White and red tunic-5

The cross stitch border patterns are completed on this red aida fabric. As usual the tunic and the borders were given to the tailor for sewing.
The fully finished tunic now looks like this-

 

white and red tunic

 

another picture with the both yoke and the sleeves-

white and red tunic -2

Three medium sized pleats were stitched on both sides if the yoke. the close up of the yoke-

white and red tunic -closeup

I have worn this tunic a few times, either with leggings or salwar. Most of my tunics, have an Indian look, because of the ethnic embroidery I work on them, but this tunic is different, the cross stitch embroidery and the pattern  are not from India.

 

White and red tunic-4.

After completing the yoke for this white tunic, I started with the sleeves. the centre pattern of the yoke was not worked in the sleeves. Other than that, the same floral border pattern is worked in cross stitch.
The WIP on the sleeves-

white and red tunic -WIP sleeves

 

The completed border on the sleeves-

white and red tunic- sleeves

The yoke and sleeves before being attached to the tunic looks like this.

white and red tunic - yoke and sleeves

The tunic on my next post.

 

White and red tunic-3

After working with light golden colour skein, the florals are worked in half-white colour thread.
Only these two colour threads are used to work this cross stitch border pattern on this tunic. I completed the yoke first, and then started on the sleeves. The yoke with WIP of the florals-

white and red tunic-WIPyoke

The cross stitch pattern on the  yoke, when completed looks like this-

white and red tunic- yoke closeup

 

The working of the sleeves on my next post.

 

White and red tunic-2.

I worked cross stitch pattern from an antique cross stitch E-book on red aida cloth. This red was actually too bright for the half-white tunic fabric. After seeing some ethnic tunics, which had this bright red embroidery on white tunics, I thought , this might work out fine.
I started the cross stitches with light golden colour cotton skein . which was seen on my last post.
The next stage -

white and red tunic -WIP2

the pattern is still continued with the same golden colour thread-

white and red tunic- WIP3

this is the yoke part.More on my next post.

 

White and red tunic-1

I had this linen fabric in half- white. For this I wanted to do a cross stitch patch for yoke and sleeves. The idea came from seeing some tunic designs. I did not have red and white combination in tunic. Generally red is quite common in Indian fabrics, we keep stumbling upon red colour in every other corner. I try not use red, but an exception ws made for this tunic. After seeing some ethnic European tunics, I decided to use red colour aida cloth for working the cross stitch.
The pattern was taken from one of the e-books down loaded from antique pattern library.the same border pattern is used for both yoke and sleeves. I just altered the pattern to suit the curve on the yoke White and light gold colour thread were used to work the cross stitch. I did not want to use too many colour contrasts in this project.
The yoke started like this-

white and red tunic- WIP1

 

Oval doily in cross stitch.

I have developed a reaction to the summer sun, a viral infection with unknown cause, is manifested as  an allergy – lots of irritation on my eyes, ears and neck.Very inconveneint  too. 

 now getting on with my post-
I was thinking of ideas to use embroidery, crochet and tatting on doilies.
Then an idea of making a oval doily interested me.
The idea-
To embroider in cross stitch, create a new design, to use red colour.
The aida cloth was perfect for it.
The design , I mix and matched some of my own cross stitch patterns,Used the font from a cross stitch book. I had heard that some stitch diploma students tried presenting other people’s work , to get their certificate, to avert their interest, I embroidered the year also.
Later I decided not leave my projects with strangers.
I was still an internet novice in 2005 . Inspiration was minimal. The finished doily-

cross stitch doily- oval

I am still thinking of attaching a border- made with lace or crocheted or tatted. after 6 years, That is yet to happen!

 

Kashmiri work on blouse

I am fond of of kashmiri embroidery done in single strand.
Inthis type of embroidery,After working on the traced pattern,the empty spaces in between are also covered with straight , fly stitches .
The finished embroidery looks as if it is done on appliquéd cloth.But also looks like it is part of the base fabric[like jamevar shawls etc]
Coming back to my inspiration, I tried doing this on blouse[saree] sleeves.
I did the whole thing in single strand, used the same stitches, but failed to fill the empty spaces[I understood that later, after seeing many samples. HEE!HEE!]
Now I have with me a blouse which is embroidered with some motifs!
I call it Kashmiri embroidery for a simple reason-it inspired me!
This blouse was for a cream printed silk saree.
The coffee brown blouse material is silk cotton.

motifs on brown blouse

brown blouse close up

it sure took a long time to complete this , I aged doing this.

 

Red flowers on yellow blouse

The embroidery in this blouse was done five years ago.

When I had seen someone wearing a tunic in this colour, it inspired me. And I always wanted to do some big flowers in long&short stitch. With this vivid combination the embroidery was done in blouse front and the sleeves.
The fabric is synthetic chiffon. The embroidery is done in silk cotton fabric of same colour.
the stitches are done in long and short, stem stitch and buttonhole with three strands of cotton skein.
The pattern is a floral pattern repeat.
The blouse-

red flowers on yellow tunic

The close up of the embroidery-

yellow tunic -close up

Realities-the combination is tooo bright! so I can’t wear it in sunlight.

the bouse dose not fit that well,[Actually I don't fit into it all that well !]

My yearning for doing a big florals in long&short stitch  [ofcourse,which I can wear] is still there.

 

Muscat festival-9 Embroidery

My favourite part of the festival-embroidery .

The embroidery displayed was from Pakisthan. For the first time I saw zardosi motifs –which can be attached to anything. Only a few pieces were there,but all were exquisite .

zardosi motifs

Some embroidered unstitched tunics were also on display.And a workcot for making zardosi motifs is also seen here.

embroidery

Women from the Middle east have been commisioning their grand wedding dresses from Pakisthan. The Pakisthani embroidery is very famous.
With this my posts on Muscat festival is over.
Iam happy to share the information about handicraft items from all over the world, which were part of the festival. By writing about them, I was able to go through the experience all over again.

 

Muscat festival-8 lamp shades

In this section,we saw lamp shades made from camel skin.
This craft is from Pakisthan. The artists have specialized in this art , and have been doing it for generations.there were pictures of works in progress.The pieces are painted in different shapes and lamp are fitted inside each piece.

lamp shades

We enjoyed looking at these beautiful lamp shades.
In India also I have seen   lamp shades  made of animal skin . the patterns used for painting are mythological figures,[inspired by puppetry art of Karnataka-this comes under perfoming arts,there are many families doing it]. Another important feature in this type of art is.- holes are made at uniform intervals, when light passes through the holes , beautiful patterns are formed.
Another craft in next post.