Stitches: 1,289
Width : 1.96"
Height : 3.76"
Colors : 1
Hoop : 4" x 4"
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Saturday, January 26, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Free Design NO 5
Stitch Count: 4770
Height/Width: 1.87 x 3.49 inches
47.50 x 88.65 mm
Formats: art,csd,dst,emb,exp,hus,jef,pcs,pes,sew,vip,xxx
Color Sequence:
1. Med. Blush (1220)
2. Lt. Fuschia (1321)
3. Red (1147)
4. Fuschia2 (1309)
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Free Design NO 4
this Design can be reproduced on a QUANTUM® XL-6000, XL-5000, XL-1000 or XL-150 or Futura™ with appropriate software. To stitch out this design we used Robison-Anton® Super Brite® polyester embroidery thread in the following colors:
- 9042 - Brownstone
- 7712 - Azalea
- 5509 - Green
- 7711 - D.H. Green
- 9053 - May Nights
- 9071 - Mod Purple
- 9001 - Ombre Gold
- 7709 - Bitteroot
- 5807 - Candy Apple Red
- 9073 - Dancing Salmon
- 5546 - Shrimp
Free Design NO 3
i introduce the latest in a series of exclusive SINGER® designs from Santi at Hatched in Africa. this design can be reproduced on a QUANTUM® XL-5000, XL-1000 and XL-150 using the Professional Sew Ware™ software. To stitch-out this design we used the folowing colors of Robison-Anton® rayon thread. Robison-Anton® thread is available at your local Authorized SINGER® dealer.
- 2229 "Palmento"
- 2456 "Pea Pod"
- 2223 "Pink"
- 2457 "Green Dust"
- 2591 "Rose Tint"
- 2494 "Cabernet"
- 2252 "Russet"
- 2398 "Visor Gold"
- 2599 "Pink Bazaar"
- 2271 "Heather"
- 2599 "Pink Bazaar" (This color used in two steps)
Free Design NO 2
this design can be reproduced on a QUANTUM® XL-6000, XL-5000, XL-1000 or XL-150 using your Professional Sew Ware™ (PSW) software. It can also be reproduced on our new futura machines. To stitch out this design we used Robison-Anton® Super Brite polyester embroidery thread in Iris (2288) and Violet (2285). You can use the colors of your choice.
Download Design in PSW Format
Download Design in XXX Format
Free Design NO 1
Stitch Count: 16409Height/Width: 4.94 x 3.60 inches
125.50 x 91.40 mm
Formats: exp,pes
Color Sequence:
1. Red
2. Amber Red
3. Black
4. Red
5. Amber Red
6. Black
7. Red
8. Deep Green
9. Leaf Green.
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The composition in folk embroidery.
Today we shall talk about the composition in embroidery. You will get to know about ornaments and its use to decorate household stuff in times of old. Ornamental patterns decorate many things. If a thing is beautiful, it is pleasant to use it. You have many confections at home: fine china, in-wrought drapery, embroidered cushions, ovenware… Try to decorate them yourself.
In former times only a few could buy fine things. In the villages away from big cities people made and decorated the things they needed themselves – wooden spoons, plates, water scoops and other. Some of them survived to our times. Many of such things are elaborately made. Now they are kept in museums. We do not know the names of those who made them, but their art is called folk art.
The works of the folk craftsman delight us in colour schemes, amazing pictures of plants, birds and animals. Patterns are wonderful: flowers, outlandish birds, and thin and neat branches of trees. And what colours!
How could the folk craftsman create such a gorgeous design?
Who could give him a cue?
It was the nature that directed him; he had seen it in the forest or in the garden. Look carefully at the plants, how their leaves grow, what their shape is, what the colours are.
Before making something, you should think the whole item over, decide upon the shape, arranging of the pattern, it character and colour. The artistic solution of the ornament is included into the general concept of composition.
The Latin word “composition” means arranging separate parts into a complete unit in a certain order. Together these parts are supposed to create a definite shape. In the properly designed composition all the elements are interconnected, it is impossible to remove anything without the loss of integrity of the picture and the harmony of composition.
