A special kind of embroidery done with a pointed hook used for drapery and upholstery is known as crewel. Rows of chain stitch done with pointed hook form solid patterns usually rotating from center and creating an embossed effect to add richness to the textile. Crewel is done on the thick material popularly used for furnishing and usually carries flowing floral and creeper designs. The thick material includes Hand-woven Cotton Dosooti Fabric, Cotton Duck, Linen, Jute etc. The Crewel embroidery is done in the thick woolen yarn, by a pointed crochet, provides a very dazzling and durable material for drapes and upholstery's. All embroidery is hand done in either single or double ply wool. Crewel embroidery material is quite popular in export market as it satisfies the aesthetic expression lover of beauty all over the world. Besides these crewel products are very popular in domestic market also. Designs are available in assortment of colors ranging from a single color to multicolor embroidery. However, the designs and colors patterns can be altered as per order. The price is related with the amount of embroidery done on the material. The width of material is 52", 54" inches and length it comes in 25 or 29 meters, per roll. The craft is also available on Bedspreads, Cushion Covers, Throws, Shams, Curtain Drops, Duvets Covers in various sizes ranging from single to king size. We are sure to create a new World beauty in handicrafts and open new vistas in crewel embroidery fabrics given a chance.
Chain stitch is done with a hook in long flowing designs. The embroidery is done all over a Hessian or hand woven cloth base. The designs range from floral patterns to animals and human forms traced by a designers while the craftsman embroidery in two-ply or three-ply yarns. Silk yarn is also used in the embroidery and the rug looks like a carpet in which the pile is substituted by the texture. Chain stitch rugs are used both as floor covering and wall hanging. The rug is supported with cloth-lining to add the durability. It comes in the size 2x3, 3x5, 6x4, 8x12, and 9x12 feet. Chain stitch, be it in wool, silk or cotton, is done by hook rather than by needle. The hook is referred to as "aari", and while maintaining the same quality, hook work covers a much larger area than needle work in the same amount of time. All the embroidery is executed on white cotton fabric, pre-shrunk by the manufacturers. The intrinsic worth of each piece lies in the sizes of the stitches and the yarn used. Tiny stitches are used to cover the entire area - the figures or motifs are worked in striking colours; the background in a single colour, made up of a series of coin sized concentric circles which impart dynamism and a sense of movement to the design. Stitches ought to be small, even sized and neat. The background fabric should not be visible through the stitches.