How to Stitch Indian Trellis Pattern
I visited India a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. Indians decorate everything, and the resulting beauty that is brought even to utilitarian objects and to humble shops and buildings is extraordinary.
Having fallen under the spell, I was immediately drawn to the V&A Indian Collection. The drawings of architectural details were acquired when, as a result of the Great Exhibition in London in 1851, people started to become aware of the great wealth of Indian arts and crafts.
I love the patterns for screens that seem to bend the eyes in different directions. They remind me of the Amber Palace outside Jaipur, where such intricately carved screens are used instead of window glass, allowing gentle breezes to waft through the rooms. Transferring this fascinating geometric pattern to canvas was a challenge, but its very dark background enabled the design to retain some of the depth of the original water color.
I found it was best not to try to make the pattern 'perfect', with each hexagon having the same stitch formation as the last—it looked much more alive when they were not exact copies. In fact the hexagons in the drawings themselves are not all exactly the same size, and were probably drawn by eye rather than by rule.
Flowers were of key importance in the development of Mughal architectural design. Sometimes, rosettes are inserted into the overall plan and set into their own spaces, as in the hexagons of this pattern. In other patterns, relating to carpet design or manuscript illustration, flowers are an integral part.
Both uses were adopted to make this stool and the colors are chosen from the Indian miniature paintings, with those deep, strong pastels and washes of turquoise in the greens that are so evocative of India.
For the chair seat, I changed the colors, but am not convinced that they are an improvement. If I were to stitch this design again I might choose the same colors for the trellis itself, but use something gentler for the flowers. It is all a matter of personal taste and what suits your home.
I love the patterns for screens that seem to bend the eyes in different directions. They remind me of the Amber Palace outside Jaipur, where such intricately carved screens are used instead of window glass, allowing gentle breezes to waft through the rooms. Transferring this fascinating geometric pattern to canvas was a challenge, but its very dark background enabled the design to retain some of the depth of the original water color.
I found it was best not to try to make the pattern 'perfect', with each hexagon having the same stitch formation as the last—it looked much more alive when they were not exact copies. In fact the hexagons in the drawings themselves are not all exactly the same size, and were probably drawn by eye rather than by rule.
Flowers were of key importance in the development of Mughal architectural design. Sometimes, rosettes are inserted into the overall plan and set into their own spaces, as in the hexagons of this pattern. In other patterns, relating to carpet design or manuscript illustration, flowers are an integral part.
Both uses were adopted to make this stool and the colors are chosen from the Indian miniature paintings, with those deep, strong pastels and washes of turquoise in the greens that are so evocative of India.
For the chair seat, I changed the colors, but am not convinced that they are an improvement. If I were to stitch this design again I might choose the same colors for the trellis itself, but use something gentler for the flowers. It is all a matter of personal taste and what suits your home.
Stitching an Indian Trellis Chair Seat
The finished stitched area of the chair seat shown here measured 24-inch (60cm) across at the widest point, and 23-inch (59cm) in depth, but these measurements can be adjusted by adding or subtracting background to fit your own chair (see also this article).
As chairs vary in size and different color combinations have been used to illustrate a variety of choices of background, it is impossible to give a yarn count that will be useful. You will need approximately 80-inch (2m) of yarn to cover a square inch (2.5cm).
As chairs vary in size and different color combinations have been used to illustrate a variety of choices of background, it is impossible to give a yarn count that will be useful. You will need approximately 80-inch (2m) of yarn to cover a square inch (2.5cm).
To stitch the flowers in the center you will need two skeins of each flower color and three skeins each of the greens for the leaves.
Stitch Style:
Cross stitch
Materials:
Interlock canvas, 10 holes per inch (2.5cm), some 3 in (7.5 cm) larger all around than the finished embroidery.
Size 18 tapestry needle
Size 18 tapestry needle
Required Rowan Needlepoint Wool:
H659 Plum Brown for stitching center background
H85 Rose Madder for stitching hexagon background
F24 Amber for stitching rosettes
J424 Salmon rosettes
J148 Dusty Pink rosettes and flowers
J83 Pale Pink rosettes and flowers
Y58 Stone for stitching hexagons
B84 Pale Straw for stitching hexagons
B116 Yellow for stitching flowers
B8 Old Gold for stitching flowers
V664 Pale Olive for stitching rosettes and flowers
P418 Smoky Green for stitching leaves
P430 Green for stitching leaves
M88 Slate Blue for stitching hexagon outline
M52 Prussian Blue for stitching rosettes and flowers
M123 Duck Egg Blue for stitching rosettes and flowers
H85 Rose Madder for stitching hexagon background
F24 Amber for stitching rosettes
J424 Salmon rosettes
J148 Dusty Pink rosettes and flowers
J83 Pale Pink rosettes and flowers
Y58 Stone for stitching hexagons
B84 Pale Straw for stitching hexagons
B116 Yellow for stitching flowers
B8 Old Gold for stitching flowers
V664 Pale Olive for stitching rosettes and flowers
P418 Smoky Green for stitching leaves
P430 Green for stitching leaves
M88 Slate Blue for stitching hexagon outline
M52 Prussian Blue for stitching rosettes and flowers
M123 Duck Egg Blue for stitching rosettes and flowers
Stitching Indian Trellis Stool
Finished Stitched Area:
15in (38cm) in diameter, this pattern will also fit a circular stool
Stitch Style:
Tent stitch (basketweave) or half cross stitch
Materials:
21-inch (51cm) square of interlock canvas, 12 holes per inch (2.5cm)
Size 20 tapestry needle
Size 20 tapestry needle
Required Rowan Needlepoint Wool:
Y614 Pale Beige - 4 skeins
Y82 Beige - 6 skeins
Z60 Grey - 4 skeins
Z65 Dark Grey - 8 skeins
M52 Prussian Blue - 2 skeins
N123 Duck Egg Blue - 2 skeins
P416 Pale Mint - 2 skeins
J68 Pink - 1 skein
J410 Rose Pink - 1 skein
E20 Apricot - 1 skein
E103 Pale Apricot - 1 skein
B131 Yellow - 1 skein
V30 Pale Lemon - 1 skein
S433 Mint - 2 skeins
P100 Dark Jade - 2 skeins
Y82 Beige - 6 skeins
Z60 Grey - 4 skeins
Z65 Dark Grey - 8 skeins
M52 Prussian Blue - 2 skeins
N123 Duck Egg Blue - 2 skeins
P416 Pale Mint - 2 skeins
J68 Pink - 1 skein
J410 Rose Pink - 1 skein
E20 Apricot - 1 skein
E103 Pale Apricot - 1 skein
B131 Yellow - 1 skein
V30 Pale Lemon - 1 skein
S433 Mint - 2 skeins
P100 Dark Jade - 2 skeins