Kantha embroidery

Old undivided Bengal on the Eastern side of India has an ancient textile tradition. Kantha quilts of Bengal are world famous and is a folk art executed by the women of this region for use as a winter covering or for ceremonial use. Kantha are done in two round. First the layered cloth is worked using very small running stitch creating a ripple like effect, using the same colored threads as the fabric. In the second round motifs are transferred on the quilted surface and working with colored threads varied designs are embroidered. This technique is called Nakshi Kantha. Threads used now, are mainly unbleached cotton yarn and Anchor skeins.

Designs and motifs, originally embroidered were several petal lotus creepers, mythological figures and stories, articles used for day to day need, animals like elephant, deer, snake, fish, peacock, parrot etc. Now best of the designers are creating many modern and new designs wring the same technique, colors - like red, yellow, green and blue are being replaced by contemporary color schemes.