Embroidery and fancy work · 8 October 2026 · 4 min read

How to describe the embroidery you want in words

How to describe an embroidery design in plain words: six measures to write down, from placement and depth to finish and colour, with example sentences to copy.

Inspiration

Six measures, one sentence each

To describe embroidery so someone else can picture it, write one sentence for each of six measures: placement (where it sits), depth (how far it reaches), density (how much fabric it covers), motif size, finish (what it looks like up close) and colour. You do not need technique names. Clear everyday words and a few numbers say more than a list of terms.

Words like “simple”, “heavy” or “elegant” mean very different things to different people, which is why the measures below work better. They describe what you will see, not how it feels. A good reference photo helps too, and our guide to sending a reference photo of embroidery covers that side; for the shape of the garment itself, see describing an outfit in words.

Placement and depth: where, and how far

Placement names the part of the garment: front neckline, back neckline, sleeve hem, daman (the kameez hem), side slits, trouser hem, dupatta border. Our article on where to place embroidery on a kameez shows what each position does to the look.

Depth is how far the work travels from that edge, and it is the measure people most often leave out. Give it in inches or centimetres, measured from the edge or seam:

“Embroidery around the front neckline only, reaching about 3 inches (8 cm) down at the centre.”
“A band at each sleeve hem, about 2 inches (5 cm) deep.”
“Work along the daman rising to about 6 inches (15 cm), stopping at the side slits.”

Density and motif size: how full, how big

Density is how much of the fabric inside the embroidered area is covered by thread. Three plain words cover most cases. Scattered means small separate motifs with plenty of plain fabric between them. Open means a trail or vine with gaps you can see through. Filled means the fabric is mostly hidden. You can also put it as a share: “about half the fabric showing”.

Motif size is easiest to give against something familiar, or as a measurement. “Small flowers about the size of a coin, roughly 1 inch (2.5 cm) across” is clear. So is “one large paisley at each corner, about the length of my palm”. If the motifs vary, say which is the largest.

Finish and colour: how it looks up close

Finish is the surface of the work. Is the thread flat and matt like cotton, softly shiny like silk, or metallic? Does it lie flat or stand up from the fabric as a raised line? Is anything else in it, such as small mirrors or sequins? If you know a name, add it, but describe the look as well, because the same name is used for different things. The types of Pakistani embroidery article and our glossary help if a word comes to mind.

For colour, say how the thread relates to the fabric as well as naming it. “Tone on tone, a shade darker than the fabric”, “one contrast colour, old gold” and “three colours, taken from the print on my dupatta” are all clear briefs. Screens change colours, so if a shade matters, say what it should match.

A complete example

Put together, the six measures make a short paragraph that a tailor can work from:

“Front neckline only, about 3 inches (8 cm) deep at the centre. Open vine with small leaves, roughly half the fabric showing. Leaves about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. Flat, matt thread, no metallic. Ivory on a sage green kameez, with the same vine as a 1 inch (2.5 cm) band at each sleeve hem.”

That brief rules out a dozen wrong guesses. Write yours in the notes, add any photos you have, and list anything you do not want, such as metallic thread or work near the underarm.

Sending your description to us

Our custom embroidery service covers work on outfits we stitch and on your own fabric or garment. Paste your six sentences into the notes when you request a design quote. We read it against your fabric and design and confirm what is possible in the written quote, so you see the agreed work before anything is cut.

Common questions

Do I need to know the names of embroidery techniques?

No. A description of what you want to see is more useful than a name, because many names are used loosely. If you know a term, add it next to your description rather than instead of it.

What if the work I describe does not suit my fabric?

That is why the written quote comes first. If the density or size you describe would strain the fabric, the quote says so and suggests what would work, before anything is agreed.

Should I give sizes in inches or centimetres?

Either is fine. Pick one, say which you used and keep to it throughout the description, the same way you would for your body measurements.

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