Composition has the principal elements and secondary, subordinate elements. The principal elements are those that attract attention first and bear the main idea, the concept of the pattern. The major element of the design must be connected and balanced by the secondary elements. The main part is not necessarily located in the centre of the composition. It can be emphasised by the means of contrast colour or its size and shape.
Composition can be three or two-dimensional. Embroidery is a two dimensional composition. Composition developing is a creative process of artistic work invention from conception to perfection. Starting an embroidery, one should remember that it is an applied art, and any embroidered item, whether it be a tablecloth, a blouse, or a panel, is household article as well as a piece of art. Thus, the size and fashion of the tablecloth, its colour, and the pattern will depend on the size and shape, material and colour of the table it is made for. The tablecloth will become a part of interior, that is why it must be balance with the other things in the room.
You should be aware of some the main notions and means of composition in order to learn how to arrange a composition correctly. They are rhythm, rapport order, symmetry and others. All these notions in their turn are connected with the concept of “ornament”.
In Latin “ornament” means decoration. In ancient times ornament designed had a strongly marked symbolic meaning.
A straight horizontal line stood for the land surface, horizontal wavy line stood for the water, a vertical wavy line symbolized rain, triangles meant mountains, crossed lined stood for fire and lightning, the Sun and the Moon – radiant celestial bodies - were indicated by a circle, a square, or a rhombus.
A female character with hand up or down represented the image of Earth Mother, connected with worshiping of the land and water. Eastern Slavic goddess Bereginya, or Mokosh, was the patroness of water, household, hearth and home, and handiwork.
Branchy trees and frog images stood for fertile land; grass, flowers, bushes, and trees were called “the hair of the Earth”. Out-runner of the Sun, warmth and light, symbol of happiness and joy was a bird that promised the incoming of spring, harvest and wealth. A deer and horse represented “live-giving aster” – the Sun – and were believed to bring good fortune, jollity, and prosperity.
The rhombus was the main sign and it had many meanings. A smooth or spurred rhombus stood for the Sun and fire, as well as for fertility, revival. A chain of rhombuses meant the Tree of Life. A rhombus with protruding sides represented the top of timberwork; a square divided into four parts with a circle or a dot in each meant a homestead and a sown field.
There were special ornaments for wedding garments and burial clothes, warrior clothing, farmers, and or household stuff, etc. Dishes, stoves and furniture were covered with ornaments. Every region had their traditional ornament patterns. It is easy to distinguish Russian pattern from Bashkir or Estonian one. Over time the figures changed, became more complicated and were combined with other designs, creating image patterns. Now ornament has a purely decorative function.
Ornament is a pattern the elements of which follow a definite rhythm.
The part of the ornament that is completely repeated at a specific interval is called rapport, which means repetition.
According to the arrangement and the character of composition, which is always closely related to the shape o the decorated item, ornament can be:
Ribbon – straight or arched strip that decorates the middle of the item or frames it (frieze, border); Netlike, where all the surface is covered with the pattern; Centric, or rosette-like, where all the elements are inserted into a square, circle, rhombus, or multi-angular (rosette), located in the centre of an item.
The following ornament designs are distinguished: Geometric, consisting of several elements; Meander - composed of broken lines, widely used in Ancient Greece and named after the river Meander; Flower, or fito, composed of stylised flower, fruit, leaves and branch images; Animal, with stylised figures of animals and insects; Lettering-like (ligature), resembling a lettering.
Designing a pattern is always related to symmetry that is typical for folk embroidery patterns. You can invent a ornament with one or several lines of symmetry. The easiest type of symmetry (with one line) is a mirror reflection when the line divides an element into two identical parts.
In former times only a few could buy fine things. In the villages away from big cities people made and decorated the things they needed themselves – wooden spoons, plates, water scoops and other. Some of them survived to our times. Many of such things are elaborately made. Now they are kept in museums. We do not know the names of those who made them, but their art is called folk art.
The works of the folk craftsman delight us in colour schemes, amazing pictures of plants, birds and animals. Patterns are wonderful: flowers, outlandish birds, and thin and neat branches of trees. And what colours!
How could the folk craftsman create such a gorgeous design?
Who could give him a cue?
It was the nature that directed him; he had seen it in the forest or in the garden. Look carefully at the plants, how their leaves grow, what their shape is, what the colours are.
