The famous Krestetskaya Strochka, now known in 47 countries around the world, is a type of cross stitch, a Russian folk craft that was developed in the 1860s in the Novgorod region of North-West of Russia in Krestetsky County. This is an embroidery on “broken needle” type of lace with a geometric pattern, which differs from the usual embroidery with greater openwork and variety of ornament.
Since the 1860s, local peasant women began to apply special patterns on a homespun linen cloth and mastered the art of needlework, which requires high technical skill and patience of masters.
Cross embroidery is characterized by clear lines, and geometric patterns in the form of snowflakes, stars, and crystals. A variety of ornamental forms made with diagonal threads “stitches” determine the exclusivity of the art of cross embroidery and make it one of the most difficult techniques to perform.
Since 1882 embroidered items were annually exhibited at the World’s Fair and the famous All-Russia Exhibition in Moscow. Products of cross embroidery were sent to France, and England, and demonstrated at world exhibitions in New York, Brussels, Italy, Hungary, Canada, Japan, and other countries.
For more than 150 years, the virtuoso skill of cross-stitch has been passed down from generation to generation, carefully preserving traditions of the original embroidery. The folk art factory Krestetskaya Strochka itself exists since 1929.
Since its existence, Krestets patterns have been presented in more than 50 countries around the world and won numerous diplomas and awards. Openwork canvases were created for many royalties, famous political figures, and persons of high society. The works of masters and artists of the factory are recognized as the cultural heritage of Russia and are included in the collections of leading Russian museums and private collections.
At the end of the 80s, the factory experienced hard times. During difficult times of perestroika, the factory of Krestetsky stitch could completely stop working, because there were only 7 masters. The workshops themselves were in severe decline.
Since 2015, the factory has had a new owner – A. V. Georgiev. His efforts repaired the buildings and put them in order in the workplace. Krestetsky stitches can again be seen at exhibitions, it is widely used in high fashion collections of fashion designers. The factory began to work with renewed vigor.
Experienced lace masters again pass on the secrets to their apprentices. Today the factory employs 60 people, and the enterprise Krestetskaya Strochka is implementing a large-scale project to revive and promote the traditional craft in Russia and abroad.
The revived factory preserves the unique heritage of the craft with the hope to bring new elements of native Russian beauty to modern life.
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