|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
|
|
|
|
||||
 |
|||||
Ukrainian Merezhka Poltavska
Merezkha Poltavska designsAs merezhka is drawn thread work, some of the threads are cut and drawn out. New threads are worked into the spaces using layerings and hemstitching, creating patterns of openwork. Older merezhka patterns were generally geometric, while contemporary patterns often include more representative motifs. Motifs that are commonly used include:
How was Merezhka Poltavska traditionally used?Merezhka Poltavska was traditionally used on Poltava's regional folk dress and on the ceremonial cloths called rushnyky (plural of rushnyk), which were associated with religious practices. When used on the shirts that went under skirts and bodices, it often was found:
Rushnyky (pronounced roosh - nick - ee) are long narrow strips of fabric that can often be found draped over the household icon, in homes of those who follow the traditions of Orthodox Christianity. Rushnyky are also used for other Orthodox religious practices. When featured on rushnyky, Merezhka Poltavska was used in straight bands of stitching across the narrow width of the cloth. Often there were also bands of other styles of embroidery, such as cross stitch. If you would like to see historical examples of Ukrainian embroidery, the Ukrainian Museum of New York has an excellent collection. To see Ukrainian embroidery it is best to make an appointment well in advance with the Folk Art Curator. The Ukrainian Museum, New York How can I use Merezhka Poltavska in my embroidery?Contemporary stitchers use this beautiful form of drawn thread work on many items. Because traditional Merezhka Poltavska was only ever used in straight bands across fabric, ways of working corners did not develop, as they were not needed. So that contemporary stitchers can use it for other applications, more recently corner treatments have been created. This means that with even-weave fabric, contemporary embroiderers can now employ Merezhka Poltavska to decorate almost anything. It can look gorgeous on household linens such as:
On smaller personal items, there can be a band of drawn thread work on:
On clothing, Merezhka Poltavska can be featured:
As you can see, the possibilities are almost endless! With only a small amount of imagination, you will be decorating your latest creation with Merezhka Poltavska. Learning Merezhka PoltavskaYvette Stanton provides the following methods for learning Merezhka Poltavska.
|
Purchase your copy today! |
||||
|
|
|||||
| Copyright © Yvette Stanton 2001-. All rights reserved. | |||||
is how the word merezhka is written in Cyrillic characters. It is also sometimes transliterated as "myreshka" or "myreschka".
