Embroidered Pillow cases.

Hope everyone had a pleasant weekend! As for me, I began an embroidery project for the home. This one has been overdue for some time now. Finally I got started with it yesterday.

I am embroidering a cotton pillow case that is a very nice shade of yellow. I am using Kantha work. I used a design from an old book and modified it a little. I then traced the pattern along the edge of the pillow case. I have finished about a third of the piece.

Traditionally, the outline stitch for Kantha work is done using black thread, but I felt brown would be a better choice for my project. I am going to fill in the flowers with more colors once I complete the outline.

Now, if you are interested in Kantha work, it is very simple. After all it is predominantly running stitch. But how you work the running stitch is important. For instance, the thread going up should be longer than the thread going down. And another point - the rippled effect that is created by the running stitch is part of the charm. Don't try to distort it.

Well, hopefully I'll have completed the outline stitch in my next posting. Stay tuned!

Sukanya@Eager Needler

Click here for Week - 2

Today we travel to the Nilgiris.

Hello Folks:

Hope everyone had a wonderful start to the New Year. Today we travel to South India to look at the distinctive embroidery of the Toda community.

What do you think of this red and black scarf? Beautiful, isn't it? This is a sample of the embroidery done by the Toda women. Todas are a tribal community who live in the breathtaking land of the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu. Their traditional shawl is a white woven cloth with striking red bands with embroidery on it. This scarf is a miniature version of their traditional shawl.

Here is a closer look at the embroidery. It is done by counted thread work and so the design is the same on both sides. You are looking at the right side of the design. As you can see the designs are geometric. And so, from a distance the entire piece can easily be mistaken to be woven rather than embroidered.

Here is a look at the wrong side. Similar, yet not entirely :) Can you see why?

Take a closer look of the same motif. The stitching is flat on this side.

Now look the right side. What makes this embroidery interesting is the way it is stitched. Notice how the threads are left evenly loose, lifting the entire design a bit and giving the wearer a sense of warmth. I love the colors - bright and stunning.

Here is a look at the long strip of embroidery with a striking red band of woven fabric. The embroidery is done on the right side. I don't think the thread is knotted at the end. The crinkly thread just seem to stay up in its position.

This is the wrong side of the same design.

That's all for today. Next time you take a holiday to Tamil Nadu, be sure to pick a Toda shawl :)

Here is a link to more information about the Toda. http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in/

Till next time....

Sukanya

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.