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The tradition of making and using embroidery on fabric in Ukraine is very ancient and strong. Many pieces of the national costume of this country are embroidered (like embroidered shirt called “vyshyvanka”), as well as festive towels (called “rushnyk”), tablecloths, toys, and other household items. There are over 250 embroidery stitches used by the craftswomen. Every region of Ukraine has its own patterns, symbols, traditions, colors, and techniques of embroidering.

Ukrainian embroidery is very symbolic. Only women used to embroider because this process was considered sacred – though, today anyone can do it. When a woman is embroidering she scribes the life she wants for the owner of the piece (whether it’s herself, her boy-friend or husband, her kids, or people who asked her to make vyshyvanka for them) on the fabric. Hand embroidering is a very important and energetic process. It is similar to the meditation. You have to do it without any anger, offense, sadness, or envy – only positive thoughts and emotions. Otherwise, the embroidered item will be bringing all those bad things to your life again and again; you will program those bad things into your future. The physical process of embroidering helps to weave the energy into the fabric. You might have heard that our palms can be used to transfer our bioenergy, to exchange it with other people, to feel the subtle world around us, etc. When you hold a needle, your fingers direct the energy stream, and the pointed tip of the needle concentrates the ray even more. That’s why you fill the fabric with your thoughts and your energy.

Looking for a cool and unique accessory? We’ve got wonderful embroidered bracelets for you. Fun fact about these wristbands – the patterns are 100-150-year-old, they’re inspired by Ukrainian authentic garments and textile household items (embroidered shirts, aprons, ceremonial and bridal towels, etc). These old needlework designs are turned into hand-crafted contemporary bracelets that can become a cheerful accent in your look.

Price: only $15.

Buy embroidered bracelets now!

The best advice for single females who want to find their truelove is to begin embroidering the wedding rushnyk (towel used during the wedding ceremony in Ukraine). They should think about the ideal man for them, his features and traits, their wedding and future family, the happiness and understanding between the couple. There are plenty of examples when women found their fated male even before the towel was finished. So, in Ukraine, people believe in the power of embroidering and know how to use this power.

Small bridal kerchiefs, colorfully embroidered with woolen threads. These kerchiefs are gifts for the guests of the wedding

Female shirts and festive towels (“rushnyks”) from Sumy and Poltava regions of Ukraine (eastern and central part of the country). White embroidery on white background is very popular in this area

Female shirts and festive towels (“rushnyks”) from Poltava region of Ukraine (central part of the country)

Long and short female shirts and festive towels (“rushnyks”). The shirts are embroidered using a technique “white on white” (white embroidery on white background). The towels are embroidered using cross stitching and cutting (popular embroidery techniques)

Embroidery design on the sleeve of a female shirt. The shirt is embroidered using a technique “white on white” (white embroidery on white background) and cutting

Different embroidery patterns on a women’s shirt and festive towels. The shirts are embroidered using a technique “white on white” (white embroidery on white background)

Different embroidery patterns on a women’s shirt and festive towels. On the left towel, the pattern is very complicated, with a lot of cutting. The right towel and the shirt have similar patterns

Embroidery designs on the sleeve of a female shirt and on festive towels. The embroidery design on the shirt is complicated and beautiful. It is made using a technique “white on white” (white embroidery on white background). Several different embroidery stitches were used to create the pattern

Embroidery designs on the sleeve of a female shirt and on festive towels. The embroidery designs were made using a technique “white on white” (white embroidery on white background) and cutting

Embroidery designs on the sleeve of a female shirt and on festive towels. Poltava region of Ukraine (central part of the country). The shirt sleeves are embroidered with dark-blue threads – it is a typical feature of this area of Ukraine. The threads were dyed with a help of indigo pigment or elderberry (rather widespread plant in Ukraine). The towel pictured left is embroidered with the threads dyed by the oak bark

Embroidery pattern on the sleeve of a female shirt, Poltava region of Ukraine (central part of the country). The threads are dark-blue – it is a typical feature of this area of Ukraine. The threads were dyed with a help of indigo pigment or elderberry (rather widespread plant in Ukraine)

Different embroidery patterns on a women’s shirt and festive towels. Poltava region of Ukraine (central part of the country). The shirt and the towel at the right are embroidered with the threads dyed by the oak bark

Embroidery designs on the sleeve of a female shirt and on festive towel. The shirt is embroidered with black threads, but it doesn’t mean it’s a shirt for mourning. Black color is often used in Ukrainian traditional embroidery patterns. The towel is embellished with red and black embroidery

