Embroidery is the embellishment of cloth with designs
Embroidery is an ancient variety of decorative needlework in
which designs and pictures are created by stitching strands of
some material on to a layer of another material. Most embroidery
uses thread or wool stitched onto a woven fabric, but the
stitches could be executed in, for example, wire or leather
strands, and embroidery can be worked onto many materials. ...
An embellishment of a fabric or garment in which colored threads
are sewn on to the fabric to create a design. Embroidery may be
done either by hand or machine.It is A term applied to a hill or
mount with several copings or rises and falls.
Decorative stitching on fabric. Generally involves non-lettering
designs but can also include lettering and/or monograms.
Evidence of embroidery exists during the reign of Egyptian
pharaohs, in the writings of Homer and from the Crusaders of the
12th century. Evolved from hand work to manual sewing machines
and from handlooms and schiffli machines with hundreds of
needles to high-speed, computerized multihead machines.
Ornamental needlework or trimming using silk, cotton, metallic
or other threads.
Embroidery is the embellishment of cloth with designs made by
needle and thread; an art that stretches back to antiquity. Over
the centuries, embroidery has been used to adorn everything from
handkerchiefs to the most sumptuous state regalia. With the
exception of leather, embroidery in India has been done on woven
cloth of cotton, wool and silk.
In India, natural colors used for dying distinguishes the work
done in India from the others. The Indian embroider never uses
too many colors in any one piece. Each state in India has a
style unique to its tradition. The satin stitch is used in
Kashmir. The darn stitch, which produces the 'bagh' and
'phulkari' stitch of Punjab is vibrant like the people of the
state. The interlacing stitches of Kutch and Kathiawar are as
beautiful as they are intricate. The 'kasauti' stitch of
Karnataka too is popular due to its traditional value. The white
on white 'chikan' work of Uttar Pradesh is breath-taking and
requires a lot of skill. The silk embroidery done in Surat has
exquisite patterns.
Indian embroidery uses many stitches as well as variations of
basic stitches. The running stitch, back stitch, stem stitch,
feather stitch, interlacing stitch, satin stitch, cross stitch
etc. are just to name a few. Indian embroidery exists in
exquisite variations and vibrant colors, with each state having
a unique style of its own.
Chikan
The chikan work of Lucknow is perhaps one of the most popular
embroidery works in India. It has a certain grace and elegance,
which ensures that it never goes out of style. The word chikan
literally means embroidery. It is said to have been originally
introduced by Nur Jahan, the beautiful wife of the Mughal
emperor, Jahangir. It has since evolved and attained its glory
and perfection in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The work became
popular in a number of important cities of the Indo-Gangetic
plain such as Delhi, Agra, Rampur, Banaras, Patna and Gaya. But
the supremacy of Lucknow remained unchallenged.
The designs depend for its effect on the variety of stitches
used and different grades of threads used to form the patterns
which include, the lace like jali, the opaque fillings and the
delicacy or boldness of outline and details. The most beautiful
part of chikan work is the open work ground, an effect of drawn
thread work is achieved without drawing out any. Tiny raised
flowers done in what seem to be French knots are balanced by the
flat stem stitch and large areas of open work to prevent either
a crowded or too scattered appearance.
A variation of the chikan work is the bakhia or shadow work.
Here the work is done from the back, the stitches completely
covering the design in herringbone style. The shadow of the
thread is seen through the cloth on the right side. To give a
richer appearance, the designs are produced with tiny
backstitches on the right side over the shadow. A similar effect
is created by cutting out tiny flowers and leaves in the same
material as the basic fabric and then applying them on the wrong
side. The work is done so dexterously that the turned in edges
of the cut pieces are scarcely visible from the front of the
work.
The refinement of taste dictated that not even the seams should
be straight. So the material of the kurtas were cut in waves
along the sides. The stitches employed are back-stitch, chain
stitch, and hemstitch forming an open work pattern, jali or
openwork ground. The introduction of color in to the kurtas is a
recent innovation.
Embroidery has been a craft for women, Banni, a small village in
the Rann of Kutch is known for its artistic embroidery work.
Small mirrors are interspersed to lend glitter and charm. The
finest type of such embroidery work with small mirrors is called
Abhla-Bharat. When a bride is sent to her husband's house, she
carries with her some pieces of skirts and cholis exquisitely
embroidered with minute details.
For more information on free embroidery designs art please
visit the free embroidery designs art resource center at Embroidery designs Resource Center