The Beauty of Indian Embroidery - Kutchwork!

 Unity in Diversity  is the adage that has been going around my mind while  I am penning this post. An apt slogan for the people of India ,( after all , we have different cultures and  religion all living together in this country for centuries ), I think it applies to Indian Embroidery too ! Look at the vast variety of styles and stitches that Traditional Indian Embroidery has to offer .
    For years  when  I have been teaching  the subject of textiles to students  , I have , with a sense of pride for this wonderful heritage , taught the techniques of Indian Embroidery to my students  . trying to develop a passion for Indian textile traditions in them .   And currently working on a project  I am compelled  to write about this beautiful work of art .

   Each region of India has it`s own textile tradition and the embroideries depicted in each style is a sum of  local surroundings as well as influence of different rulers , cultures and eras . From vibrant and flamboyant , to chic and subtle , Indian Embroidery leaves its mark on every textile enthusiast .

Kutchwork  or Kutchi bharat as it is called in Gujarati comes from the Western region of India . Also known as Sindhi stitch , this beautiful technique is geometric in form . The stitches are worked by laying a foundation framework  of herringbone stitch or cretan stitch. In the second part , this framework is filled with interlacing to completely fill the framed area . And  combination of perfect framework and interlacing only , can produce the perfect motif.
  A unique thing about this stitch is that you never know how it will look till it is completed and the final product is a wonderful surprise to the embroiderer. A part of the wedding trousseau young girls are taught this craft as soon as they are able to hold the needle and they graduate from simple to complex designs as they learn this art from their elders.
 It is said that this technique originated in far away land of Armenia  and found its way to Gujarat by travelling Nomads. Sindhi stitch or Maltese cross stitch is also similar but the innovation of the Kutchi women have taken it beyond the traditional designs.

 Here are some of the designs I have embroidered .

 Though the varirty of motifs  is vast , the basic pattern remains more or less the same. It is only an arrangement  and repeat of  the basic pattern  that can  create a variety of motifs in every shape and size!

Basic patterns around which the embroidery is based are :

single square

four corner square or chokdi

big square or moti chokdi

round or ladvo

triangle or trikon

line

simple edge or sadi kangri

double edge or kor

( the names marked in green are the gujarati names for the patterns }

Th ability to create innumerable designs lies only in the imagition and skill of the embroiderer .

Do write to how you find this article . Till next time then ,

Motidana.