Gilaf borders

I forgot to mention in my last post that a gilaf is a book bag - designed to hold a copy of the Koran - so an important, protective item. 

The centre of my Kantha gilaf needed blocking to return it to something like the square it was meant to be. The doctor's flannel was fairly pliable and I was able to measure and tack a reasonably straight border.

I used fine pencil dots and tacked both the inner and outer border.

The inner border is filled with whipped running stitch. I used an ecru coloured silk for both the rows of running stitch and the whipping.

The outer border is a series of 'trees and huts', worked in the two colour ways. I decided to use some more of the Gloriana variegation I had introduced into one section of the centre to help me transition from one colour way to another. It drew the eye in the centre piece and I thought, rather than undoing it,  using it in the trees might be more harmonious. I think it worked.

One side of the border ended up (unintentionally) with four trees while the others have five. The pattern, however, blends quite well so I'm sticking with it. I love the way the trees extend the central pattern. It reminds me of Australian Aboriginal dot paintings.

All in all I'm very pleased with this piece. It is deeply satisfying, calming work. I'm looking forward to filling the corners and finishing the construction.

Gilaf: More Kantha Embroidery

I jumped at the chance to do another Kantha class with Barbara Mullan when it was offered as part of the Embroiderers' Guild Autumn class offering. The project looked enticing. I couldn't see how we would get the stitching pattern in the photo.

Our preparation instructions were to prepare a piece of felt (preferably nuno) or wool or cotton and bring threads in two colour ways. I left the fabric to the last minute. I had no suitable felt in my stash and the wool blanketing I had seemed a bit thick. I ended up buying a piece of doctor's flannel and another remnant of blanketing (bound to come in handy!). 

I decided on the doctor's flannel and transferred the design - a six pointed star in the centre of the fabric piece.

The class was over two consecutive Sunday's. I was going to be away for the second class but wanted to do it so much I enrolled anyway. Barbara offered to help me when I got back if I was in strife.

It was such an enjoyable class - five students all keen on Kantha and a really expert, flexible teacher.

I should have checked my Kantha Bible before attending.
The answer to the puzzle of how we could get the pattern of stitches was, of course,  - ants!                                                                                            For those unfamiliar with Kantha embroidery, there are a number of traditional stitch patterns using running stitch. One such pattern is called 'ants' because it resembles an army of ants on the move - rows of running stitch advancing in a regular or semi- regular manner. By working the pattern segment by segment you achieve a continuous waving line  and the regular organising structure disappears.

Alternating colour ways adds to the effect. I find it addictive. After the class I couldn't stop doing it. For several days I abandoned all other projects and stitched ants at every opportunity.

I finished the ant centrepiece before I left for 10 days in Sydney and Canberra, taking it with me in the hope of working on the border.

I'm really sorry to miss the second day of the class. I think if I had to choose only one form of embroidery to work on a desert island it would be Kantha. 

Now for the border.