Patka in Progress

The pallu embellishment for the patka is moving along. Here I've sectioned off the two main motifs that make up the major portion of the design. This gives me the option to either wear the sash in a single layer with a wider girth or folded in half, both are traditional methods of tying the patka. Dividing the two motifs are two isosceles triangles, placed top & bottom, tips almost touching, which repeat the weight of the smaller triangles in terms of the chain stitch outline. The centres will be filled in black satin stitch per the style established by the smaller version.

I'll apply a similar treatment to the spokes of the wheels in the large motifs to marry the design completely.

During my working up of this area I've set up "scaffolding stitches" to control the fabrics more effectively and reduce distortion of the ground. The risk here is that the needle holes and stitches will mark the silk if left in too long. Therefore I have to work fast to finish off the motifs. (The reason for this is that I've used cotton embroidery floss rather than rayon which doesn't scar the fabric to the same extent when left in your fabrics and gives you a much longer time frame in which to do the work.)

For the purposes of the scan I've concentrated in getting as much of the motif finished off rather than the skeleton grid that I would normally work before drawing out the scaffolding threads.

And it's time to press the embroidery on the reverse too.