Before making something, you should think the whole item over, decide upon the shape, arranging of the pattern, it character and colour. The artistic solution of the ornament is included into the general concept of composition.
The Latin word “composition” means arranging separate parts into a complete unit in a certain order. Together these parts are supposed to create a definite shape. In the properly designed composition all the elements are interconnected, it is impossible to remove anything without the loss of integrity of the picture and the harmony of composition.
Composition has the principal elements and secondary, subordinate elements. The principal elements are those that attract attention first and bear the main idea, the concept of the pattern. The major element of the design must be connected and balanced by the secondary elements. The main part is not necessarily located in the centre of the composition. It can be emphasised by the means of contrast colour or its size and shape.
Composition can be three or two-dimensional. Embroidery is a two dimensional composition. Composition developing is a creative process of artistic work invention from conception to perfection. Starting an embroidery, one should remember that it is an applied art, and any embroidered item, whether it be a tablecloth, a blouse, or a panel, is household article as well as a piece of art. Thus, the size and fashion of the tablecloth, its colour, and the pattern will depend on the size and shape, material and colour of the table it is made for. The tablecloth will become a part of interior, that is why it must be balance with the other things in the room.
You should be aware of some the main notions and means of composition in order to learn how to arrange a composition correctly. They are rhythm, rapport order, symmetry and others. All these notions in their turn are connected with the concept of “ornament”.
In Latin “ornament” means decoration. In ancient times ornament designed had a strongly marked symbolic meaning.
A straight horizontal line stood for the land surface, horizontal wavy line stood for the water, a vertical wavy line symbolized rain, triangles meant mountains, crossed lined stood for fire and lightning, the Sun and the Moon – radiant celestial bodies - were indicated by a circle, a square, or a rhombus.
A female character with hand up or down represented the image of Earth Mother, connected with worshiping of the land and water. Eastern Slavic goddess Bereginya, or Mokosh, was the patroness of water, household, hearth and home, and handiwork.
Branchy trees and frog images stood for fertile land; grass, flowers, bushes, and trees were called “the hair of the Earth”. Out-runner of the Sun, warmth and light, symbol of happiness and joy was a bird that promised the incoming of spring, harvest and wealth. A deer and horse represented “live-giving aster” – the Sun – and were believed to bring good fortune, jollity, and prosperity.
The rhombus was the main sign and it had many meanings. A smooth or spurred rhombus stood for the Sun and fire, as well as for fertility, revival. A chain of rhombuses meant the Tree of Life. A rhombus with protruding sides represented the top of timberwork; a square divided into four parts with a circle or a dot in each meant a homestead and a sown field.
There were special ornaments for wedding garments and burial clothes, warrior clothing, farmers, and or household stuff, etc. Dishes, stoves and furniture were covered with ornaments. Every region had their traditional ornament patterns. It is easy to distinguish Russian pattern from Bashkir or Estonian one. Over time the figures changed, became more complicated and were combined with other designs, creating image patterns. Now ornament has a purely decorative function.
Ornament is a pattern the elements of which follow a definite rhythm.
The part of the ornament that is completely repeated at a specific interval is called rapport, which means repetition.
According to the arrangement and the character of composition, which is always closely related to the shape o the decorated item, ornament can be:
Ribbon – straight or arched strip that decorates the middle of the item or frames it (frieze, border); Netlike, where all the surface is covered with the pattern; Centric, or rosette-like, where all the elements are inserted into a square, circle, rhombus, or multi-angular (rosette), located in the centre of an item.
The following ornament designs are distinguished: Geometric, consisting of several elements; Meander - composed of broken lines, widely used in Ancient Greece and named after the river Meander; Flower, or fito, composed of stylised flower, fruit, leaves and branch images; Animal, with stylised figures of animals and insects; Lettering-like (ligature), resembling a lettering.
Designing a pattern is always related to symmetry that is typical for folk embroidery patterns. You can invent a ornament with one or several lines of symmetry. The easiest type of symmetry (with one line) is a mirror reflection when the line divides an element into two identical parts.
