Introduction: Kutch Work

The embroidery of kutch work is varied and colorful.It flourished in the late 19th and 20th centuries and sample of the work of this period are in a class apart.Using simple darning, herringbone,button hole and chain stitches the embroiderers  of kutch turned out a fascinating range of motifs.
The entire structure is built up by looping the threads with out stitching them to the surface of the cloth.
I have posted  loads pictures which I feel would be easy to follow so please if you have any questions don't forget to ask...I'll be happy to help  :-)

Step 1: Supplies

Cotton material 
Crochet threads of your choice
Embroidery frame
Needle
Embroidery scissors (option)

Square paper
Carbon paper
Pencil
Ruler

Step 2:

Here's how you go about it.Draw parallel line to suit the size of the mirror ( option) and the size of the stitch you intend to  working.With a pencil join the lines to form 4 squares as shown.
Since my picture is not clear ,I write below in detail which you can follow it up looking at the picture.

Step 1:  Bring needle out at 1  from the wrong side of the fabric to the right side.Insert at 2 and bring out  at 3.
Step 2:  Insert at 4 and bring out at 5.
Step 3:  Insert at 6 and bring out at 7.
Step 4:  Insert at 8 and bring out 9.
Step 5:  Pass needle under 3 and 4 insert at 10 and bring out at 11.
Step 6:  Insert at 12 and bring out at 13.
Step 7:  Insert at 14 and bring out at 15.
Step 8:  Pass needle under 9 and 10, insert at 16 and bring out at 17.
Step 9:  Insert at 18 and bring out at 19.
Step 10:  Insert at 20 and bring out at 21.
Step 11:  Pass needle under 15 and 16 and over 3 and 4,insert at 22 and bring out at 23.
Step 12:  Pass needle under 1 and 2,and insert at 24.

For interlacing stitch follow  step 13 to 16.
Step 13:  Bring needle out  between 1 and 24 at point A
Step 14:  pass needle under23 and 24  over 3and 4  and under 2 and B
Step  15: Pass needle over 3 and B and under 2 and 1 pull for right tension.
Step 16:  Pass needle over 22 and 21 and under C and D
Step 17:  Pass needle over E and I and under 21 and E
Step 18:  Pass needle over 17 and 18 and under 16 and F
Step 19:  Pass needle over  17 and F and under 16 and E and pull for right tension.
Step 20:  Pass needle over 19 and 20  and  under 18 and G
Step 21:  Pass needle over 19 and G  and under 18 and 17. And pull for right tension.
Step 22:  Pass needle over 21 and E and under 20 and H.
Step 23:  Pass needle over 21 and H and under G and H and pull for right tension.
Step 24:  Pass needle under  E and F
Step  25: Pass needle under E and C
Step 26:  Pass needle over I and D and under I and 15.

This completes the interlacing of one square.Complete the interlacing of the other three squares in similar way.

CONFUSION.......Keep trying  you will succeed.   Good luck.

Step 3: Creating the Design

I have another instructable in mind which will be converted from this embroidery,so I  drew an  image on  the square paper according to my idea in mind.I decided on a border embroidery  for my later instructable.From the following pictures you could easily figure out how to creat a design.It is easy to follow pictures.

Step 4: Transfer the Image to the Cloth

I placed the right side of the material facing upwards on a  flat table,then Placed the right side of the carbon facing the right side of the material ,over that is the design I created on the square paper.It has to be placed exactly in the place where you want to have the image.Trace it out now to the material.

Step 5:

Fix your material in an embroidery frame ,it has to be pulled and fitted tight so that it is even.I decided on pink and blue colours.Here you go with the stitches.Follow all the pictures carefully one by one.The last picture shows the back of the frame where you see the start and end is at the same place.Once your thread is over you restart from the point you stopped.

NOTE : When you look at the pictures ,it seems easy,but it is not so.There has to be a lot of concentration in how you do the stitches.If you make one wrong move in passing the needle under/over,later  you won't be able to do the interlacing.Then you have to remove the entire stitches and re start.
I have been doing this for more than 10 years now, still  I made a wrong stitch and had to re start over again. The tiny little holes you see on the material is  the mark of unpicking the threads.
The material is just cotton thread ,it shows like cross stitch material when it is enlarged.This is not cross stitch.

Step 6: Interlacing

This is some thing I really love to do.I enjoy this step very much and feel so happy to see how it has turned out.Please zoom the picture to see all steps in detail and how neatly it has turned out.The neatness depends on how you stitch the squares with the blue thread.If you use big Square Paper   there will be Space in interlacing.

Step 7:

I Show you some of my creations as Sample  so that you know that  the Design can be created in different ways.