Ethnic Embroidery of India Part I

Author - Usha Shrikant

Cost - US$40 (Rs.1500)

It has about 143 pages of information about designs and techniques used in the different embroidery styles of Bengal, the Banjara tribe, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kashmir, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

So, did I get value for money? I'd say no.

It's a hard bound book with excellent quality paper. It would make a decorative coffee table book. But for use by serious students of embroidery, as a source of authentic and extensive information,  on the distinct styles of Indian Embroidery, the book is a big disappointment.

 Rs 1500 for 143 pages??? So why did I order it? For one thing, I did not know that the book only contained so few pages. For another, I hoped the book would be packed with techniques, you won't find anywhere else.

What I expected was a discussion of the various design elements of each distinct style. I'll take Kantha of Bengal, as a case in point. This style, has several distinct motifs, typical to it. But I all found in the book is, information on the various typical utilitarian articles, people made using this embroidery style, pictures of some work samples, a couple of pictures with an inadequate demo of how to work a leaf and a round (anyone who has anything to do with embroidery would have figured it out, just by looking at it) and four pages with about 19 kantha motifs you can find in any embroidery design books, that Indian craft outlets sell, for a maximum of Rs.120.

There is no information here that you won't find elsewhere cheaper or even for free.

Third Bird Design for Baby Outfits or Applique

Bird Series - Design 3

The same stitches used for designs 1 and 2 can be used here as well.

Another Free Bird Motif

Bird Series - Design 2

The 2nd of a series of 4 designs. Can be used for fabric painting or embroidery on baby outfits, household linen, curtain ties etc.

All About Faggotting - Part I

Faggotting? Never heard of the term before? It's an embroidery technique  introduced sometime around 1920 to help seamstresses keep pace with the vagaries of Dame Fashion particularly the hem length.

Okay. Faggotting is a decorative technique used to attach an extra stretch of fabric to the hem of a skirt or sleeve. The purpose is either to add length to a garment or to attach two contrasting coloured fabric. It is sometimes both. Whatever the case, the result is very attractive and give the garment a delicate touch.

Here's an example of this technique.

If you Google 'faggotting images', you'll get a fairly good idea of the practical applications of faggotting.

There are about 5 faggotting techniques that I know of, including this one. I'll post tutorials of them soon.

Tatted Insertion for a Mobile Pouch

Here are the tatting instructions for the mobiles and keys pouch I posted in my Needlecraft blog.

Row 1
Step 1: *Ring of 7ds, p, 7ds, close ring and reverse work.

Step 2: Ch of 7ds, p, 7ds. reverse work.

Step 3: Ring of 7ds, join to the picot of the previous ring, 7ds close ring.

Repeat from * until you've made the required length of lace to go around the pouch.

Finish with - Ring of 7ds join to the picot of prev. ring, 7ds, close ring.

Row 2: Start with the ring shown in the last pic.
Step 1: Ring of 7ds, join to the picot of the 1st ring of row 1, 7ds, close ring and reverse work.

The basic design is the same as row 1. But here, you join the rings picots to the corresponding ring picots of row 1. Finish neatly.

Tip:
A really neat trick I learnt is to neatly glue loose ends on the wrong side of work with clear nail 

Free Bird motifs for Embroidery

Free Design for Hanky Corners, Baby outfits or Needlecases

Bird Series- Design 1

Here's a very cute little birdie design. I plan to use it on a little pouch I made to hold my glasses, keys and cellphone. I'll post the picture of it when I am done.

The stitches mentioned here are just suggestions. You can use stitches of your choice.  The birds for instance can be done in applique.