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SewSift mascots Pinny, Bobbin and Dot with goldwork

Goldwork

Embroidery with metal threads, prized for the way light plays on it. The threads are not solid gold: they are gold-coated silver or cheaper metals.

ResearchedSewSift editorialChecked Nov 1, 2026

What it is

Embroidery with metal threads, mostly couched on the surface.

Who it suits

Patient embroiderers who want shine.

What you need

Linen, calico backing, a hoop, beeswax and metal threads.

A first project

Couching a pair of Japanese threads.

The goldwork guides

Beginner's guide

What you need

Techniques and stitches

First project

Mistakes and fixes

Next steps

Sources

All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.

  1. Wikipedia: Goldwork (embroidery)

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Researched, sources cited

Specs, manuals, maker pages and owner reports, each with a checked date.

US prices and stores

US dollars before sales tax, with the store and the date we checked.

Public corrections

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