What you need for goldwork
Hoop or stand, firm fabric and waxed thread.
- A thick-rimmed embroidery hoop. A stand is optional but leaves both hands free.
- Linen or thicker cotton; silk and velvet are very hard to work on.
- A backing such as calico, to stop puckering.
- Beeswax, to strengthen the couching thread.
- Metal threads: Japanese thread and rococo (couched), Elizabethan twist (stitched through) and pearl purl (couched between its coils).
- The RSN says a waxed machine sewing thread is normally used for couching.
Watch
Goldwork embroidery equipment explained. (9:32)
By Sarah Homfray Embroidery · Open on YouTube
Chosen from its title and channel: a 9-minute video from Sarah Homfray Embroidery on the same topic as this guide. Embedded from YouTube with credit; we don't host it. It only loads when you press play.
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Sources
All checked 1 November 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.