Brazilian Embroidery terminology
Listed below are the thread colors, thread types and some of the embroidery stitch terms from an antique embroidery pamphlet by VeriCor. This company was located in Brazil in the mid-20th century. The owner, Dona Maia, developed rayon threads of many thicknesses and vibrant colors. Raised embroidery using these types of versatile threads created a whole new effect. More complex stitches were easier and held there shape. In recent years embroiderers from around the world have created new stitches and more and more complex designs in a genre of needlework called Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery.
The VariCor thread line is no longer available, though from time to time I've seen a few skeins for sale on Ebay. In the U.S. Brazilian embroidery thread made in Idaho is available in some stores and online. For a list of stores in your area go to the Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery International Guild or google the thread online.
The VariCor thread line is no longer available, though from time to time I've seen a few skeins for sale on Ebay. In the U.S. Brazilian embroidery thread made in Idaho is available in some stores and online. For a list of stores in your area go to the Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery International Guild or google the thread online.
The best article on Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery was written by Rosalee Wakefield and published in Needle Arts magazine: Dimensional Embroidery - Past and Present.
A special thank you to Charlene Newlin for sharing the thread sample card.
The Portuguese Names of Stitches
Candurinha = Bullion Candurinha com 12 voltas. = Bullion with 12 wraps. Ponto = A stitch Ponto Chavon = A loose couched stitch that is curved. Ponto Cheio = Satin stitch Ponto Corrente = Chain stitch Ponto Corrente Candirunha = Chain stitch bullion Ponto Haste = Stem stitch Ponto do Nó = French Knot Ponto do Nó com 3 voltas. = French Knot with 3 wraps. Ponto do No Duplo = Palestrina Knot Ponto Matiz = long/short satin stitch used for shading Pontos Retos = Straight stitch Voltas = Wraps Portuguese Terms found in the directions:
Cabide - hook
Calice - calyx of the flower Camadas - layers Centorno - outline (also see Esquema) Esporinhas - small flowers usually filled with French Knots Esquema - lines or outlines (also see Centorno) Estreita - narrow Flores - the flower or the petals Forrar - to line, as in a lining of a coat or lining your project, or in some cases making Openwork stitches Gancho - hook Hastes - Stems Laco - Bow or ribbon in the design Melindres - the more delicate stems Rechear - to stuff or fill Renda - Lace or an embroidered cloth A translated simple direction: Centorna-lo em ponto haste. = Outline with the stem stitch. |
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Antique VeriCor Thread Colors*
(No longer available)
(No longer available)
1 - Azul = Blue (Azulão is a Royal blue)
2 - Turqueza = Turquoise 3 – Canârio = possibly Canary yellow (There is also Amarelho - yellow, Amarelhao - darker yellow or gold, and Miolo - yellow at the center of a flower) 4 - Rosa = Pink 5 - Salmon = Salmon 6 - Vinho = Red Wine/Burgandy (Vermelho is a clearer, bright red, Vermelão a dark red) 7 - Roxo = purple 8 - Amarelão = possibly yellow or dark yellow or gold 9 - Coral = Coral, pink 10 - Marron = brown 11 - Rosa-azul = Pink-blue 12 - Rosa-azul (esporinha) = Red-blue (sporadically) 13 - Rosa-amarelho = Pink-yellow 14 - Azul-amarelho = Blue-yellow 15 - Rosa-verde = Pink-green 16 - Rosa-cinzas = Pink-grey 17- Rosa-roxo = Pink-purple 18 - Amarelo-roxo = Yellow-purple 19 - Verde-roxo = Green-purple 20 - Damasco-roxo = Apricot-purple 21 - Damasco-verde brilihante = Apricot- bright green 22 - Damasco-amarelho = Apricot-yellow 23 - Kaki-azulão = Khaki is a light green/yellow in Brazil-dark blue 24 - Melão- azulão = Melon-dark blue 25 - Salmon-Turquesa = Salmon-turquoise 26 - Rosa-azul-amarelho = Pink-blue-yellow 26 - Rosa-azul-amarelho = Pink-blue-yellow 27 - Rosa-azul-verde = Pink-blue-green 28 - Rosa-amarelho-verde = Pink-blue-green 29 - Rosa-cinzo-verde = Pink-grey-green 30 - Rosa-roxo-verde = Pink-purple-green 31 - Rosa-roxo-branco = Pink-purple-white 32 - Damasco-amarelho-castanho = Apricot-yellow-brown 33 - Kaki-amarelho- azulão = a light green-yellow-dark blue 34 - Kaki-canário-cinza = light green-yellow-Canary yellow-grey 35 - Bric-amarelho-branco = possibly a Brick red?-yellow-white 36 – Castanho-amarelho-branco = Brown-yellow-white 37 – Salmon-castanho-roxo = Salmon-brown-purple 38 – Salmon-roxo-? = Salmon-purple 39 – Miolo = the yellow at the center of flowers 40 – Chama da vela = candle flame, a bright yellow 41 – Melão-azul-canârio = Melon-blue-canary yellow 42 – Vinho-verde brilhante = Brilliant green wine 43 – Verde brilhante – branco = Brilliant green – white 44 – Verde-rosa = Green-Pink 45 – Verde-castanho = Green-brown 46 – Verde-melão = Green-melon 47 – Verde-cinza = Green-grey 48 – Verde-claro = Green-Clear 49 – Verde-verde = Green-Green 50 – Verde musgo = Moss Green 51 – Verde azeitocado = Olive Green 52 – Preto-branco = Black-white 53 – Amarelo-rosa-cinza = Yellow-Pink-gray 54 – Amarelo-roxo-rosa = Yellow-purple-Pink 55 – Salmon-castanho-turqueza = Salmon-brown-turquoise 56 – Verde-olho de bicho = Green-eye of an animal or an insect 57 – Azul-roxo = Blue-purple 58 – Verde-azulão = Green-dark blue 59 – Verde-cana-melão = a light tan, bamboo-melon 60 – Cereja-castanho = Cherry-brown 61 – Vermelho-branco = Red-white 62- Laranja-cinza = Orange-grey 63- Verde-amarelo-vermelho (morango) = Green-yellow-red (strawberry) 64 – Amarelo-marron = yellow brown *Not all colors are listed.
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Colors for Weddings and parties (tones are very clear and without gradations)
1001 - Blue 1003 - Yellow 1004 - Red 1011 – Blue and Red 1018 – Green Christmas Colors
101-Vermelho = Red 102-Cinza = Grey 103-Azulão = Royal blue 104 – Laranja = Orange 105 – Roxo forte = Dark purple 106 – Melão = Melon 107 – Vinho = Red Wine/Burgandy 108 – Amarelão = yellow gold 109 – Verde verde = Green-green 110 – Verde escuro = Dark green Thread types
Filosel = No longer available, use Glory
Aleluia = Glory Cachopa = Iris Fio do Verão = Cire Bossa Nova = Lola Madame Maia-MM = Nova Imperial/Bouclelen = Boucle Also listed: Zagonite = Very thick cotton thread N. 16 Madeira = Medium weight cotton crochet thread Fiocolor (Cairel) = Silk thread Fita Colorida de Setim = Satin ribbon, dyed Varifio = Fine cotton thread Sissi = Rafia Imperial = A thick Boucle thread |