread to generate lace-like effects ; a method wherein deliberate cuts are made in fabric and the edges are embroidered for decorative purposes ; a textile art where fabric is selectively cut away and the spaces are reinforced with embroidery to create patterned holes
3. A technique in needlework that involves cutting away sections of fabric and embroidering the cut edges to embellish textiles ; fabric art comprising the removal of cloth portions combined with threadwork to form ornamental open areas ; a process of fashioning ornamental designs by carefully cutting holes in fabric and outlining them with stitched motifs

Etymology: Cutwork is a plain compound: "cut" joined to "work," meaning work produced by cutting. The Old English "weorc," the ancestor of "work," is related to the German "Werk," while the origin of "cut" is uncertain, though it appears in Middle English. The method describes what the name says. The embroiderer removes part of the ground fabric within a marked pattern, then stitches over the raw edges so they do not fray. What remains is an open, lace-like design held together by thread. Renaissance needleworkers in Italy and England developed the technique into elaborate linen work, and the term names the method itself rather than any single object.

Synonyms: cutwork, embroidery, lacework, needlework, openwork