Page 68 - HAND EMBROIDERY ARTISAN_TT

Why It’s so valued Extremely rare and expensive
Represents perfection in handwork there’s no room for The skill to do Duwaluth Sozni is passed down
error. generationally only a few master artisans are known for it.

Problems and solutions for hand embroidery

Objectives: At the end of this lesson you shall be able to
• state the problems related to shawl embroidery
• state the solutions for the problems related to shawl embroidery
• state the raw material issues for shawl embroidery and its solution.

Problems in shawl embroidery & their solutions Encourage buyers to look for authentic hand-embroidered
1 Thread breakage & uneven tension tags.
Problem Platforms like Craftmark, Tribes India, or SEWA help
promote ethical purchases.
Embroidery threads, especially silk or metallic ones, can
break or tangle due to friction or poor-quality threads. 5 Pilling or Damage to Base Fabric (esp. Pashmina)
This affects design flow and durability. Problem

Solutions Fine Pashmina is delicate and can pill, stretch, or wear
Use high-quality, pre-treated threads (silk, cotton, zari). thin affecting the beauty and strength of the embroidery.
Maintain consistent needle tension during embroidery. Solutions
Store threads properly to prevent humidity damage. Use embroidery with soft-tension threads and non-
damaging techniques.
2 Color fading or bleeding
Store shawls flat or gently rolled never hang Pashmina.
Problem
Avoid using heavy embroidery on super-fine fabric.
Poor dyeing or low-quality threads can lead to color
bleeding during washing or fading over time, especially 6 Counterfeit or machine-made embroidery
in sunlight. Problem
Solutions Many “hand-embroidered” shawls are actually machine-
Use colorfast threads and natural dyes where possible. stitched cheaper but passed off as handmade.
Wash embroidered shawls in cold water with mild Solutions
detergents, or dry clean only. Look for tell-tale signs: uniformity (machine), versus tiny
Store away from direct sunlight. irregularities (hand).
3 Imperfect stitching or asymmetry Buy from reputed sources or artisan groups.
Problem Ask for artisan certification or GI-tagged items
(Geographical Indication).
If the base outline (Cudani) isn’t accurate, the final
design can look lopsided or messy especially critical in 7 Lack of market access for artisans
dual-sided Sozni. Problem
Solutions Many skilled artisans don’t have direct access to buyers
Use well-trained artisans for initial motif sketching or global markets.
(Cudani). Solutions
Regular inspection during stitching. Promote artisan work via social media, exhibitions, and
Allow for Shudani stage (final cleanup and adjustment). global craft fairs.
4 Low wages & artisan exploitation NGOs and e-commerce platforms can bridge the gap
between villages and urban buyers.
Problem
Workshops and training in digital literacy, pricing, and
Artisans, especially in Kashmir, are often underpaid marketing help immensely.
despite the labor-intensive nature of the work. Middlemen
take most profits. Raw material issues in shawl embroidery & their
solutions
Solutions
1 Low-Quality Base Fabric (e.g., Pashmina, Wool,
Promote fair trade practices and support direct artisan Cotton)
collectives.
58 H & C: Hand Embroidery Artisan : (NSQF - 2024) R.T. Ex.No 1.9.52-58