It’s totally amazing to know about the many forms of embroidery which is so widely practiced across India. Embroidery designs can enhance the look and feel of any attire. The fabric is decorated through needle work and colored yarn, pairing it with zari, beads, pearls and sequins using colorful motifs. The embroidery once completed, will definitely leave you awe-struck.
The various forms of intricate and delicate embroidery work that are used on Indian wear are:
Cutwork Embroidery
Cutwork embroidery is an interesting needlework technique in which portions of a textile, typically cotton or linen, are cut away and the resulting “hole” is reinforced and filled with embroidery or needle lace. Cutwork type of embroidery is basically done by using silk, gold or multi-color thread, depending on the color of the fabric.
Pita work embroidery designs
Pita work is popularly known as ‘Dabke ka kaam’ in Hindi. It is the most popular embroidery design on sarees, salwar suits and designer lehengas. It uses intricate hand embroidery stitches that make this design unique.
Zardosi embroidery designs
Zardosi embroidery is beautiful metal embroidery, which once used to embellish the attire of the Kings and the royals in India. Zardosi embroidery work involves making elaborate designs, using gold and silver threads. Further adding to the magnificence of the work are the studded pearls and precious stones. Initially, the embroidery was done with pure silver wires and real gold leaves. However, today, craftsmen make use of a combination of copper wire, with a golden or silver polish, and a silk thread.
Chikankari embroidery designs
The technique of creation of a chikan work is known as chikankari . Chikankari is delicate and artfully done hand embroidery on a variety of textile fabric like muslin, silk, chiffon, net etc. White thread is embroidered on cool, pastel shades of light muslin and cotton garments. Nowadays chikan embroidery is also done with colored and silk threads in different colors to meet the recent fashion trends and keep chikankari up-to-date. Lucknow is the heart of the Chikankari industry today and the variety is known as Lucknawi chikan.
Resham embroidery designs
Resham is an Urdu and Hindi word for ‘Silk.’ The difference between Resham and Silk is that Resham is the untwisted thread in a raw form of silk. Resham embroidery involves sewing of untwisted threads of Silk which are dyed in different colors, onto Sarees, Lehengas and other clothing to form brocade, or to be used as an embroidery design. Resham embroidery is widely used on sarees and Indian salwar kameez.
Crochet embroidery designs
Derived from the French word ‘crochet’ meaning hook, crochet embroidery designs are done by using thread and yarn. The crochet lace knitted thus can be either directly attached to the fabric, or worked into the border of a salwar or a saree.
