Indo Jewish Embroidery - Ernakulam, Kerala
The stands of the frames are placed on the floor firmly on the levelled ground and then the frames are placed on the stands for support. Fabrics of generally organdy, cross stitch, cotton material are generally preferred for doing this Embroidery. The required length are cut as per the sizes and stitched at the edges with the sewing threads to be held firmly by tying it to the corners. As the fabric is tied it is then placed in a manner such a way that the required portions to be worked are opened and spread as per the given directions of the fabric to be embroidered.
If the designs are new, the designs are drawn on the fabric and then filled by the cross stitch, petit point, shadow work and stem work as per the choose of the craftsmen who feels comfortable in filling the colour threads with stitches as per the choices. The fabric chosen are generally the plain and mostly the transparent materials that this embroidery can be done easily.
If the designs are to be repeated a number of times then the stamp of the same is made and lightly stamped on the portions with ink to be embroidered. Only the hand reached portions are stretched, rest are rolled, needle with embroidery threads are stitched with the usage of both the hands in the top and the bottom portions of the fabric spread. The extra threads are cut with the scissors to remove the protruding portions on the fabric. After the required portions are embroidered the fabric is cut to the required sizes and the edges of the fabric are given hem stitch generally with the hemp yarn as the final work.
