Plant patterns of silk based needlework, a traditional handcraft in Turkey

Abstract

640-643Plant based motifs have been used extensively in Turkish culture for centuries. One of the most intricate and delicate uses can be seen in traditional handicrafts crocheting, shuttle and needlework. Among these crafts, needlework has a special place. Needlework is interesting in many ways. For instance, only silk is used to make these fine patterns. For hundreds of years, needlework has been attached to the corners and sides of covers. The study aims to record and pass the knowledge of the use of plant based motifs in the needlework of Western Anatolia–Turkey. A total of 29 women, especially chosen by age, over 50 yrs old, from the cities Odemis, Beydag, Kiraz, and Tire in the of Izmir Province in Western Anatolia were interviewed. 24 taxa were identified. Among the identified patterns, the flower was the most common. Fruits and leaves were the other motifs identified. The use of different colours on the same pattern is interesting. Four different colours are used in the pattern of the pepper plant; green for the leaves, white for the petals, orange for the reproductive organs, and red for the fruits. In all identified patterns; orange, yellow and white are used for the reproductive organs with orange being the most preferred colour