Embroidery / Astari

34.749271° N, 72.357063 ° E

Guligram, Swat

Altitude

934m above sea level

Gender

50.8 % Men

49.2% Females

Population

2,309,570

Sustaining livelihood for a family is done by men. The women embroider to embellish their clothes of personal use or to give away as gifts.

The lives of these women are surrounded by handmade things such as captivating Zarukey (embroidered bedsheets), Saputey (pillowcases), table cloths. The embroidered linen is usually laid out on special ocassions.

Inherited from the artisans of Gandhara, embroidery of this region is also a way to socialize for women. After completing their household chores, the women gather in one of the houses and share what they’re making. Often, they talk, sing, and complete each others’ unfinished work.

In summer women wear embroidered 'palos' on cotton while in winter they wear embroidered salampur shawls.

Step 1

The fabric and thread is bought from the market.

Step 2

Once the trace is done, the fabric is fitted into a hoop frame and using a threaded needle the women do the astari.

Step 3

A threaded needle is used to embroider the fabric. Women prefer dark coloured fabric such as black and use bright colours for astari work. They prefer bright reds, pinks, green, blue, orange, maroon etc.

Step 4

Once the trace is done, the fabric is fitted into a hoop frame and using a threaded needle the women do the astari.

Step 5

A threaded needle is used to embroider the fabric. Women prefer dark coloured fabric such as black and use bright colours for astari work. They prefer bright reds, pinks, green, blue, orange, maroon etc.

Step 6

Since the hoop frame is not very wide in diameter, therefore the embroidery is done piece by piece and the different pieces are then sewed to make the apparel.

Step 7

The apparel is then washed and pressed.

When I am doing embroidery, I forget everything. All my sorrows, my pains and my fate... even if for a few hours.

1825

afternoon hours

approximately throughout the year. The women at the most spend 4 to 5 hours everyday in the
afternoon after they are done with their household chores.