Double stitching is another beautiful handmade art, which we will introduce in this article. Stay with Saad News.
Double Stitching: A Beautiful Art Form
Double stitching is a type of embroidery or two-step stitching where stitches are sewn on top of each other. The term “double” literally means doubled or multiplied. The threads used in double stitching are dark and light, creating a shadow effect due to their contrast. The use of two threads—dark and light—and the two-step stitching technique gives the stitches on the fabric a sense of depth.
History of Double Stitching
Artifacts from Isfahan’s Jolfa district, West Azerbaijan, and even pieces in the Hermitage Museum of Russia and the Metropolitan Museum of New York indicate that double stitching was a common technique in the Caucasus. It flourished from the 3rd to the 13th centuries AH in the Caucasus, Isfahan's Jolfa, and West and East Azerbaijan. However, after the separation of the Caucasus from Iran and by the 13th century AH, the technique lost its prominence and eventually ceased.
Features of Double Stitching
One of the unique features of this stitching method is the variety of stitches it includes. For example, the initial stitches made on the fabric's designs are a basic stitching, while secondary stitches placed over the initial ones are more varied. The artist decides how these secondary stitches will appear. Typically, this technique is used to beautify clothing, utilizing colorful threads and specific tools. Artists create delicate stitches on fabrics that, upon viewing, reveal the patience, skill, and artistry of the creator. Unfortunately, the exact history of the origin of this stitching technique is unclear, and very few examples of this beautiful handmade art have survived.
Stitching Process: The motifs used in this embroidery are mainly floral, animal, and geometric designs.
First, the desired pattern should be drawn onto the fabric, after which the double stitching process begins. If you're interested in trying out this embroidery, follow these steps:
Draw the design onto the fabric.
As mentioned earlier, double stitching requires two threads—one dark and one light. After preparing these threads, use the light thread for the first stitch and the dark thread for the second.
An important point in this stitching is that the selected thread colors should be darker than the fabric color.
The secondary stitch typically varies depending on the design, such as weaving stitches with diagonal one-way loops, horizontal stitches with vertical loops, vertical stitches with horizontal loops, or even twisted weaving stitches with both horizontal and vertical loops.
In many regions, artists often use black threads for the secondary stitching.
Required Tools: In general, the tools for this type of embroidery include threads, fabric, needles, and other accessories, each with various types. For example, artists decide based on their experience and skill which fabric and material to use for the embroidery.
Final Thoughts: Fortunately, many artists in various parts of the Caucasus are still engaged in this form of embroidery, and it remains one of the most popular stitching methods in the region. In our country as well, some artists continue to incorporate this technique into their artwork, and it has not been entirely forgotten.
