Embroidery

 

Embroidery is the addition of pattern or other ornamental effect,to textiles by the use of the needle and thread.The wonder is that Kantha embrodidery uses only the simplest of stitches, the running stich.

                      The state of Bengal is famous for Kantha art.Kantha actually means ' embroidered quilt' .The embroidered quils of Bangalore are wonderful in their beauty, colour and design.

                       The Sanskrit word ' Kantha' means' rags'.It is a cottage industry, and is also a form of folk art.There are two types of embroidery.In one the old,discarded cotton sarees or dhotis are part one on top of the other and are quilted and embroidered.The other is quilted by using discarded cotton bedspreads.

                        The colours used for this embroidery are black, deep blue and red.These colours stand for the three basic aspects of nature-earth, sky and space.The designs used are of lotus flowers,creepers, foliage, floral scrolls and animal and human figures.

                        Today the Kantha embroidery is famous all around the globe.The old Kantha designs are priced possessions now.They are found on sleek shawls, sarees and bags.The village women spend a great deal of time and care in getting the perfect designs.