Introduction
One of the most pleasing and best known forms of folk art in Bengal is the Kantha or the embroidery quilt. Kanthas are associated with rural women of Bengal.Bengali housewife RECYCLED worn out sari, dhoti and other garments by sandwiching layers of clothes and then quilting them with simple running stitches. Kanthas are extremely soft to touch, since they are made from old fabrics.
One of the most pleasing and best known forms of folk art in Bengal is the Kantha or the embroidery quilt. Kanthas are associated with rural women of Bengal.Bengali housewife RECYCLED worn out sari, dhoti and other garments by sandwiching layers of clothes and then quilting them with simple running stitches. Kanthas are extremely soft to touch, since they are made from old fabrics.
Places
They were mostly done in places like Jessore, Faridpur, Khulna and Mymensing all in Bengal Desh now. It is now commercially available in several states.
Colors
The clolrs commonly used are black, deep blue and red symbolizing the three basic aspects of nature namely the earth, sky and space.
Threads
Traditionally the threads were pulled out from the colorful border of the saries, dhotis, material of the fabric and used as embroidery threads. Today threads are bought in bright colors of cotton or silk.
Stitches
The running stitch is the most commonly used in Kantha. The outline of the design is generally in dark blue, filled with stitches of the same color or in contrasting color. After the design is embroidered, the area around is filled with white running stitches parallel to the outline of the motif. The other stitches occasionally used are chain, herringbone, satin and cross stitch to give wide textural effects. Also used was appliqué work.
Fabrics
The women of Bengal mostly wore white cotton sarees. Hence the base material was always old sarees and discarded dhotis for Kanthas. Traditionally the tussar silk was used for trade. Today, silks such as Kancheepuram,Tussar or raw silk, in fact any fabric is used as the based material.
They were mostly done in places like Jessore, Faridpur, Khulna and Mymensing all in Bengal Desh now. It is now commercially available in several states.
Colors
The clolrs commonly used are black, deep blue and red symbolizing the three basic aspects of nature namely the earth, sky and space.
Threads
Traditionally the threads were pulled out from the colorful border of the saries, dhotis, material of the fabric and used as embroidery threads. Today threads are bought in bright colors of cotton or silk.
Stitches
The running stitch is the most commonly used in Kantha. The outline of the design is generally in dark blue, filled with stitches of the same color or in contrasting color. After the design is embroidered, the area around is filled with white running stitches parallel to the outline of the motif. The other stitches occasionally used are chain, herringbone, satin and cross stitch to give wide textural effects. Also used was appliqué work.
Fabrics
The women of Bengal mostly wore white cotton sarees. Hence the base material was always old sarees and discarded dhotis for Kanthas. Traditionally the tussar silk was used for trade. Today, silks such as Kancheepuram,Tussar or raw silk, in fact any fabric is used as the based material.
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