Ukrainian embroidery: what it is, features and characteristic features

Ukrainian vyshyvanka is a shirt made of natural white fabric with embroidery. Such clothes are recognized as a cultural feature of Ukraine, a national tradition. The embroidery is based on the Baroque style. Depict elements in the form of geometric, plant patterns, animals.

Characteristic features of Ukrainian embroidery

For finishing use free cut shirts with voluminous sleeves. Material - cotton, linen, calico and other natural fabrics. Most often Ukrainian embroideries are white. This is a very dressy clothes. It used to be worn not only on holidays. Shirts for weekdays were decorated more discreetly. And holiday clothes were characterized by brightness and abundance of patterns.

On shirts embroidery is done on the sleeves, shoulders, chest, collar and cuffs. Some shirts are decorated abundantly. And some Ukrainian embroidered shirts decorated only in certain parts. This may be a voluminous embroidery on the sleeves and restrained narrow ornament in the collar area. Or the main pattern on the chest and shoulders, and on the sleeves restrained jewelry.

Features of Ukrainian vyshyvanki by region of Ukraine

This national clothing is very diverse. Depending on the region, it has its own peculiarities in embroidery techniques, patterns and ornaments.

Some differences embroidery by region of Ukraine:

• In the Poltava region, the shirts have the most decorated sleeves. The composition on them consists of three parts. Also there it is customary to embroider with white threads on white fabric or choose delicate shades in combination with detailed patterns.
• In the area of Kiev and Cherkassy, Ukrainian embroidered shirts have predominantly plant patterns combined with geometric ornamentation. On women's shirts the red color in combination with black, yellow or blue prevails.
• In Vinnitsa region on shirts you can see many different embroidery techniques. Thanks to this, the patterns look very rich and varied.
• In the Polesie area, the ornament on the shirts was performed by flat embroidery. The entire background on the sleeves is covered. In the patterns prevail octagonal stars, broken lines, zigzags. Also depict birds, trees, twigs with berries and leaves. Ukrainian embroideries of the Polesie region of Chernigov region are characterized by a technique of small stitches reminiscent of beadwork. Geometric and plant patterns are used.
• Embroidery in the Podolia region is considered one of the most complex. Not only the sleeves of shirts are embroidered, but also the collar area, chest. Red and black colors are often combined. They use graphic lines, when one color of thread is encircled by another. In the composition they use alternation of different figures, lines and triangles.
• In the region of the Carpathians and the Carpathian region is popular Lviv Ukrainian embroidery. In the Sokalsky area performed light patterns on the sleeves, reminiscent of fine lace. Cross-stitch embroidery with black threads. In Yavoriv district, patterns were made of small elements of red color combined with yellow, green and black. Later embroidery in this area became multicolored and very bright.
• In Transcarpathia, Ukrainian embroideries were decorated not only with embroidery, but also with beads, beads and glass beads. In the Hutsul area did embroidery on shirts in black and purple or green and blue colors. In some parts of this area embroidery was done in black.

The most valuable Ukrainian handmade embroidered shirts. They are unique in design, unlike factory shirts. However, their price is much higher.