It's been a while since I took the time to write about my needlework. I like to do some kind of needle work everyday even if it only takes 5 min, but It gives me satisfaction to get my fingers rolling.
I am originally from Pakistan and we have a huge range of variety in embroidery. I like shawls, bedsheets and dresses which are handmade. I just can't resist it when I see it, that's why I have collected many things for myself.
Every region has their own style of making designs. I like sindhi karhai and block painting on fabrics, there are very colorful patterns in shapes like, lines, squares, circles and my favorite is all kinds of mirror work.
Balochi (doch)- this kind of embroidery style is made of geometric and random designs, mirrors and beads with colorful threads. The designs are inspired by nature. All designs are made of creative imaginations without using any pattern.
Ralli (zanjiri tanka) is a replica work in which you use scratch clothes pieces and make bed sheets and many more things.
Phulkari -phul means flower and the main designs are made of flowers. Here they use very bright colors on plain colored fabrics, for dupatta (shawl) , shalwar (traussers) and kamez (shirts).
Swat embroidery- here they use geometrical designs and small patterns.
The best part of this is that all these embroideries are made by women in the small towns or in the villages. It's a way of earning money and they take time from the normal household chores to do this as a job and earn money for their families. Because I know the value of handmade things and know the value of the time spent behind it. I respect these women a lot who use their cultural background and family expertise for their living. Whenever I am in Pakistan I buy these kind of things because I just love it.
As I was talking about my embroidery skills, I can admit I haven't tried making it myself, I don't think I am ready for it. It doesn't seem to be easy either, the only thing I have done is replica work which my grandmother taught me.
Nowadays I am reading and searching for different kind of embroidery techniques. Recently when I was searching for easy patterns on youtube. I came across Nakshi Kantha, the word Naksha is from bengali which means pattern. Why I liked this style is that you can make very easy designs roughly by hand or buy using a notebook, yes u read right a notebook.
I saw a video in which the women showed how to make these designs using a math notebook. So I thought I would try some.
It surprised me that it was so easy making the design. In this notebook you can make any kind of design. You can use the square shapes and make any kind of design with the help of these. And then trace it on your fabric and then do the embroidery. For some people it might not be satisfying but for me it's relaxing to make these designs. I would have been doing it all night if it wasnt dinner time. At first It seemed to be very easy but as I started doing it, it wasn麓t.
As the pictures below shows the way I started and was stuck in between, so I had to start again. But all I can say is that it was really nice doing this and the designs then started coming in my mind.
The next step will be to trace it on a fabric and do the embroidery, ill will surely then write how it went.
All pictures are taken with my OnePlus7 Pro.
Untill I write again, have a peaceful needling :)
