Decorative Kutch Work Borders

As I began my work on a new style yesterday, I had a change of heart. I decided to work on a couple of simple Kutch designs instead. Kutch work lends itself very well to many many designs. Here are a couple of design ideas that you could use on borders or bands.

Click here to learn this embroidery.

It was my five year old's idea to make the designs a little more colorful! He has always been curious about why I insist on using a single color thread when there is a whole basket to choose from. Well, this time I agreed to do it in the spirit of continous improvement. I think the tutorials have turned out quite well. Enjoy!!

Click here to learn this embroidery.

Kutch is usually done with a single color thread. But if you like to use two contrasting colors, go right ahead!

Before you leave this page, a question to ponder over readers ........ Why are some styles more popular than others? I think they are all equally wonderful! Yet, I find Kutch work for instance, to be one of the sought-after styles. Any thoughts? I would love to hear from you.

Kutch Tutorial Videos

If you would like to try the large Kutch design featured in my last post, take a look at these Kutch Tutorial videos I put on YouTube...

Kutch Design - Completed and framed!

There are many end uses for a good piece of embroidery.

You could use it on table mats, cushion covers, pillow covers, letter holders OR simply hang it up on the wall!

The photo on the left is a temporary 'digital' place holder while I shop for a suitable photo frame.

Completed Kutch Design

Kutch Design - Work in Progress

Here's something that I am working on right now.

In the center I have an elaborate Kutch embroidery and on all four sides just basic Kutch worked on diamond prints. I have used back stitch to connect them.
I also added more diamonds in the center to fill up some of the green space. I am not sure how they will be filled at this point. I will post my completed work ASAP!

Kutch Work

In this article I would like to introduce KUTCH, a part of India that has contributed many wonderful embroidery styles and techniques.

Examples are Kutchi Bharat, Ahir, Heer Bharat (all over embroidery), Abhla Bharat (use of small mirrors), Chain Stitch of Bhavnagar, Sindhi Bharat (use of interlacing stitch) and Moti Bharat (use of beads). Of these the most prominent ones are Kutchi Bharat and Ahir embroideries.

A little history... Kutch is the largest district in the western state of Gujarat. It is made up of many small communities many of whom have settled here after years of migration. These communities live in isolation and each has developed its own style of embroidery, thus contributing a wide array of styles to the embroidery world.

The embroideries of this region are very bright, bold, and colorful, perhaps to beat the mood of the dry desert land. Mirrors, beads and tassels are liberally used making the embroidery very rich, yet not gaudy. Threads and fabrics traditionally used are cotton and silk. These days however, cotton fabrics and threads are favored. Some of the stitches used are chain, double buttonhole, interlacing, running, stem and herringbone.

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Kutch Work Tutorial-2	Kutch Work Border Design Tutorial-I

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-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!!

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Kutch Work Border Tutorial-2	Kurti with Kutch Embroidery