Kasuti embroidery

Kasuti, a Kannada term, is a conventional type of folk embroidery practised in Karnataka, India. Kasuti work is exceptionally labour-intensive, and, includes setting up to 5,000 lines by hand. It is generally made on dresswear like Ilkal sarees, Ravike, and Angi or Kurtas.

kasuti work includes weaving exceptionally unpredictable patterns like gopura, chariot, palanquin, lights and conch shells. Locally accessible materials are utilized for Kasuti. The pattern to be woven is first set apart with charcoal or pencil and after that, only proper needles and string are used. The work is relentless and includes tallying of each string on the textile. The motifs are sewed without using knots, to ensure that both sides of the cloth look alike.

Different types and assortments of stitches are used to acquire the coveted pattern. Some of the stitches employed are Ganti, Murgi, Neyge and Menthe. Ganti is a two-fold running stitch used for checking vertical, even and slanting lines; Murgi is a criss-cross stitch; Neyge is a running stitch; and Menthe is a cross stitch taking after fenugreek seeds. Kasuti work has developed past its conventional limits to be used in different dress materials like Mysore silk saris.