Embroidery from India and Pakistan

Focusing on over 20 textiles from the British Museum's collection, this book explores the wonderful folk embroidery of India and Pakistan - in particular the domestic work made by women for their own dowry or family.

Illustrated in full and in detail, these richly decorated items - costumes and household textiles should provide designers at all levels with inspiration for new and unexpected ways for using colour and pattern in their own work. In her introduction, the author provides contextual information to bring the pieces to life. She looks at who the embroiderers are, describes their tribal backgrounds and considers the way in which their embroidery fits into their lives. The protective and talismanic roles of embroidery and the tribal variations in stitch, pattern and colour are also discussed. The author looks, too, at the dyes and materials used and the principal stitching techniques.