Colorful embroidery designs on little girls’ shirts and festive towels. The shirts have floral patterns on the front, sleeves, and cuffs

Young girl’s embroidered shirt with floral pattern

Cute embroidery design on the sleeve of a female shirt. Several different techniques of embroidering are used

Richly embroidered young girl’s shirt. It has floral embroidery on the neckline, shoulders, sleeves, cuffs, and hem

Embroidery design on a female shirt. There is a deliberate mistake in the pattern (the very right flowery ornament has a blank circle instead of a red one). There is a tradition in Ukraine to make a small mistake in the embroidery pattern on one of the sleeves of the bridal shirt. This mistake is very important. People believed that if a witch came to the wedding to cast a black spell or just wish a bad luck, the mistake on a shirt caught her eye and confused her. That’s why you can often find a blot or mistake on a vintage wedding shirt’s sleeve. In modern times, this tradition is seldom kept

Embroidery pattern on the sleeve of a female shirt. The piece is embroidered with black threads

Embroidery design on the sleeve of a female shirt. The piece is embroidered with white threads on a homemade cloth

Embroidery pattern on the sleeve of a female shirt. Several techniques of embroidery are used

Young girl’s embroidered shirt with floral pattern. The sleeves are richly embroidered

Floral embroidery design on a young girl’s shirt

Embroidered hem of a female shirt. The technique “white on white” (white embroidery on white background) was used

Embroidery designs on the sleeve of a female shirt. The technique “white on white” (white embroidery on white background) was used to make it

Intricate embroidery pattern on sleeves of a female shirt. Several different embroidery stitches (techniques) were used

Embroidered women’s shirts and festive towels, central regions of Ukraine

Embroidered pattern on a sleeve of a female shirt. Cherkasy region of Ukraine

Embroidered design on a sleeve of a female shirt. Cherkasy region of Ukraine

Embroidered pattern on a sleeve of a female shirt. Cherkasy region of Ukraine

Embroidered design on a sleeve of a female shirt. Cherkasy region of Ukraine

Embroidery designs on the sleeve of a female shirt. The pattern was made using a technique “white on white” (white embroidery on white background) and cutting

Embroidered male shirt with bright pattern. Central regions of Ukraine

Embroidery design of a men’s shirt from central regions of Ukraine

Embroidered shirt of a teenager and various colorful embroidered patterns

Embroidered pattern on a teenager boy’s shirt. The design is simple but elegant

Male festive shirt with complicated embroidery

Men’s shirt with complicated embroidery. The pattern was made using a technique “white on white” (white embroidery on white background)

Male embroidered shirt. Different embroidery techniques were used to make it

Men’s shirt with bright embroidery. Central regions of Ukraine

Male festive shirt. Central regions of Ukraine

Female shirts from Podillya region of Ukraine (west-central and south-western part of the country). The shirts are embroidered with black threads. They were used by older women in day-to-day life and on holidays; females of any age could wear such clothing during the fasting

Female shirts from Podillya region of Ukraine (west-central and south-western part of the country). The shirts are embroidered with black, red, and white threads. There is not much of embroidering on the shirts

Richly embroidered women’s bonnet called “ochipok”

Richly embroidered women’s bonnet called “ochipok”

Long female shirts and bonnets called “ochipok” from Zhytomyr region (northern part of Ukraine). The shirts are embroidered using a technique “white on white” (white embroidery on white background)

Women’s shirt with white embroidery on white background and cutting. Zhytomyr region (northern part of Ukraine)

Female shirt with white embroidery on white background and cutting. Zhytomyr region (northern part of Ukraine). This shape of the collar is rather rare for Ukraine

Embroidery patterns on women’s shirts from Polissya region (northern part of Ukraine). Red embroidery on white background is typical for this area

One male (at the right) and four female shirts from Polissya region (northern part of Ukraine). Red embroidery on white background is typical for this area. Usually, there is a lot of embroidery

Women’s shirts with different embroidery designs. Polissya region (northern part of Ukraine). Red embroidery on white background is typical for this area

Female shirt richly embroidered with red and black threads. The pattern is geometrical

Various embroidery designs on women’s shirts from Polissya region (northern part of Ukraine). Red embroidery on white background is typical for this area

Different embroidery patterns on female shirts. Polissya region (northern part of Ukraine). Red embroidery on white background is typical for this area; sometimes white threads are also used; colorful threads are rare

Brightly embroidered collar of a female shirt. Polissya region (northern part of Ukraine). Red embroidery on white background is typical for this area

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