PixelHobby Designer Lite, Version 1.6
We currently make available a free (by download only) program called PixelHobby Designer Lite. You can use this software to create original PixelHobby designs from digital photographs/images.
Here's a sample screen shot of the program...
Key Features
- Design
- Select picture from any of 9 supported graphics/picture file formats
- Select number of baseplates for the design
- Select maximum number of colors for the design
- Includes cropping and image adjustment tools
- Optional dithering support
- Zoom options for display of design
- Printing
- Print part list
- Print design sheets
- Print Preview
- Select 2 or 4 design rectangles per page
- Ordering
- Optionally submit parts list to a shopping cart on this website for ordering
- Optionally request a price quote for a design using this website
- Help Information
- Includes step-by-step guide for creating a design
- Includes general assembly steps
Minimum System Requirements
- Windows® 95/98/Me/2000/XP/Vista
- Pentium 266MHz or higher
- 800x600 resolution graphics
- 16-bit color resolution
- 64 Mbytes of RAM
- 17 Mbytes of disk space
- Mouse or other pointing device
- Monochrome or color printer
- IE 4.01 or higher for Windows 95 installations
Installation Directions
-
Click on the link below to begin the file transfer.
Operating System
Link
Size
Windows®, All Versions
3 MBytes
-
If your browser asks you whether it should run (or open) the file after it is downloaded, select Yes. Otherwise, select a location on your hard disk for the file.
-
After the download is complete, either allow the browser to automatically run/open the downloaded file, or manually run it by double-clicking it using the Windows® File Explorer.
-
The setup program will then be started.
-
Please follow the setup program directions to complete the installation.
-
To open the program, select: Start, Programs (or All Programs), PixelHobby Designer Lite, and then click the PixelHobby Designer Lite shortcut.
New Embroidery Machine
With the pricey acquisition comes the ability to make heirloom embroideries, personalized gifts, clothing, and home décor. Endless creativity is mine and I’m elated!
But what if I can’t learn to master the machine? Will the machine embroidery process be a difficult and aggravating chore or will it be a relaxing and creative?
But what if I can’t learn to master the machine? Will the machine embroidery process be a difficult and aggravating chore or will it be a relaxing and creative?
| Once I removed the new wondrous piece of equipment from its box, it quickly became a case of woman against machine. The dealer was not with me and the memories of the machine demonstration were fuzzy. There I was, alone with an embroidery machine and its plethora of parts, manuals and hoops. The honeymoon phase with the embroidery machine had the usual peaks and valleys, fits and starts of any new relationship. There seemed to be so much to learn and, at times, I felt overwhelmed. If I were to relive the experience of being a new embroiderer, here are a few guidelines I’d follow the second time around. I hope these tips, based on my experience, are helpful to you. |
| Don’t panic. Take small steps and learn one step well before you charge off to another step. Learn to thread your machine, install the bobbin and change the needle. When you’re confident you can thread your machine with ease then it is time to move onto learning to hoop fabric or whatever next step you choose. Don’t be tempted to buy every design that crosses your path and resist purchasing extra hoops and gadgets until you master what you have. With each impulse purchase, the feeling of being overwhelmed with all the new stuff is compounded tenfold. I ended up with a quilting table that snaps onto my embroidery machine. I don’t quilt. I was talked into purchasing an expensive sewing desk that I hated and ended up selling at a loss a few months later. Don’t get caught up in the excitement of the moment and resist attempts to be thrust into a buying frenzy until you can assess your needs. Dealers can be very persuasive. |
| Do take full advantage of your dealer’s promise of lessons. I have wasted hours trying to figure out steps on my own only to have my dealer explain the task to me in a few seconds. Saving time and frustration is priceless. I have stomped around the house many times while fuming, “I can’t take this any longer” which, in retrospect, must have been amusing to onlookers. |
Embroidery Thread
What kind of embroidery thread should I use? This is one of the most common questions we hear. The answer is simple, and difficult, at the same time.
The first thing to decide is what fiber to use. Rayon, polyester, cotton, silk, or metallic? All have their pros and cons, but basically it comes down to personal preference. I believe in using whatever threads work for your project. If it works well in your machine, and you like the effect you get while using it, then don't hesitate, enjoy it! Don't let the embroidery "police" tell you what you should or should not use in your project. As odd as it sounds, embroidery machines have preferences too. So experiment, and don't be afraid to use a particular thread just because it's not "made for that".
