Holiday Wishes with Embroidered Cards

Hello Readers,

It is that time of the year when most of us like to mail out cards wishing family and friends, even if we may not do it on a regular basis. E-cards are convenient, but there is a charm in sending an actual card. It is something that people proudly display in their houses and hold on to, for a long long time.

This year, why not make the Holidays extra special by embroidering your favorite designs on your greeting cards? Take a look at the designs in this post. You can embroider something simple in a short time or you can create something really really stunning if you have an hour or so to spare.

I have tried to keep the holiday colors in the cards - red and green. Three of the designs are in the Kasuti style. I began this project by embroidering on a piece of Aida fabric, which is stiff and can easily be mounted on to a card. It turned out quite well, but I like the embroidery better on the card itself.

Snowflake in Kasuti.

I used two strands of cotton embroidery thread and it took me about twenty minutes or so to complete the design. Embroidering on cards is actually quite simple. It will help if you punch-in the design with a needle before you begin.

Another snowflake in Kasuti.

This was done using rayon thread. I liked the rayon thread better for this project.

Hanging ornaments in Kasuti.

Using gold thread was my son's idea. He loves that thread!

I kept my favorite for last! I borrowed this design from a Chikankari design book, and used running stitch and back stitch to cover the design. It took me about 45 minutes to complete this piece.

And finally here's wishing you all! You can click here for a bigger image.

Samples of Arhi work.

This is a follow up to my earlier posting on the Arhi Embroidery (Tambour Needle).

Today I would like to share a couple of samples. The first sample is a bright colored letter holder. I am sure many of you may have seen similar products at the Handicrafts fairs in India. This letter holder is made of cotton fabric and the chain stitch is done using cotton threads.

Isn't the craftsmanship beautiful? The design is well laid out, the choice of colors are good and the embroidery is very neat! A lot of care went into making this piece.

Click here to see the details.

Here is another sample of Arhi work on a salwar-kameez. Much of the distortion that you see is because the fabric kept slipping away while I was trying to photograph it. That said, there is a slight irregularity in the workmanship, probably because the fabric was stretched too tight. But overall, this piece has no flaws that stand out. Scroll down to view a close-up image of this embroidery.

The chain stitch is done using silk threads and the fabric is synthetic. The sequins are also attached using the Arhi. The stitches are small and even in size throughout the design. That is the advantage of using the arhi or the tambour needle. I like the choice of silk thread for this sample. It complements the luster of the synthetic fabric very well.

Click here if you want to read the earlier posting .

Kasuti - Circle of Friends.

I received an e-mail from a friend this morning reminiscing our childhood days and India as it was in the 80's and 90's. Remember that time? There was one phrase in the e-mail that stayed in my mind all day. "We called on friends to come out and play, never rang the door bell, just went through the back door." I am also guilty of this!! I have been very fortunate to have had a great circle of friends throughout my childhood. So today's embroidery is a creation remembering all those good times with my "Circle of Friends".

If you wish to try this piece of Kasuti embroidery, here is the design and the instructions for it.

Click here if you want to print it.