Kasuti is a traditional form of embroidery. It is practiced in the state of Karnataka, India. The word kasuti is derived the two words kai(hand) and suti(cotton) i.e) kasuti is done with cotton and hands. Kasuti work involves very intricate patterns. Kasuti patterns depict flowers, birds, trees, chariots, Gopur(temple towers).
Kasuti consists of four important stitches:
Gavanti or Gante - It is the double running stitch.
Murgi or Zig zag stitch.
Neygi - running stitch(darning stitch).
Menthe or cross stitch
Kasuti can be worked on Matty/ Aida fabric, plain fabric. To work on a plain fabric a flexi-net has to be attached. It is all counting the stitches and the direction. The beauty of Kasuti is both the right and the wrong side looks alike when worked in the proper way.
These are some of the basic trimmings used in Kasuti embroidery. It can be used for border, along with other motifs to create beautiful patterns, for the neckline. Kasuti is very easy to work with on understanding the stitch directions. In my coming posts I will try to give simple design with the stitch directions so that any one interested can work on a project with that. Here I have worked the trimming in matty cloth.
using these basic trimmings I have created a border design which can be used for sarees, kurtis, sleeves, necklines etc. I will be posting it in my next post.