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Assisi Embroidery in Close Up

An Italy travel to Assisi will bring you to magnificent churches, wonderful work of arts ancient convents, and scenic countryside. Aside from these, the town of Assisi is equally famous for its Assisi embroidery. This type of embroidery has been practiced in the town since the 13th century. It is a type of counted-thread embroidery which is based on the earliest Italian tradition where the background is filled up with embroidery stitches and the motifs are outlined and unstitched.

By tradition, Assisi embroidery is seldom done in cross-stitch, it is usually done in long-armed-cross-stitch. Recently, the variation of this type of embroidery is done with counted cross-stitch, Italian cross-stitch and the Algerian plait stitch. Italy travel guide to Assisi will tell you that the traditional thread colors for the embroidery were red, blue, green and gold for the background, and the outlines were made from brown or black threads. Motifs for the embroidery were heraldic, satyrs, ancient mythical beings and features flowers, pairs of animals, particularly birds and were enclosed by elaborate filigree borders. The patterns were drawn on fabric free hand, bounded with Holbein stitch and was mostly filled. Modern design patterns are now placed on paper like those of cross-stitch patterns.

Assisi embroidery was popular in the 13th to the 17th century. The earlier embroideries were frequently used for religious purposes like altar cloths and chasubles. Around the 18th century, its popularity has declined and this embroidery reappeared only in the earlier part of the 20th century when Assisi brought it back to the limelight. You will find out in your Italy travel deals that by 1902, an association named Laboratorio Ricreativo Festivo Femminile San Francesco di Assisi was launched. The group intends to renew interest to the Assisi embroidery and at the same time give employment to poor women to raise their living conditions. The group gave workshops to revive the almost lost art of Assisi embroidery. The industry was revitalized and the Assisi embroidery featured new designs using the counted thread method and its popularity spread throughout the country and abroad.

Assisi embroidery now a day has a wide range of designs which uses both the traditional and modern embroidery techniques. Many colors and patterns are now available for the background and the motifs vary from one another. Its meticulous Assisi embroidery with blackwork stitches works well with table cloths and cushions. Beautiful Assisi embroidery, being an art in itself can be framed and is an ideal way of preserving it. You can still see the traditional Assisi embroidery making in town where local women sit in front of their homes and embroidering beautiful items which can be purchased from the local shops.

Add the Assisi embroidery to your list of souvenirs from this charming town; or you can also learn the art first hand and mount your work remind you of your wonderful Italy travel to Assisi.

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