Kasuti Embroidery

The history of Kasuti (also spelt kasooti) embroidery goes back to the Chalukya period dating between the 6th and 10th century. The word Kasuti comes from a combination of two words 'kai' (meaning hand) and 'suti' (meaning cotton). Even during the 17th century, the women courtiers in the Mysore kingdom were supposed to be skilled in this art among other forms of art. The specific embroidery form was practised by the women of Karnataka, particularly in the regions of Dharwad and Bijapur. Kasooti embroidery is used to impart an exquisite effect to a variety of soft furnishings and fabrics.

It is interesting to note that the fascinating Kasooti embroidery patterns are created using the ordinary sewing needle. Craftswomen create the exclusive patterns only by counting the threads of the weft and the warp. No tracing or transfer of the design pattern is done prematurely. It really requires a lot of dexterity to develop a wide range of embroidery designs with multiple colour threads on the fabric. Stitching done in the Kasuti embroidery can chiefly be of two types - 'gavanti' (double running stitch) and 'murgi' (zig zag line pattern). Negi and Menthi are the other stitching patterns used for creating weave-like design and architectural designs respectively.

Motifs in the Kasuti embroidery are mainly inspired from either Hindu mythology or from everyday affairs. Right from architectural patterns and cradle shapes to elephant and squirrel forms, the Kasooti embroidery is used to create a variety of patterns on the fabric. In the upper portion of the fabric, the designs are heavy but as they move downwards they gradually become smaller. Stitch patterns may include vertical, horizontal or diagonal depending on the designs being created. Traditionally, Kasuti embroidery form is worked with bright colours like red, green, orange, purple etc. This special form of embroidery can create as many as 700 distinct designs. Another major feature of Kasuti embroidery is that it has a similar appearance on both sides of the cloth.

Kasuti embroidery enhances the look of Sherwanis to a great extent. Initially, the embroidery was done only with cotton threads. However, silk threads are also being used even when the designs are to be created on cotton fabric. Sherwanistore.com gives you an opportunity to select from a range of colours and shades when you choose to go with Kasuti embroidery. We are always there to inform and guide you about the selection of fabric on which the embroidery will look best. Great designs naturally flow from the productive minds of our 'karigars'.