How a Suzhou Embroidery Fan Is Made
Published April 10, 2026
Suzhou embroidery (苏绣) is one of China's four famous embroidery styles. For over 2,500 years, master embroiderers in Suzhou have been creating stunning pieces using silk threads so fine they're nearly invisible.
A hand-embroidered fan typically takes 5 to 15 days to complete. Here's how it's done.
Step 1: Silk Thread Preparation
The silk thread is carefully split. A single thread is divided into 8 to 16 strands — sometimes even 32 for the most delicate work. This allows the embroiderer to create incredibly fine details and smooth color transitions.
Step 2: Design Transfer
The design is sketched onto the silk fabric by hand. Traditional patterns include peonies, butterflies, fish, phoenixes, and dragons — each with symbolic meaning in Chinese culture.
Step 3: The Embroidery
Using a small bamboo frame, the embroiderer works stitch by stitch. The most skilled artisans can create shading effects by varying stitch density and thread thickness. A single flower petal may use dozens of thread colors.
Step 4: Mounting
Once the embroidery is complete, the silk is carefully mounted onto a bamboo or sandalwood fan frame. The frame itself is often hand-carved, completing the transformation from raw materials to finished treasure.
This article is part of our ongoing series documenting China's intangible cultural heritage crafts. Photos and video coming soon — join our WhatsApp to be notified when new stories are published.