Whitework and openwork on Ukrainian embroidered shirts. Close-ups of gorgeous embroidery patterns

We’ve written about Ukrainian whitework embroidery recently, but, obviously, some fine examples of these patterns are always in situ. So, here you are a number of photos, including many close-ups, of this unusual needlework technique. The shirts adorned with whitework look sophisticated and pristine, don’t they? These garments are vintage embroidered shirts from Central Ukraine, the late 19th – first half of the 20th century.

These are exhibits from the Ukrainian national center of folk culture “Ivan Honchar Museum” in Kyiv

To learn more about whitework, read this article: Whitework in Central Ukraine. Magnificent embroidered shirts adorned with whitework

Chernihiv region of Ukraine, the early 20th century, hand-spun linen cloth

Left to right: Poltava region of Ukraine, the early 20th century, hand-spun hemp cloth; Chernihiv region of Ukraine, the early 20th century, hand-spun linen cloth

Left to right: Poltava region of Ukraine, the early 20th century, industrially-made cotton cloth; Sumy region of Ukraine, the 1st half of the 20th century, industrially-made cotton cloth

Left to right: Poltava region of Ukraine, the late 19th century, hand-spun linen cloth; Sumy region of Ukraine, the late 19th century, hand-spun hemp cloth

Poltava region of Ukraine, the early 20th century, hand-spun hemp cloth

Left to right: Cherkasy region of Ukraine, the late 19th century, hand-spun hemp cloth; Poltava region of Ukraine, the early 20th century, hand-spun hemp cloth

Left to right: Poltava region of Ukraine, the early 20th century, hand-spun hemp cloth; Cherkasy region of Ukraine, the early 20th century, hand-spun hemp cloth

Left to right: Cherkasy region of Ukraine, the late 19th century, hand-spun hemp cloth; Poltava region of Ukraine, the early 20th century, hand-spun hemp cloth; Cherkasy region of Ukraine, the late 19th century, hand-spun hemp cloth

Both from Kyiv region of Ukraine, the early 20th century, hand-spun hemp cloth

Kyiv region of Ukraine, the early 20th century; hand-spun linen cloth on the right and hemp cloth on the left

Left to right: Poltava region of Ukraine, the mid-19th century, hand-spun linen cloth; Kyiv region of Ukraine, the early 20th century, hand-spun linen cloth; Kyiv region of Ukraine, the early 20th century, hand-spun hemp cloth