Rayon Thread
Rayon embroidery threads are currently the most popular threads used in embroidery machines. They perform consistently well in high-speed embroidery machines with very little breaking or fraying. Rayon is a high sheen thread, and often used as a lower cost alternative to silk threads.
Most Rayon embroidery threads are available in 40wt, though 30wt can be found without effort. A wide range of colors and shades are available, including variegated colors.
Though some brands can be, rayon embroidery threads are not generally colorfast. It is best to avoid using any bleaching agents, including those made for colors.
Stitches sewn with rayon threads are very smooth and consistent, leading to a higher quality embroidery project.
Rayon threads do deteriorate over time, so attention should be paid to how it is stored. In low humidity regions, rayon threads can be stored in the refrigerator to extend thread life for a long as possible.
Polyester Thread
Polyester is rapidly catching up to the popularity of Rayon threads for embroidery. It is a very strong and economical thread. Polyester embroidery threads won't fade or shrink in the wash.
The luster, or sheen, of polyester thread falls between that of cotton and rayon.
Polyester threads do have some give or stretch to them.
Polyester embroidery threads are available in a wide range of solid and variegated colors. Like Rayon, the most popular thread size is 40wt, but 30wt and 50wt can be easily found.
Cotton Thread
Cotton embroidery thread is available in a wide range of weights, and is suitable for most embroidery projects. 40wt and 50wt are the most common, but cotton threads range from 8wt to 100wt.
Cotton thread does not stretch a great deal, and will break if pulled too tightly. Cotton thread will fade with the sun, and shrink in the wash, so treat it as you would cotton fabrics.
Most cotton threads sold now are mercerized. This is a chemical and heat process that increases the luster of the thread. During the mercerizing process, fuzzy threads are burned off, creating a smoother surface. This smooth surface reflects light, increasing the luster of the thread. It also has the effect of increasing water absorbency, making the thread easier to dye.
Long staple cotton is finer and stronger than regular cotton. Most high quality threads are made with long staple cotton, creating a softer, stronger, higher luster thread. Long staple threads tend to have fewer slubs, lumps of lint spun into the cotton threads.
Silk Thread
Silk is an elastic, though very strong thread, and is among the most beautiful of natural fibers. It has a high sheen, and creates a distinctive look when used in embroidery projects.
Pure filament silk is the highest quality silk, as the fibers do not need to be spun; they come naturally in long strands from the silkworm.
Spun silks are made of shorter fibers. They come from broken cocoons or the beginning and end of cocoons.
Silk thread, and projects created with silk thread, can be gently washed in the washing machine with a mild soap. Bleaching agents should not be used as they can damage the threads.
In most cases, when it comes to thread, you get what you pay for. Good embroidery thread will stand up to high-speed embroidery machines without breaking or shredding. Bargain bin threads are inexpensive, but of poor quality, and will cost you in time and frustration.
The first thing to decide is what fiber to use. Rayon, polyester, cotton, silk, or metallic? All have their pros and cons, but basically it comes down to personal preference. I believe in using whatever threads work for your project. If it works well in your machine, and you like the effect you get while using it, then don't hesitate, enjoy it! Don't let the embroidery "police" tell you what you should or should not use in your project. As odd as it sounds, embroidery machines have preferences too. So experiment, and don't be afraid to use a particular thread just because it's not "made for that".
Rayon Thread
Rayon embroidery threads are currently the most popular threads used in embroidery machines. They perform consistently well in high-speed embroidery machines with very little breaking or fraying. Rayon is a high sheen thread, and often used as a lower cost alternative to silk threads.
Most Rayon embroidery threads are available in 40wt, though 30wt can be found without effort. A wide range of colors and shades are available, including variegated colors.
Though some brands can be, rayon embroidery threads are not generally colorfast. It is best to avoid using any bleaching agents, including those made for colors.
Stitches sewn with rayon threads are very smooth and consistent, leading to a higher quality embroidery project.
Rayon threads do deteriorate over time, so attention should be paid to how it is stored. In low humidity regions, rayon threads can be stored in the refrigerator to extend thread life for a long as possible.
