Kashmiri embroidery

Hi!

Kashmiri embroidery is one of the delicate and finest embroidery.The stitches used may be simple but the outcome is beautiful.
There are two types of kashmiri embroidery - sozni (kashida) and aari.
Kashmiri aari is worked with only chain or chain stitch filling.The hook used in this form is slightly bigger than the one which I'd showed y'all in my aari embroidery post.Sozni embroidery is done with crewel needle.
Paisleys and coils are the integral part of many kashmiri embroidery designs.
Kashmiri embroidery is worked with Wool,cotton threads and sometimes silk threads.
Only primary colors(pastel shades) were used earlier,but now lots of colors are used may be because of the client's preference and the availability of colors.
The finest Kashmiri sozni embroidery can be found on pashmina shawls and phirans.
Kashmiri aari can be found on rugs,panels and blouses.

                       
                                                         

                                       
                                                       Kashmiri aari embroidery
                                                   
I'll be showing y'all a Kashmiri sozni(kashida) embroidery step by step.
I've chosen a paisley motif and transfered it to a cotton silk material using a trace paper.
NOTE:Since the sozni designs are small and intricate prick & pounce method doesn't work .Transfer the design  either with a light box or tracing paper.

                                             

I've worked 3 lines of paisley in stem stitch using red stranded cotton thread.
I'll be posting my progress here so come back if you are interested in kashmiri embroidery.

Happy stitching!

Anita.

Trial & error

Hi !

I'd promised to show the new embroidery project,but am posting an image of a painting (only a part) today.
I've been practising to paint waterfall for quiet sometime.I can't undo the mistakes here,
so it was really frustrating when I couldn't nail it.

I was so.. happy when I got this right atleast to some extent,thought I should share this with my blog friends.
What do y'all think?.Did I get it or not?
I'd like to hear from y'all,so please do post a comment or mail me.

Anita.

Tatting

Hi!

I'd like to share these images of a saree with you all.
I'd attached a tatted border/edging and some motifs to a crepe saree.

A saree is five and a half meters long & 44 - 48 inches wide.
So I'd to work approximately 9 mts edging/border & 30-40 motifs.

I'll show you all the updates and another new project (Indian embroidery) which I'd started this week
in my next post.

Happy stitching!

Anita.

New project - Surface embroidery

Hi,

These are the images of my second new project.
It's a surface embroidery and I'm using anchor stranded cotton.

I'd worked the stem in 3 rows of stem stitch,tendrils in 1 row stem stitch,rose buds in long & short stitch,part of the bell flower is long & short stitch and pollens in stem stitch & french knots.

Flower buds are in stem stitch filling,leaflets in closed fly stitch,part of the folded leaf
is trellis and french knots.

I'd filled the flower center with french knots,petals in chain stitch,thorns are filled with stem stitch,
leaf in battlemented couching with 2 rows stem stitch outline.
It's a crewel embroidery design by Shelagh Amor.

Happy stitching!
Anita.

New project-Floral fantasy

Hi!

I'd promised to show you all a couple of new projects in one of my previous post,remember?

The first one  is a white linen table cloth/runner.This is a brazilian embroidery project so I'll be using Edmar threads for the floral motifs.

I'd finished the hem stitch on all the four sides using stranded cotton.

Then I'd worked spanish knotted feather stitch using pearl cotton to create squares.
I don't think this stitch is part of brazilian embroidery.But I like it anyway.

In this design I'd used Lola,Iris and Glory threads.I've got to work 8 more motifs.
Will show you all another new project in my next post.

Happy stitching

Anita.

First attempt-Tanjore painting

Hi!

I'd like to share the images of my first Tanjore painting (which I'd painted in 90's) with you all.
I know there are mistakes. I've learnt so much from the mistakes I've made and I'm a much better artist now.

                                                                                                                                                                 

I'd used pure gold foil and poster colors.
Feel free to comment.

Anita.

Kurti - Aari embroidery

I've started a couple of projects this week,will show you all soon.
Today I'm posting images of an aari embroidered kurti.

I've used silk threads and metallic silver beads.

Happy stitching!
Anita.

Kutch embroidery

Hello everyone,

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend.It's raining outside,am enjoying a cup of hot tea and
before I forget let me show you all a kurti which I'd finished last week.

I'd worked the flowers in elongated kutch embroidery,the leaves in lazy daisy stitch and
the stem in whipped running stitch.

