Here is a first draft of an English-French embroidery and diamond painting glossary , so that you can find your way around the terminology (or even the jargon) of the two creative hobbies in which we are specialists: cross stitch and diamond embroidery .
We indicate the English term, its French translation, and its definition (with examples and links to our products if necessary).
Last updated: 06/10/2024 (added 2 terms).
NOTE: This content is our creation protected by copyright. Any reproduction of this glossary without our consent is strictly prohibited, under penalty of prosecution. (We systematically pursue plagiarists.)
English term | French term(s) | Definition |
Aida | Aida |
Aida cloth is a fabric specially made for embroidery, particularly for counted cross stitch and punch needle . Featured products: Aida fabric 150 x 100 cm in 8 colors |
alphabet | ABC book |
An ABC book is an educational embroidery work (usually in cross stitch) made up of all the letters of the alphabet. It can have several objectives: learning to embroider these letters, having a model of all the letters on hand, teaching the alphabet to a child (in this case, each letter is usually accompanied by an image). Featured products: see our selection of ABC books |
applicator pen | applicator pen |
To apply rhinestones (or diamonds) to a diamond painting canvas, you use either a stylus or tweezers. Featured Product: Multi-Tip Light-Up Stylus |
back stitch | backstitch | In cross stitch embroidery, it is sometimes necessary to draw fine lines, whether for decoration or writing. Since crosses are not suitable, a so-called "back" stitch is used, because it is done from right to left. |
bead | pearl | Plastic or resin pearl, with hole (classic pearl) or without hole (rhinestone, see "drill" ). |
crooked | crooked | Small octagonal embroidered cushion, made up of 2 small square Aida fabrics sewn together offset. This pad can be used as a decorative object, a pincushion, a scented sachet, etc. ( other ideas here ). See the tutorial for Marottes de Nathalie or the one for Passions de Petite Aline . |
canvas | - canvas - cloth |
Embroidery and diamond painting involve placing elements on a canvas in such a way as to create a decorative pattern. Featured products: Aida canvas 150 x 100 cm in 8 colors , Blank glued canvas for diamond painting |
color chart | color chart |
A color chart is a catalog of the different colors available in a product line. Featured Product: DMC Diamond Painting Color Chart |
craft hobby | - craft hobby - creative leisure |
A creative hobby is a personal pastime that uses creativity to make crafts, decorative objects, or works of art. There are all kinds of creative activities, based on very diverse techniques and materials: painting (oil painting, watercolor, ...), assembling threads (embroidery), assembling fabrics (patchwork), creating jewelry, gluing beads (diamond painting, iron-on beads), cutting / folding / gluing paper or cardboard ( puzzle , scrapbooking, flipbook, pocket letter, ...), modeling dough, etc. |
creative hobby | creative leisure | See "craft hobby". |
cross stitch | cross stitch | A type of counted cross stitch embroidery , made according to a pattern called a diagram and consisting of embroidering small crosses side by side on a fabric with a regular weave (usually Aida fabric). |
custom kit | custom kit |
Custom-made kit, for example from a personal photo or text. Featured Products: See our “Do It Yourself” collection |
diamond | diamond rhinestones |
See "drill". |
diamond bag | bag of rhinestones |
In most cases, the rhinestones provided in the kits are packaged in small transparent bags of 200 pieces of the same color. |
diamond painting | diamond embroidery | " 3D diamond painting " or "diamond embroidery" is a creative hobby of Chinese origin which is a cross between "pixel art" and cross stitch. It involves sticking small colored plastic cabochons onto a canvas printed with a pattern (canvas). Called pearls or rhinestones or more often diamonds because of their brilliant facets, these cabochons are either squares of 2.5 mm on each side or circles of 2.8 mm in diameter. Compared to cross stitch, they therefore bring a lot of relief and luminosity. The synthetic canvas (PVC) is self-adhesive, protected by a transparent film. Simply lift part of the film, apply the beads on it using tweezers or a stylus. The pattern to be made is presented in the form of a diagram similar to that of cross stitch, each "pixel" having a symbol indicating the color of rhinestones to be stuck on (in accordance with the basic DMC color chart, which includes 447 shades). Like embroidery, this creative hobby requires patience and precision, but simpler and more fun! |
DIY, Do It Yourself | FLVM, Do It Yourself |