Polyester Thread
Polyester is rapidly catching up to the popularity of Rayon threads for embroidery. It is a very strong and economical thread. Polyester embroidery threads won't fade or shrink in the wash.
The luster, or sheen, of polyester thread falls between that of cotton and rayon.
Polyester threads do have some give or stretch to them.
Polyester embroidery threads are available in a wide range of solid and variegated colors. Like Rayon, the most popular thread size is 40wt, but 30wt and 50wt can be easily found.
Cotton Thread
Cotton embroidery thread is available in a wide range of weights, and is suitable for most embroidery projects. 40wt and 50wt are the most common, but cotton threads range from 8wt to 100wt.
Cotton thread does not stretch a great deal, and will break if pulled too tightly. Cotton thread will fade with the sun, and shrink in the wash, so treat it as you would cotton fabrics.
Most cotton threads sold now are mercerized. This is a chemical and heat process that increases the luster of the thread. During the mercerizing process, fuzzy threads are burned off, creating a smoother surface. This smooth surface reflects light, increasing the luster of the thread. It also has the effect of increasing water absorbency, making the thread easier to dye.
Long staple cotton is finer and stronger than regular cotton. Most high quality threads are made with long staple cotton, creating a softer, stronger, higher luster thread. Long staple threads tend to have fewer slubs, lumps of lint spun into the cotton threads.
Silk Thread
Silk is an elastic, though very strong thread, and is among the most beautiful of natural fibers. It has a high sheen, and creates a distinctive look when used in embroidery projects.
Pure filament silk is the highest quality silk, as the fibers do not need to be spun; they come naturally in long strands from the silkworm.
Spun silks are made of shorter fibers. They come from broken cocoons or the beginning and end of cocoons.
Silk thread, and projects created with silk thread, can be gently washed in the washing machine with a mild soap. Bleaching agents should not be used as they can damage the threads.
In most cases, when it comes to thread, you get what you pay for. Good embroidery thread will stand up to high-speed embroidery machines without breaking or shredding. Bargain bin threads are inexpensive, but of poor quality, and will cost you in time and frustration.
Embroidery Library – Catering To All Your Embroidery Needs
If you ask any veteran embroidery enthusiast where they get their supplies, there’s a big chance that they will mention the name of the Embroidery Library. It is like a one-stop shop for all your embroidery needs and it is very popular among embroidery lovers.
Just as its name suggests, the Embroidery Library is a collection of everything you could possibly think of that is related to embroidery. It is actually an online portal where you can go for any embroidery product or service that you might need.
Whether you need to buy a certain embroidery thread with a hard-to-find color, or you want to order custom needlework, the Embroidery Library can definitely help you out.
The Embroidery Library was established almost 10 years ago, and since then it has grown to be the most comprehensive site online when it comes to embroidery.
One of their secrets for remaining at the top is that they are always open to suggestions from their customers. If you have design ideas for patterns, the Embroidery Library will definitely take it into consideration and may even add your pattern to their collection.
Another great thing about the Embroidery Library is that you can avail of their products and services at very reasonable prices while getting excellent quality as well. Some sites will catch your attention with their extremely low prices but when you see their products, you will find out that the quality is not very good.
On the other hand, there are some sites that sell very good quality embroidery products but the prices are not within the average person’s budget.
If you go to Embroidery Library, you will find products that are comparable to the finest in the world but with price tags that are well within your reach. Patterns at the Embroidery Library cost anywhere from $1 to $8. They also offer budget packs of several different patterns with similar motifs at less than $2 per package.
Because of the wide variety of designs that the Embroidery Library has, you are certain to find what you are looking for in their collections. However, if the particular design you have in mind is not available in their catalogues, you can submit a suggestion and they may even have it specially created just for you.
Purchasing items from the Embroidery Library is very simple. After selecting the items you want to buy, all you need to do is submit certain information to them. There is no need to go to their store or wait for several days for the delivery of your product. When you buy from Embroidery Library, you will be able to enjoy your new embroidery items immediately. It is a convenient way to get more information and stay update about embroidery and it helps you in making changing in your designs.
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.
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