Happy stitching

Anita.

Swedish Weaving

Hello everyone,

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY to those who celebrate.

I'd managed to finish only few motifs in my green salwar project (aari) because I was busy with my
2012 class preparations.

I'm going to show you a towel with SWEDISH WEAVING border today.

Happy stitching

Anita.

Aari embroidery part 7

I'd worked the outline of this motif in chain stitch with variegated red thread

 The petal is filled with khiju khiju or vermicelli stitch.

The outline of the petals are done with zig zag chain stitch(over the chain stitch ),  stitched a row of red glass beads between  2 rows of chain in the paisley and flower center is a star shaped golden yellow sequin.

The trellis is chain stitch with variegated red thread and  french knots with variegated yellow thread.
I've got to repeat these motifs  to complete this dress.

Happy stitching!
Anita.

Aari embroidery - part 6

Firstly I'd like thank you all for your support,comments and e-mails.

I've made one straight stitch with 4 strands of green silk thread inside each leaf.

I'd filled some leaves with glass beads.

The small flowers are outlined with chain stitch using variegated red and the flower center is a sequin(flower shape) with a gold color glass bead.

Happy stitching!
Anita.

Aari embroidery - part 5

I will be using these silk threads for the salwar project which I'd shown in my previous post.

The basic stitch in aari embroidery is chain stitch.

Here the working thread will always be under the fabric .
To make a chain - Punch the needle from top,wrap the thread over hook,slightly rotate the needle and pull it up.
To start - Make a  waste knot.
To end - Make 2 loose chains, pull the first chain through second one tightly - a knot is made.
While punching, the needle should be perpendicular to the ground fabric otherwise you'll end up pulling warp or weft thread of the fabric.

 

I've worked all the stems and leaves in chain stitch.

Happy stitching!
Anita.

Aari embroidery - part 4

Today I'm going to show you how to attach the fabric to the aari frame. It's a raw silk fabric for salwar-kameez (green & maroon)

Before attaching I'd transferred the design using white carbon paper .
The design can also be transferred onto the fabric by prick and pounce method .

The fabric is attached to the 2 main bars. Mark the center of the bars as well as the fabric on both sides and pin it up.Use the cotton thread (see aari embroidery part 1) to stitch the first side of the fabric to one of the main bars.

To begin make a knot & to end put 4-5 back stitches on to the white cotton cloth which is attached to the bar.

Then stitch the second side to the other bar and roll it up.

Now insert the stretcher bars and stretch the frame and place the pegs or nails.

Then fold the selvedges, make small darning stitches and pass the same thread through these stitches, pull it tight , tie the thread to the peg/nail.

Now all the 4 sides of the fabric are stretched . Next step is to start stitching .

Happy stitching!
Anita.

Surface embroidery - Free style

Hello,
This is a pink kurti- free style embroidery.

The stitch in my previous post is ITALIAN KNOT.
Happy stitching!

Anita.

Do you know this stitch?

Hello,

This image is from my stitch sampler which I'd made long time back(20 odd years).It was my 1st attempt.
I'm posting this because I haven't seen this stitch in dictionaries/magazines/books.
I'm not writing the name of the stitch here , I want you to guess.If this stitch is popular  in your country please let me know .

I want to add some stitch tutorial of not so popular stitches.What do you all think?
Please leave a comment or e-mail me artisticfingers2012@gmail.com
Happy stitching!
Anita.

Shisha(mirror) embroidery

Hello ,
 I'd done this shisha /mirror embroidery on a peach cotton fabric .Its a kameez/kurti .

The orange circle in the center is the mirror.
Happy stitching!
Anita.

Greetings

Hello everyone,
Wishing you all a very happy Diwali!
Anita.

Aari embroidery - part 3

This post is about aari  embroidery frame. It has 4 stands,2 main bars and 2 side bars.
It is similar to slate frames.

                                                                   Stand

                                                               Side bars

                                                        close up view of the side bar

                                                                   Main bar 

                                   
                                                    close up view of  the main bar
                                                             

                                                    close up view (2) of the main bar

                                                                  Main bars

The main bar has got evenly placed holes,through which a thick cotton rope is passed twice.A strip of  cotton cloth is attached to one side of the main bar(last image). We've got to sit on the floor to work.
My next post in this series will be about attaching the fabric to the frame.

Happy stitching!
Anita.