Embroidery of Gujarat

The most important centres of embroidery work of Gujarat are located in Surashtra and Kutch.The embroidery of Kathiawar is greatly influences by that of Sindh, Punjab and Kutch. Vivis colors are embroidered on the traditional costumes and household iteams like Toral, Chakla and Chandrawas.The main feature of Kathiawar embroidery is the lavish application of mirrors. The basic stitches used are chain stitch, heer bharat, abhal bharat and interlacing stitch or sindhi taropa. Applique in Gujarat is known as 'katab'. Motifs used in this embroidery are birds and animals, floral, geometric, human figures, etc. Usually bright colored cotton threads are used in this.