Ukrainian embroidery

Artisan textile arts play an important role in Ukrainian culture, especially in Ukrainian wedding traditions. Ukrainian embroidery, weaving, and lace-making are used in traditional folk dress and in traditional celebrations. Ukrainian embroidery varies depending on the region of origin, and the designs have a long history of motifs, compositions, choice of colors, and types of stitches. Use of color is very important and has roots in Ukrainian folklore. Embroidery motifs found in different parts of Ukraine are preserved in the Rushnyk Museum in Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi.

Traditional embroidery patterns from Polissia region of Ukraine (northern part of the country). Male and female shirts are embroidered with red, black, and white threads. Red embroidery on a white background is typical for this area. The embroidery designs are often geometric rather than floral.

Traditional embroidery patterns from Reshetylivka district, Poltava region

Reshetylivka is one of Ukrainian centers of embroidery situated in Poltava region (central part of Ukraine). The embroidery designs typical for Reshetylivka are characterized by unique embroidery techniques. First of all, it is white embroidery on white background. It looks very festive, delicate and even noble.
Reshetylivka embroidery is characterized by several techniques of embroidering: satin stitch, cutting, open work, hemstitch and drawn-stitch eyelets, known in Ukrainian as "Nightingale eyes".

Very laborious embroidery pattern on the sleeve of a women’s shirt. Pokuttya region, western part of Ukraine. This area is characterized by a large amount of embroidery on the sleeves. This particular design consists of 9,000 circles, each one is formed by 13 stitches.

Usually, such shirts were worn by brides. They are often embroidered by the whole female part of the family rather then just one person. It takes one winter to finish such a shirt. But it is being embroidered during every hour of the day – when the future owner of the shirt has some chores, she passes the work on said shirt to her sister or mother. Thus, embroidering such a garment is a never ending process till the shirt if finished. It’s the only region of Ukraine where such collective work is practiced.

Ukrainian vintage bodice from Volyn’ region (western part of the country). It is decorated with uniquely embroidered floral patterns.

Bright and colorful embroidered shirt from Volyn’ region of Ukraine (north-western part of the country). The beginning of the 20th century.
First Ukrainian shirts in this area were embroidered using 1 to 3 colors. But later, women began to use dozens of colors and shades on one garment. On this particular sleeve of the shirt, we see 8 colors.
The cross-stitch technique of embroidery also says that the shirt can be dated the early-middle 20th century. And the length as well – older embroidered shirts traditionally were long (ankle-length or at least below-the-knee-length).

Sample of Ukrainian traditional embroidery on a vintage women’s shirt. Central Ukraine, the 19th – the beginning of the 20th century.

Ukrainian folk garments – embroidered aprons. Ovruch district, Zhytomyr region of Ukraine, the 1st half of the 20th century.
Look at these nice embroidery designs made with red and black threads (on the last apron, the black color of threads is washed out to kind of gray with time). Also, each apron has frills as embellishment.

Various embroidery samples, Zhytomyr region of Ukraine (northern part of the country), late 19th – early 20th century. Embroidery on hand-woven linen.

Curious sample of Ukrainian embroidered shirt from Zhytomyr region (northern Ukraine, so-called “Polissia” or “woodland” area), the 20th century. This shirt is interesting because it has a phrase embroidered on it, which means “It’s good to love but hard to forget”. Embroidered text is rather rare but it occurs sometimes. Though, usually, it is a name or date. This one has a whole phrase.

Vintage Ukrainian embroidered shirt, the 1920s. It is a female shirt from Kyiv region, central Ukraine. As you see, this garment consists of two parts – the upper part is made from industrially-produced fabric and the bottom part from hand-spun cloth. It was typical to do so. The handmade fabric is coarser and looks grayish. Different stitching techniques are used to decorate the shirt.

Women’s embroidered shirt from Kyiv region of Ukraine, the early 20th century. It is made from home-spun cloth and adorned with several different embroidery techniques.

Beautiful Ukrainian embroidery patterns. Extraordinary embroidery designs.

Funny Ukrainian embroidered towels (called “rushnyk”). These are not the usual household items but ceremonial towels. All of them are from the same village in Vinnytsia region (Central Ukraine), the 1st half of the 20th century. Just look at these patterns! They are bright, childish, and very colorful. Such embroidery designs are far from typical in this country, so these towels are unique.

Beautiful embroidery patterns on women’s shirts from Vinnytsia region (Central Ukraine), the mid-19th – mid-20th century.

Hutsul embroidered shirt called “sleeves” from Western Ukraine. It is called so because the sleeves are fully covered with embroidery and look extremely ornate.

Beautiful embroidery on a male shirt, Bukovyna region, western Ukraine, mid-20th century. This pattern is interesting because it is made from the reverse side, so what you see is, basically, a negative pattern. Imagine, how hard it is to create such embroidery designs!