Any activity, leisure or not, consisting of creating an object or work yourself rather than buying it in a store "ready-made" or having it done by a professional (craftsman, company). Featured Products: See our “Do It Yourself” collection |
dowry | point | The "point" or "pixel" is the smallest element of color (basic unit) used in creative leisure works called "counted cross-stitch". The best known are cross-stitch embroidery ( see "cross-stitch" ), where the unit is an X produced by crossing two threads, diamond embroidery ( see "diamond painting" ), where the stitch is a square or round resin rhinestone, and iron-on beads, made from plastic beads. |
drill | - rhinestones - diamond - pearl |
Plastic or resin cabochon, with hole (classic pearl) or without hole (rhinestone). Featured Products: Square Rhinestone Bags Packs , Round Rhinestone Bags Packs |
drill pen | - rhinestone stylus - diamond pen - applicator pen |
See "applicator pen". |
- dotting cement |
- sticky paste for stylus - stylus wax |
Sticky paste to make the diamonds stick to the stylus to pick them up in the rhinestone tray before placing them on the canvas. Often comes in the form of a small rectangle of pink paste (like strawberry chewing gum...). |
- dotting tray - drill plate - drill tray |
- rhinestone tray - rhinestone container |
Before applying the rhinestones (or diamonds) to a canvas, they are poured into a small rectangular grooved container or tray, a sort of sorting bin. By gently shaking the container, the rhinestones settle in the right direction between the grooves. A diamond painting kit can also be supplied with a small round container without grooves, especially when there are few diamonds (partial designs or mini-kits). |
fabric | - fabric - fabric |
Fabric that makes up the canvas on which the embroidery is done. This can be linen, cotton, polyester, etc. |
floss | - silk - thread |
Literally, " floss " means "silk". But this term is very often used in English to talk about a cotton thread ( see "thread" )... |
- full coverage - full drill |
- Full DP - whole pattern |
The cross stitch and diamond painting charts or canvases are: Featured products: see our “Diamond Embroidery” collection |
kit | kit | An embroidery kit or a diamond painting kit or any other creative hobby kit is a set of elements (canvas, diagram, threads, beads, needles, styluses, and other tools or accessories) supplied in "spare parts" in order to create a work yourself ( see "DIY, Do It Yourself" ). |
needle | needle | Traditional embroidery (cross stitch, counted cross stitch, running stitch, etc.) and sewing use small metal needles with eyes to pass threads (usually cotton) onto a canvas (linen, Aida, etc.). Knitting uses large eyeless needles. |
- partial coverage - partial drill |
- Partial DP - partial pattern |
As opposed to a full DP: see "full coverage" . |
pen | stylus | See "applicator pen". |
pick-up tool | - diamond tool - rhinestone tool |
A diamond tool is either a stylus ( see "applicator pen" ) or a rhinestone tweezer ( see "tweezers" ). |
- reserved area - resist |
reserve |
Reserve is a technique that exploits emptiness as a key element of design. In partial diamond painting designs, the reserve allows the diamond areas to be highlighted. |
sampler | - sampler - embroidery sample - scoreboard |
A "sampler" or sampler is an embroidery work that serves as a reminder of embroidery techniques. For example, it includes all the different types of stitch (forward stitch, back stitch, cross stitch, running stitch, stem stitch, etc.). Interesting article: “An embroidery “memo” to remember the stitches” on Le Journal de Saxe |
skein | - skein - skein |
A skein is a length of strands of thread of the same color ( see "thread" and "yarn" ), wound on themselves and labeled with a shade number. Featured products: see our “Accessories & Haberdashery” collection |
thread | thread | All needlework uses threads, more or less thick. They are usually made of cotton, but can also be made of silk, polyester (synthetic material), etc. Their colors are numerous and codified in various color charts ( see "color chart" ). |
tweezers | rhinestone tweezers | The rhinestone tweezers look like angled tweezers. They are used either to replace the stylus ( see "applicator pen" ) to place the beads on the canvas, or to reposition beads that are stuck crooked. |
yarn | strand | Embroidery threads ( see "thread" ) are usually supplied in the form of several interwoven strands. For cross stitch, standard skeins ( see "skein" ) have 6 strands, therefore a "thickness" of 6 threads. Depending on the fabric used for embroidery and the size of the stitches, the strands can be separated or not. The fewer strands, the finer the result, and the more delicate the work. |