SEW Region Magazine December 2017

designs to stitch. We found this very therapeutic. Our tutor came from another area of India where Sujuni had been instrumental in giving women the freedom to earn a little money and therefore some independence.

Kantha embroidery­ This was also true of Kantha embroidery. Our tutor had set up a school for children which allowed the mothers to stitch Kantha in the day. Many used the daily get together to stitch to escape the drudgery of their home environment and arranged marriages.

We joined them sitting on the floor­ lots of creaky knees were heard when we got up!

The basic concept of Kantha work is based on variations of running stitch, we did not get anywhere near the standard these lovely ladies achieved. Kantha is also used to stitch recycled fabrics together.

We had the opportunity to work Kantha twice – firstly simple running stitches on cotton and then more complicated designs to create pre­ printed silk cushion squares. The squares were printed using a petroleum based transfer ink which was done in another area – just as well as the fumes would have made us all a little high. For such a simple concept the results can be quite stunning.

Shibori tie dye – we visited a cooperative in Kolkata which had traditional crafts being 51