Kharek Embroidery is an art practiced by the members belonging to the Sodha, Rajput, and Megwar communities of Gujarat. The word ‘kharek’ literally means ‘fruit of the date palm.’ The outlines of the designs are traced with doublerunning stitches of black color. These are filled with stitches of satin thread. These filled portions resemble bars […]
Soof embroidery is a type of counted thread weaving practised these days around the Kutch district of Gujarat and beyond. It is characterized by a sort of economy stitch worked from the back. The examples are for the most part dependent on a triangle or soof, and are geometric, symmetrical and exceptionally intricate. The coveted […]
Kambira Embroidery is practiced by the Harijan community belonging to the Kutch District of Gujarat. This hand-embroidery made with regular symmetrical patterns gives the cloth a 3-D appearance. It is usually done on a velvet base cloth used for quilting. Stepped running style stitches are employed for this embroidery. The designs are similar to the patterns found in Muslim architecture.
Rabari embroidery is characterized by its use of mirrors (shisha) surrounded by colorful embroidery. Many of the large and bold designs are inspired by Rabari mythology and their desert habitation. The basic pattern is normally worked on a dark ground, with the individual motifs being outlined with chain stitch and then filled in with buttonhole […]
The Ahirs, who migrated from Gokul Mathura settled mostly in Kutch and Saurashtra. They are mostly engaged in agriculture. Women of the Ahir community do needle work, when they get time from the work m the house and elds. This embroidery resembles Rabari stitches but only round mirrors are used with geometrical and oral motifs. […]