EMBROIDERIES OF INDIA / KASUTI WORK / ESSENCE

- Kasuti embroidery has to do with working on intricate patterns like temple domes, chariots, palanquins, conch shells and such difficult themes which have a lot of detailing.

- This delicate embroidery is painstaking since there are a large number of stitches to be put, with different needles and proper thread to be selected.

- Also knots are not put anywhere, for the fabric design to appear the same on both sides.

- The beauty of this art lies in the design or the motif pattern not being drawn, sketched or traced anywhere on the fabric in the entire process and the embroidery being done purely by memory, by the counting of threads to ensure a neat finish.

- There are four popular stitches in Kasuti, namely Ghanti, Murgi, Neyge and Menthi, representing double running stitch, zig zag stitch, the running stitch and cross stitch.

- The Karnataka Handicrafts Development Corporation (KHDC) holds a Geographical Indications (GI) protection for Kasuti embroidery which provides Intellectual Property rights on Kasuti to KHDC.

- Kasuti, decorating the Ilkal and Kanjeevaram sarees, is nowadays adorning the famous Mysore Silk Sarees also.

- Kasuti was once supposed to be a necessary craft to be learnt by women courtiers in the Royal State of Mysore in the 17th century.

- Sarees of black silk with Kasuti embroidery called Chandrakali saree, was of premier importance since it was considered as essential for the bridal trousseau and had to be woven by the would-be bride herself or with help from close family members.