Kantha: Sustainable Textiles and Mindful Making

Ekta Kaul

Book cover for Kantha: Sustainable Textiles and Mindful Making
Book cover for Kantha: Sustainable Textiles and Mindful Making

Kantha: Sustainable Textiles and Mindful Making

Kantha: Sustainable Textiles and Mindful Making

Ekta Kaul

View full details

Description

A beautiful book on the tradition of kantha, a Bengali embroidery technique with a rich heritage rooted in storytelling and upcycling, with inspiration and techniques for contemporary makers.

The word 'kantha' refers to both the style of running stitch, as well as the finished cloth: quilted textiles made from multiple layers of cast-off cloth, traditionally embroidered with threads pulled out from the borders of old saris and dhotis. These beautiful fabrics were created exclusively by women in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent.

In this richly illustrated book, textile artist Ekta Kaul explores the history of the kantha tradition and finds objects of extraordinary beauty. She goes on to look at how the kantha spirit is inspiring artists today and discusses creative techniques to help you develop your own interpretations, alongside a dictionary of fundamental kantha stitches with supporting images and instructions.

Steeped in the ethos of sustainability, emotional repair and mindful making, kantha will lead you to uncover a slower and more thoughtful approach to stitching.

About the Author

Ekta Kaul is an award-winning London-based artist born in India. Ekta's work is exhibited across the UK and is held in several prestigious private and public collections including the Museum of London and the Crafts Council, UK. She is an experienced educator and teaches internationally. She lives and works in London.
www.ektakaul.com

Critical Reviews

"In this book, Ekta has collected fragments of stories - some worn, some forgotten and some purposely erased - and stitched them back together to create something powerful." --Katie Treggiden, Founder and Director of Making Design Circular

"The age-old textile recycling methodology of kantha is updated in this book of appreciation and how-to." --Barbara Jacobs, Booklist

"If you enjoy embroidery, quilt making, sewing of any kind, craft history or repurposing, you'll love this book and it will soothe your soul." --Machine Knitting Monthly

"Beautifully illustrated throughout with detailed photos, this book honors a tradition of sustainable creativity through personal reflections, practical information, and interviews with contemporary artists who incorporate kantha into their work." --Library Journal

Publishing Information

Publisher: Herbert Press
Pub date: 2024-08-27
Length: 192 pages

The Allstora Membership

Membership Perks:

  • Save 30% on all online store purchases
  • Exclusive access to author's content
  • You pay less, but authors still earn double

Membership Terms:

First Month: $0.00
Monthly price: $5.00
  • To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
  • One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.