Embroidery Traditions in India

Indians craftsmen were engaged in the process of beautifying and embellishing multiple fabrics since very long time. Embroidery is the name of one such craft that glorifies the cloth when worked upon meticulously. There are several embroidery traditions in India that have been the major factor behind the beautiful clothing of the royalty and the common people. Some important embroidery crafts are discussed below:

Appliqué: In India, appliqué is practiced in the eastern coastal state of Orissa. Pipli in Puri district in renowned worldwide for the ravishing appliqué work. In appliqué embroidery, different pieces of colorful clothes are sewn or fixed over another in a definite artistic pattern. In this process a lot of decoration is done on the surface using mirror pieces, metal pieces, wooden or metal wires. Handbags, bed sheets, wall hangings, purses, cushion covers, letter cases, pillow covers, canopies and garden umbrellas and many other decorative items are made with deft appliqué work. The chief colors used for this ultimate handicraft are dazzling red, purple, black, yellow, green and white fabric.

Crewelwork: This embroidery style is more than thousand years old. In crewelwork intricate work of wool is done on the surface of cotton or linen. Special crewel needles are required to work out this style of embroidery. Various stitches are needed to carry out this embroidery- chain stitch is the primary one.

Kimkhab: This style is marked by the appearance of gold embroidery on the rich silk surface. Gold embroidery appearance is due to the silk fabrics that look golden. Golden silk threads and the silk threads in other colors are interwoven delicately to produce an enchanting work of embroidery. The golden silk thread also called kalabattu is actually a prepared thread of silk with a metallic mounting of gilded silver.

Sujuni: It is the traditional embroidery form of Bihar. Sujuni is done on the fabric that is enforced with fine muslin. Basic fabric is generally red or white in which the sujuni motifs are artistically done. The inner parts of these motifs are filled with different color while the outer motifs are marked by the elegant chain stitches.

Aribharat: This is one of the most ornamental embroidery form practiced in Kutch region of Gujarat. This craft of embroidery is named after ari, a hook that is inserted from the top and fed with silk thread from under the fabric. The cloth to be done aribharat is spread out and stretched on a frame. Stitches which are similar to the chain stitch are applied using the hook, to make loops.

There are other important embroidery traditions in India like karchobi, chikankari, kantha, kathi, phulkari, zardozi etc. To have comprehensive idea on all embroidery traditions of India please visit India Crafts