Embroidery

                                       

 

Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric with patterns, motifs or abstract designs, stitched in strands of yarn or thread, using a needle. Embroidered work includes sewing of adornments such as beads, metal strips, pearls, mirrors and sequins. It is classified according to its underlying foundation fabric and whether the design is stitched on top of, or through the base fabric.

                                              

History and Origin

It traces its origins to China and it evolved in the 3rd century itself. Archaeological findings dating back to 2000 BC, like needles, embroidered fabrics, confirm the existence of needlework, which later formed the embroidery technique. It grew to remarkable levels under Emperor Akbar’s rule in the 16th Century, due to his keen interest in the aesthetics of textiles.

The Making

                                            

With the majority of traditional pakistani embroidery comprising needle-work to form different motifs,  there are others forms as well. For instance, aari work is done using a small hooked awl (needle used for embroidery) for fine chain stitch work. The aari is pushed into the fabric, with the thread below the fabric being pulled into a loop around the tip of the aari or awl. Then, the loop forms a stitch once it is pulled through the surface.

Present Day Scenario

The most commonly used fabric had been cotton, silk, and satin for a long time. Also, from symbolizing simple motifs in the initial centuries of its existence, embroidery as an art form has branched out into an intricate process. Includes the use of darning, surface darning, and couching, satin, open chain, herringbone, Cretan, interlacing, running, back, laced running, stem, looped stem, chain, radiating and button hole stitches. Threads are fashioned mostly from floss or twist silk, cotton and, more recently, acrylics. Depending on the region, the stitching techniques differ. Besides, it is done not just on outfits now, but also used elaborately as a motif on accessories like handbags, home decor items like wall hangings etc.

Maintenance

From thread to sequins, mirror or beaded embroidery, these outfits should ideally be washed separately to avoid the embellished adornments from getting tugged at, or loosened, thus spoiling the embroidered pattern or motif.