Cross Cultural Creativity Expressed Through African Folklore Embroidery

African Folklore Embroidery originated in Southern Africa. In January 2003, Leora Raikin brought this unique needle art to the United States. This colorful, creative and exciting needlecraft is now being enjoyed by thousands of adults and children throughout the country. The designs drawn by a South African artist on black fabric are inspired by the Ndebele women from Southern Africa who are famous for their beautiful and colorful beadwork of African wildlife.

African Folklore Embroidery is the ideal needlecraft for highly experienced needle workers looking to try their hand at something new and colorful. At the same time, beginners – those that have never even held a needle before are stunned by their creativity. The unique and exceptionally drawn designs are categorized into a number of different and exciting themes. The main themes include illustrations depicting the Ndebele tribe, animals, nature, birds, flowers, the ocean and many others.

The artist introduces new designs every month. Custom orders with specific themes can also be requested. The kits, which include a design on black canvas, a braid of brightly colored African threads, a needle, stitch diagrams and guidelines come in two sizes. The Basic kit is 11.5 inches square and the Super kit is 17 inches square.

The dominant stitch used on this surface embroidery is chain stitch. However more advanced needle workers can incorporate other stitches such as Satin Stitch, Feather Stitch, Bullion Stitch, Buttonhole stitch, French Knots and others. Beads and sequins can also be incorporated for greater effect.

Completed Kit designs can afterwards be made into purses, pillows or wall hangings with the purchase of an African Folklore Embroidery converter kit. The completed designs really do become works of art. The converter kits come with instructions to put it all together, but a finishing service is available. Some of our clients embroider a couple of the basic kits and then combine them to make them into a quilt. Others are embroidering several of the seventeen-inch square kits and will be combining them together when complete to make into a table cloth.

African Folklore Embroidery fits into many categories. It can be regarded as tapestry, embroidery, cultural or visual art.. Some even view this as a type of Ethnic Embroidery. However no matter what category it fits into, the benefits derived from doing this needlecraft are the same.

Relaxing and Therapeutic is how many describe it. Others describe it as an outlet for their creativity that is easy and fun. While others describe it as “addictive” once you get started – you do not want to put it down!. Working with the bright colors against the black background creates a striking contrast. Since the colors are bright they are exciting to work with. What makes this embroidery art so unique is that it allows for complete freedom of expression and creativity with regard to color choice. It is this fact that adults and children seem to love the most.

African Folklore Embroidery encourages users to be creative, to choose their own color schemes and have fun with colors. The illustrated drawings do not have to be embroidered in their authentic colors. An elephant can be embroidered in red thread and a Peacock can be embroidered in a pink thread. Metallic threads and hand dyed variegated threads can also be used for enhancement and effect.

Boys seem to be as excited girls about African Folklore Embroidery. Josh Feldman, 9 of California picked up the needlecraft after his sister brought home her African Folklore Embroidery kit from a Girl Scout meeting. “It just seemed like so much fun," Josh says. "I like doing the chain stitch. Once you get into the rhythm it is so easy." says Susan Feldman, Josh's and Rachel's mother. "I have always done needlework, so I wanted my kids to learn it too. It's great for kids they learn a craft and improve their hand eye coordination."

African Folklore Embroidery goes so much faster than other needlework, people get a real sense of accomplishment. Many youngsters become so enthused with African Folklore Embroidery that they infect their siblings and parents and land up teaching them how to do African Folklore Embroidery too.

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