The Eager Needler: April 2008

Kutch Tutorial

I used three strands of embroidery thread for Kutch work. Two strands will also work well.

Step - 1
This is the simplest form of kutch work. Trace this design on to your fabric. Do not draw the squares very big.

Step - 2
Begin by creating a grid. Bring the needle up at box 1 and pinch a tiny bit of fabric away from the center as shown.

Step - 3
Work your way to box 2. Note that the thread is passed under to go to box 3.

Step - 4
Finish box 3 and box 4. Note carefully where the threads are passed under and over.
You finish the grid near the point where you started. Pass the thread under to finish.

Step - 5
Now we move on to interlacing. Bring the needle up at the centre of the grid.

Step - 6
Again, work you way to box 2. Interlacing is all about going up or down so that you lock the threads and not let it slip.

Step - 7
Here the needle is going through the tiny loop you created earlier by pinching the fabric.

Step - 8

If done right, box 2 should look like this. Move on to box 3.

Step - 9
You will finish box 3, 4 and then come back to finish 1.

All done!!!

Kutch Work Border Design-2

Step 1. Trace the design.

Step 2. Work the grid from left to right. The route is a little different here because of the extra diamond at the top.

Step 3. Complete the grid, working right to left.

Step 4. End by taking the needle to the reverse side.

Step 5. Begin interlacing, again left to right. We will complete the third diamond in the next step.

Step 6. Complete interlacing.

Step 7. End at the same point that you began. Tie a knot on the reverse side.

All done!!

Kutch Work Border Design-1

Step 1. Trace a row of diamonds.

Step 2. Work the grid from left to right.

Step 3. Complete the grid by going back, right to left.

Step 4. Begin interlacing.

Step 5. Complete interlacing and end at the same point that you started. Tie a knot on the reverse side.

All done!!

You might also be interested in...

Kutch Work Border Tutorial-2	Kurti with Kutch Embroidery

Stem Stitch

Step1: Bring the needle up to the front of the fabric.

Step 2: Make a stitch as shown in the picture below {and the one below it for a closer view.}

Close up of the above picture.

Step 3: Pull the needle through and make the second stitch. Make sure the stitch length are all the same.

Close up of the above picture.

Continue for the length you desire.

Running Stitch

Step 1: Bring the needle up to the front of the fabric.

Step 2: Push the needle down and bring it back up by the same length.

Step3: Continue in the same way for any length you desire. After you have become familiar with the stitch, you can speed up by making more than one stitch at a time.

Try to maintain an even stitch length throughout.

Mirror Work Tutorial using Cretan Stitch

I have begun the tutorial directly at the Cretan Stitch. I have not included the steps for stitching the grid here. Please refer to the first two steps of the previous Mirror Work Tutorial. The method followed here is similar. You can also take a look at the Cretan Stitch if you like.

Have fun stitching!

Bring the needle up as shown.

Pass the needle, first, through the grid towards you and then OVER the thread. This is part 1 of 2 of the Cretan Stitch.

The needle does not go through the fabric at this point.

Pull the thread gently to make a small loop.

Next, make a small running stitch a little to the right. It should end near the edge of the mirror. Bring the needle up and pass the needle OVER the thread. This is part 2 of 2 of the Cretan Stitch.

Pull the thread gently. This completes the Cretan Stitch.

Continue the stitch along the entire mirror.

Part 1/2

Part 2/2

Keep the length of the stiches as even as possible.

After you have covered the entire mirror, finish off the last running stitch on the reverse side as shown. Keep the length of the stitch the same as others.