Duplicate Stitch + Indonesian Embroidery

9/7/2024 

Today's experiments! 

I wanted to try duplicate stitch knitting to find alternative methods of making textile paintings other than using crochet/knit colorwork. 

I made a lil sample inspired by this shawl with Karawang embroidery, a style of embroidery from West Sumatera, Indonesia. 

The process of duplicate stitching and embroidery is pretty similar IMO! Both involve stitching yarn/thread on top of fabric.

It took me a second to get a hang of duplicate stitching tbh I've noted a couple of things to make the stitches lay flatter/look more flushed to the fabric:

1. Go side to side as much as possible. This way ur following the natural direction of the knitted fabric, allowing the stitches to lay flatter. 

2. Use the same type of yarn. Thicker yarn can pull the stitches of the fabric (u can see in the next sample I made)

The next sample I made was inspired by this rice carrier bag from Minangkabau, West Sumatera. 

I love how rich my homeland's textile culture is <3

This second sample didn't work out as good tho. I used a sentro machine to knit the panel cuz hand knitting takes forever but the fabric that the sentro machine makes are stretchy so it was hard to keep a steady tension and make the stitches neat. Plus I used a different type of yarn but a similar weight (or so I thought cuz it looks thicker than the yarn I used for the base). 

I also tried to fix it to a piece of styrofoam panel. I think I need either a sturdier panel, like wood or something thicker like that, or I need stronger/bigger staples. 

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