I do not have a piece of Indian stitched textile so have chosen a picture of a child’s tunic from 'The Techniques of Indian Embroidery' by Anne Morrell.
The tunic was made in the Kutch region of Gujarat. The main fabric is green satin with small motifs. There is embroidery on the bodice, cuffs and hem, with edgings of tassels.
 |
| Page 47 |
The embroidery on the bodice is stitched onto a variety of coloured backgrounds. These colours are seen clearly in the bands, which divide the embroidery into sections. Along the lower edge of the bodice, small coloured triangles of fabric have been stitched to enhance the bodice.
The most used stitch on the bodice is open chain stitch, with shisha mirrors and bands of running stitch, buttons and beads. The motifs resemble colourful flowers and leaves. The buttons form a continuous edging to the bodice, cuffs, centre front and hem. Beads also encircle patterns on the bodice.
The wide border around the hem and cuffs comprises rows of brightly coloured patterns. Here the mirrors are sewn in teardrop and elliptical shapes. The patterns include soft wavy lines of stitch, (probably open chain), as well as wide herringbone stitch
 |
| Page 48 |
 |
| Page 49 |
 |
| Page 50 |
 |
| Page 51 |
 |
| Page 52 |
Other designs from the region.
 |
| Page 53 |
 |
Page 54
|
 |
| Page 55 |
I stitched two traditional shisha mirrors and an individual foil pie casing!
 |
| Page 56 |
Experimenting with square mirrors.
 |
| Page 57 |
Detached chain stitch around mirror and buttonhole stitch around a bleach mark.
 |
Page 58
Two layers of broad Cretan stitch in the shape of a triangle.
|
 |
| Page 59 |
Small metal watch parts in a triangle of triangles.
 |
| Page 60 |
Herrigbone stitch covering bleach marks.
 |
| Page 61 |
Teardrop shapes stitched in chain stitch with coloured buttons.
 |
| Page 62 |
Running stitch and chain stitch.
 |
| Page 63 |
I enjoyed stitching with the various elements found on the child's tunic, so I recreated the flower design shown on page 48. This appears on page 67 in the next chapter.
 |
| Page 64 |
There aren't any shells on the child's tunic, but they appear often in Indian embroidery, along with buttons. As a shell collector I have a lot of cowrie shells, which were once part of a hanging mobile. Fortunately they have holes drilled in them, so were easy to sew onto fabric.
 |
| Page 65 |
I was very surprised at the amount to variation in the embroidery on the child's tunic. It wasn't until I looked closely that I came to appreciate the intricacy to the design and the high standard of workmanship.
