Chikan, Lucknow Chikankari

Chikan is refereed to as a traditional embroidery style from Lucknow, India. Chikan is the term which is literally translated and it means “embroidery”.

It is believed to have been initiated by the most renowned Mughal emperor Jahangir's gorgeous partner, Nur Jehan.

This is one of Lucknow's most famous textile decoration styles. It has a definite loveliness and style, which guarantees that it never go out of style.

There are various patterns and effects used in order to create elegant designs and each of them requires special type of stitches and the thickness of the threads used also differs from pattern to pattern.

Some of the assortment of the stitches used includes chain stitch, back-stitch and hemstitch that turn out into an open work outline, lace work or shadow-work.

A distinction of the chikan work is rerferred to as bakhia. In this particular design, the work is carried out from the back where the stitches are covered by the design in a particular herringbone style.

The shadow of the thread is apparent through the cloth on the right side.

To order to provide it with a richer appearance, the designs are produced with tiny backstitches on the right side over the shadow.

The same type of effect is also created by making small bits and pieces of flowers and plants by using the identical fabric as the basic foundation and arranging them on the either sides.

The work is done so skillfully and delicately that the turned in edges of the cut pieces are hardly visible from the front of the work.