Bedspread from Gujarat with Applique Elephants and Kantha Embroidery

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Kantha is a kind of running stitch that is done by women in parts of India as a form of quilting. Today, fabric that features embroidery done using this stitch is also referred to as kantha. Such embroidered fabrics, which could be anything from sarees and cholies to bedspreads and other home decor, make for a very fashionable statement. This bedspread is a fine example of the kantha stitch. It is made from pure homegrown cotton that takes best to the densely packed stitches of this style. Contrary to the rough quilt-like finish associated with kantha, this bedspread comes with a finesse that speaks well of the artisans who made it.

Rural Gujarat is known for the quirky textiles it produces and its love for vibrant colours. Local artisans make it a habit to infuse the pastels one sees in the countryside into their fabrics, of which this bedspread is proof. The motif of the richly adorned elephant with its trunk raised has been arranged in repetitive panels across the field, which are interspersed with kantha embroidery. The elephants have been appliqued onto the base fabric, which gives away the degree of creative skill and labour that has gone into this bedspread. The dominant colour variations include black and red, from which you are welcome to choose depending on the tone you want to set your bedroom to.