Cotton embroidery is one of Shandong's major export commodities. It is characterized by its innumerable varieties of new and original designs, which are usually variations of floral patterns like large chrysanthemums, grapes and roses. There are many cotton embroidered products, available in all specifications.
Linen Embroidery
Embroidered Linen articles are also representative products of Shandong Province. The designs and patterns are many and varied. Usually, one theme is used on one article; there is one central design supplemented by its variations. The most common motif is flowers, which are so exquisitely embroidered that the leaves and flowers seem to come to live, like a well-defined sculpture.
Reticella Lace
Reticella Lace is a traditional hand craft with a history dating back almost 100 years. Originated in Jimo County in Shandong Province, Reticella Lace stands out for its refined and consummate work-manship. Design style is smooth and elegant,; colour is quiet but not plain; the texture solid and earthy. At present, Shandong Province produces a wide range of Reticella Lace articles with every specifications. There are different and distinctive grades of products for many uses. Having established a good reputation abroad for a long time, Reticella Lace articles are now selling in over 100 countries and regions across five Continents. There are altogether 12 different steps in making Reticella Lace articles. The procedures are: pattern design; drawing; tracing and printing; fabric cutting; lace work distributed to outside workers; sewing together the different sections; final trimming; laundering and ironing; quality check. The principal work types are: knitting lace work, net ground, cut and drawn work eyelet holes, picots, connecting bar stitch, Guipure Lace edge, and buttonhole scallops.
Batten Lace
Batten Lace is one of the new laceworks created by Shandong's craftspeople, after much research, experimentation and innovation. It is characterized by its elegant, original and lively designs. In addition, Batten Lace articles are inexpensive, have wide-ranging uses and come in all sizes and specifications. In the international market, Batten Lace articles have gained a high reputation, becoming decorative yet utilitarian household articles loved by consumers in many countries. The manufacturing procedures are similar to those for Flat Venice Lace, also totaling over a dozen steps. The complex process includes design, sketching, tracing on design pattern, printing, lace work by outside craftspeople, quality check on finished lace work, sewing and tidying up loose ends, bleaching and laundering, starching, ironing, quality check on finished article, and packaging. The principal work types are: Plain Running Thread Stitch in style of figure "8", Daisy Stitch, Knitting Lace, Picots, Overcasting Edge with eyelet holes, Connecting Bar Stitch, Gigliuccio work, Linked Daring work, Folding Band flower, Grape, and various kinds of Net work and Chain work. There are still many other work types, bringing the total to almost a hundred.
Flat Venice Lace
Flat Venice Lace is a traditional hand craft with long production history. Made from fine cotton yarn, this lace is distinguished for its exquisite workman-ship, unusual style, beautiful designs, and sumptuous-ness. It enjoys a very esteemed position in the international market and is very popular among consumers. Making Flat Venice articles involves over a dozen complicated steps, beginning with pattern design and sketching, then plate-making and printing, followed by fabric selection and cutting, outside processing and lace making, then quality checks on lace, colour matching and sewing, and finally washing, cleaning and ironing. The finished products must go through another quality check before it is packed. The principal work types include: Needle Lace work shape no. 1, 2 and 3, Needle Lace resembling Renaissance style, Early Venice Lace, Early Venice Lace with holes, Daring work in square shape, Dared-work and many more, totaling over 40.
Crochet Lace
Crochet Lace is another major export commodity of Shandong. It can be made into many articles for wide-ranging uses. In addition to tablecloths and bedspreads, utilitarian and decorative articles for the dining table and bed, Crochet Lace can also be used to decorate sofas, coffee tables and round dining tables.
Tuscany Lace
Tuscany Lace is one of the traditional export commodities of China. First, cotton yarn is knotted into a foundation net the way fishermen make their nets. The foundation net is of a very fine mesh which may contain nine, 25 or 49 holes per square inch. Embroidery yarns are then braided through the mesh holes to produce many intricate pattern designs. The principal Tuscany Lace products from Shandong are curtains, tablecloths, and sofa covers.
Lace by Yard and by Pieces
The main types of lace are Argo, Clunny, and Penglai Tatting Lace. Argo Lace is the traditional product of Rongcheng County in Shandong, and is called Rongcheng Lace in Chinese. Argo is the finest and most elaborate among all types of lace. It is similar to Venice Lace except that the whole design is made from one stretch of yarn from start to finish. The finished work is then sewn with other Argo pieces or onto the edges of table cloths and other drawnwork articles. It is a very strong, stiff and crease-resistant lace, with three-dimensional effects. Penglai Tatting Lace is unique to China, which is the only producer of this type of lace in the world. It is a beautiful and elegant lace, with exquisite craftsmanship and multifarious designs. The basic designs are usually in a continuous row linked by two squares. Penglai Tatting Lace is available in many specifications, and has won the state's Gold Medal award.
Machine Embroidery
Shandong machine-embroidery is world famous for its multifarious work types and fine craftsmanship. Principal work types total more than a hundred, including flat stitch, drawnwork, Riechelieu, punch and mosaic work, applique, and cross stitch. The embroidery is renowned for its novel design and bright and cheerful colours. The chief products are tablecloths, doilies, cocktail napkin sets, pillow cases, bedsheet sets, bed covers, bedspreads, curtains, shower curtains, door curtains, wall curtains, guest towels, aprons, cushion covers and sofa covers.
Tapestry
Woollen needlepoint tapestry is a traditional export hand craft of Shandong. It has a long production history and is world renowned for its quality, which has won the heart of consumers abroad. In woolen needlepoint tapestry, woolen yarn of different colours are meticulously woven into cotton canvas through needle point to create vivid designs of landscape, portraits, flowers, birds and animals. Through constant improvement over design and embroidery work, the tapestry from Shandong is now noted fro its harmony in colour combinations and elaborate and true-to-life designs. The variety of stitches includes gross point, petit point and a combination of both. Tapestry products include wall pictures and some artistic pictures which resemble fine paintings. There are also household tapestry items such as hanging tapestry, sofa sets, bench sets, piano cover sets, ties, stool cover and decorative pieces for making into handbags, spectacle cases, purses, powder compact covers, key holders and hangers. Some of the products are available in semi-finished form (without cloth-facing at the back), or in trammed-with-matching-wool form.