The Embroidery of India (Part One)

Here at Stocks Sewing, we love exploring different embroidery and sewing techniques. One style of embroidery that we find particularly fascinating is Indian style, which experiences several regional differences and is beautiful in all areas.

There is a lot of beauty in this type of embroidery and almost too much to choose from. However, they all have the same alternating dot patterns of circles, squares, and triangles.

But, what are some of the more amazing example of Indian embroidery that is more art than stitches?

Aari

This type of Indian embroidery involves a hook that creates designs on material spread on a wooden frame. A movement from top to bottom creates loops, a series of which lead to chain stitches that create the patterns on the thin material. The hook creates the loop whilst your free hand feeds the thread, a much faster way to create a chain stitch than traditional methods. It is a method that is so efficient and clean it looks machine-made rather than hand.

Aari is a technique that is most commonly found in the Kashmir and Kutch regions of India.

Punjabi

The most famous embroidery tradition of Punjab is Phulkari; which can mean flower work or headscarf. Phulkari comes from the tradition of wearing headscarves with flower patterns that were prevalent in the nineteenth century. The base of this embroidery is often a dull-coloured khadi cloth, which is then covered completely in bright embroidery to create a beautiful pattern with no gaps.

It is traditionally popular in cities such as Ambala, Nabha, Jind, Fardkot, Hissar, Karnal and much more.

Zardozi

The final form of Indian embroidery on this list is also the most opulent. The Zardozi form of embroidery was brought to India by the Moghuls in the sixteenth century, who had a taste for the finer things in life. Originally real gold and silver thread was used, creating intricate patterns on silk and velvet fabrics. Today, though the fabric has not changed the thread is simply metallic in most cases rather than precious metal, with gold plastic wrapped around.

As a form of embroidery, this is particularly popular in the cities of Lucknow, Farrukhabad and Bhopal.

We at Stocks have engineers based nationwide to help maintain your sewing machines and create some amazing pieces of your own! Contact us today and we will be happy to answer any of your enquiries.

Make sure to carry on reading more about the embroidery of India in the second instalment!