Cutwork - An embroidery which needs lots of patience

Its always embroidery that I like the most in all arts and crafts. But it needs lot of patience. Now embroidery machines are used. As I know, with the machine only few kinds of the embroidery stitches can be made. Cutwork is included in the list of embroidery stitches which can be made using machine. Though it can be made using machine, it needs lots o patience and skill.
Cutwork originated from Italy and migrated to other parts of the world. Hand cutowrk is the traditional way of doing cutwork. Here the embroidery is done on the edges of the design and the inside fabric is cut away. Though I had learnt hand cutwork as well as machine cutowrk, I could not make any remarkable work in cutwork.
I could find the hand cutwork piece with Late Smt Manjula, who was an expert in all kinds of hand embroidery and crafts. Here are cutowrk she made:

 This is an elephant design, with cutwork done around the elephant design. Here is the closer view:

 Complete work is hand cutowork, really hats off to her patience.

Modern technique uses laser cutowrk, in which the designs can be made very precisely.
There are many forms in cutwork, about which Im collecting the details. Soon will share about different forms of cutworks.

 

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Kalamkari Patchwork on a Saree

In previous post I had mentioned to share about the Kalamkari patch work made on a saree.
Kalamkari is technique of painting on cloth with vegetable dyes. You can find out more about Kalamkari Paintings in this link.
Now these Kalamkari patches are used for dress design and saree design. I had bought some Kalamkari patches , in a Craft exhibition. It was in my stash for long time. Then bought a saree to attach the Patches. It took more than 6 months for me to complete the work.
There is a big Paisley design Patch and 18 small patches. I attached the small patches on the border :

And the big motif on the shoulder:

Some more motifs on the Pallu:

Closer view of the motifs:

 

    
I have not used any embellishment on this. Because I wanted to highlight the Kalamkari painting.
Blouse is also Kalamkari cloth in Maroon color.

Planning to use small Paisley motifs on the blouse.

Once blouse is designed, will share the photos. 

In between Screen printed on 3-4 sarees, and this time in vacation visited 2-3 temples. So many crafty experience to share with you!

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Machine Embroidery work on Satin cloth

My first teacher for sewing is my mother. She had USHA sewing machine. Now also she has that sewing machine which is 50 years old, still in good condition. When I learnt hand embroidery, I always thought, machine embroidery would be faster. But I didn't have the embroidery machine. My dream of having an embroidery machine came true, on the first Deepavali after my marriage. Shankar gave me Usha Janome Machine as Deepavali gift. I've used it a lot, to stitch, for embroidery, to make quilts etc. After 12 years also its still in good condition. 

Today while remembering about the embroidery machine, remembered the works made using the machine. One is Satin bed spread, on which I embroidered using my machine. 

4 motifs on the corners and joined by vine design. The design was not copied from any book . I drew it myself and transferred on to the cloth using tracing paper. I had lots of patience  :-)

The motifs: 

Closer view

I didn't have practise, so its not perfect. Whatever, operating of the machine is very easy and stitches also come out very smooth. I started loving machine embroidery. I made many projects using this machine. Most of them are not with me now :-(.

A year back, bought a heavy duty embroidery machine. Now I'm using the same for all machine embroidery works. Completed the Kalamkari patch work on a saree using the same machine(At last :-)) 

So next post , I will share about the Kalamakari patch work,

Until then,

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana