Cross stitch (Miao cross stitch)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: cross stitch (Miao cross stitch)

Applicant: Luxi County, Hunan Province

Project No.: 324

Project No.: Ⅶ - 25

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Hunan Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Luxi County, Hunan Province

Protection unit: Luxi Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center

Cross stitch (Miao cross stitch)

Applicant: Luxi County, Hunan Province

Miao's cross stitch embroidery, commonly known as "Shusha", is the most outstanding in Luxi Miao area of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province. It is mainly distributed in liangjiatan, bashiping, Pushi, Tanxi and surrounding towns.

The Miao cross stitch in Luxi is mostly used for Headkerchief, which is made of the "home woven fabric" spun and woven by local Miao women. The cotton yarn used in home weaving is thick, and the woven fabric is clear in longitude and longitude and weft, which is the best material for cross stitch technology. Different from embroidery, all patterns and patterns are stitched on the surface of cloth. During the production, one stitch starts from the center of the pattern, counts three yarns to the next stitch, and then counts three yarns to the next stitch until the pattern is fully displayed. The last stitch of cross stitch usually returns to the center of the pattern. The process of cross stitch is extremely meticulous and strict. In the process of counting each stitch, one yarn cannot be counted wrongly. If one yarn is counted wrongly, all the yarns behind will be wrong, and the pattern will be deformed.

There are no ready-made patterns in the cross stitch process. All the patterns are in the hearts of the Miao women. Local Miao women have been practicing cross stitch skills with their elders since childhood, starting from a single pattern and growing up to be very skilled. The common patterns include Shuangfeng Chaoyang, Longfeng Chengxiang, Liyu tiaolong, pomegranate flower, Yangqiu flower, peony flower, maple leaf, bee picking flower, butterfly playing flower and so on. All of them are embroidered with blue or green thread. The lines are clear and elegant.