The history of creating cross stitch has deep roots. It is believed that this type of needlework was mastered in the primitive culture. Archaeological finds and ancient manuscripts made it possible to learn about the existence of products with embroidery in many countries, about the traditions of embroidery. Since ancient times, people embroidered from linen, cotton, hemp, silk, wool, used animal embroidery and natural hair for embroidery.
Babylon was famous for luxurious embroideries for the government nobility. Silk embroidery in gold and silver was widespread in Byzantium. Embroiderers of Iran and India enriched embroidery with a variety of natural motifs and literary plots.
Embroideries of Greece, on the contrary, were distinguished by exquisite simplicity. The items were decorated with a small embroidered plate around the edges of the clothes.
The history of Russian embroidery is also rich in ancient traditions. Archaeological finds relating to the period of the ninth to twelfth centuries confirm the development of needlework in ancient Russia.
During the Middle Ages, the popularity of cross-stitching increased markedly, which was facilitated by the Catholic Church. Church ornaments, Greek letters, and Catholic symbols were embroidered. Later, clothes were also embroidered with a cross.
The appearance of a printed pattern for cross stitching dates back to 1500. She appeared first in Germany, Italy, and then in France.
Cross stitch gained immense popularity among women in the nineteenth century. The development of the textile industry, new fabrics and threads have made embroidery a mass phenomenon. The first magazines with color schemes, canvas, the first books on embroidery techniques appeared. The enterprises for the production of embroidery accessories were opened.
The history of cross-stitch in Russia is no exception. By this time (19th century), Russian embroidery became folk (peasant) and urban.
One of the traditions of folk embroidery was the training of girls and the preparation of a dowry. Before the wedding, a demonstration of products embroidered by the bride was arranged, and the future daughter-in-law gave embroidered gifts to her husband's future henchmen.
However, the twentieth century for cross-stitching was a turning point. Many women refused it in favor of Richelieu, smoothness, white embroidery on white. And only at the end of the twentieth century, cross-stitch found a second birth.
The history of cross-stitch in Russia indicates that cross-stitch decorated both household items and ritual ones. Shoes, clothes (hats, shirts, sarafans, shawls), household items (valances, tablecloths, towels, curtains were embroidered. Even horse harness was decorated with embroidery.
The history of cross-stitch in Russia is widely represented in local history museums of the regions. There you can observe how, over time, individual drawings were combined into patterns and ornaments traditional for each locality. The most common geometric, meander, plant, animal, bird, humanoid patterns. The ornament was selected depending on the structure of the fabric. Folk embroideries were often decorated with geometric or floral ornaments.
Cross stitch technologies use wool and silk, scraper and gold threads, decorate embroidery with paper, beads, beads, glass beads, pearls, semiprecious stones, sparkles, coins.
The history of cross-stitch in Russia has preserved invaluable embroidery techniques and techniques. The vast expanses of Russia are reflected in their diversity. In addition to the fact that each region had its own embroidery techniques, so also the craftswomen introduced individual features into their products.
Several types of cross-stitching are known. The most popular is a simple cross (crosses on the front side. Vertical and horizontal stitches on the wrong side). Cross-stitch on the canvas, on the canvas, on plain weave fabric .