This is a curious embroidery design on Ukrainian women’s shirt. The sleeve is fully covered with embroidery. The combination of colors and density of pattern create an optical effect that confuses your brain a little. Kind of makes you blink a few times and look again. Just imagine a large group of women wearing shirts made in the same technique! It was a real-life situation for certain regions of western Ukraine 100-150 years ago.

Ukrainian whitework patterns on embroidered shirts. They are so elegant and sophisticated, so pure. They look amazing!

Charming and very old embroidery pattern from Ukraine. The symbols seen on this sleeve of an embroidered shirt derived from pagan times and it shows a female figure with her hands raised to the sky – she is the protector of the whole family. Such symbols often occur in very old Ukrainian needlework patterns.

Ukrainian indigo blue embroidery on vintage shirts. It was typical only for one district in Poltava region of Ukraine. The needlework was made by threads dyed by imported indigo dye. These are women’s shirts from the 19th – early 20th century.

Gorgeous vintage black embroidery. Ukrainian embroidery, even made only in black, looks unforgettable, eye-catching, and sophisticated. Female shirts, the late 19th – early 20th century.

Bright red traditional embroidery patterns on vintage shirts from northern Ukraine (so-called “polissia” or “woodland” area), the late 19th – early 20th century. In this region, most of embroidery designs were made using red threads. Looks very eye-catching and vivid.

Ukrainian vintage embroidered shirts with whitework and openwork. The threads reflect light and create a striking look. You can see pretty floral embroidery patterns made in a curious needlework technique.

The variety of embroidered cuffs of vintage Ukrainian shirts. These are different cuffs of male and female embroidered shirts. Look how pretty and diverse these embroidered cuffs are!

Cheerful multicolored embroidery on vintage women’s shirt from Bukovyna area, western Ukraine. It is even signed by the woman who made and used this shirt. Look at these colorful flowers, birds, and ornaments! Lovely traditional piece!

Lovely embroidery patterns on woman’s shirt from central Ukraine, the early 20th century.

Floral motifs in Ukrainian embroidery. Cute needlework patterns on women’s shirts from central Ukraine, the early 20th century.

One of typical Ukrainian embroidery patterns is a svarga. It was a very popular symbol in needlework in the 18th-19th centuries that meant “protection” and “happiness”. The variation of svarga we see on this vintage women’s shirt from Bukovyna is typical for some western regions of Ukraine (particularly Bukovyna and Podillia). And this shirt was created long before the appearance of Nazi.

Ukrainian folk embroidery. Delicate whitework and openwork on the sleeve of a female shirt. Looks adorable and so pure!

Ukrainian embroidered shirt from Poltava region, central Ukraine. This shirt is modern, it’s sheer and delicate – striking piece!

Lovely Ukrainian floral embroidery pattern on vintage shirt. Also, you can see silver pendant necklace.

Rich and beautiful embroidery pattern on the sleeve of Ukrainian women’s embroidered shirt, western Ukraine, most probably the early 20th century. Floral needlework design is combined with geometric.

This is truly beautiful. Ukrainian embroidery is really one of I kind. Whenever I see a piece I can't help but examine it in detail and appreciate all the details. This is from the Hutsul region, right? Some of the motives reminded me of nyzynka. Definitely not Boiko. During my trip to Halychyna last year I saw something similar too. Next month I will fly to Turkey and stay at my father's property in Istanbul. Later I'm planning to visit Ukraine again. Can't wait to collect more motives!

Embroidered sleeves of Ukrainian traditional shirts. The patterns are very typical for certain areas of central Ukraine. The late 19th – early 20th century. From museum collections.

Sometimes, Ukrainian ceremonial towels and wedding towels can be really offbeat. These vintage embroidered pieces from the beginning of the 20th century depict different real and mythical animals. They’re so cute and unique! Embroidering can be artful.

Ukrainian embroidered wedding towel, ceremonial towel called “rushnyk”. It depicts lovely embroidered roosters.

Lovely embroidery on vintage leather outerwear. Ukraine, the early 20th century. This needlework is done on winter sheepskin coats typically used in Ukraine in the past. Colorful stitching on white leather looks wonderful.

Ukrainian embroidered sleeves of traditional women’s shirts, the late 19th – early 20th century.

Ukrainian traditional embroidered wedding towels called “rushnyk” with the Tree of Life motif from central Ukraine, the late 19th – early 20th century.

Vintage Ukrainian embroidered kerchiefs. The needlework patterns are lovely!

Skillfully made Ukrainian ceremonial towel called “rushnyk”. It is created using the openwork embroidery technique. It depicts the Tree of Life. Just imagine how many hours it took to make this towel!