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Native American counted cross stitch - symbolism With tradition by Julia Wigham

Native American counted cross stitch designs are popular in the United States and around the world. The patterns are of Native American people, of many different tribes, and animals. Many different traditions and objects of spirituality are portrayed.

These people had - and still have - a huge respect for the animals and plants living alongside them. Specific animals have powers and legends associated with them, through which run the themes of bravery, generosity and honesty.

Items representing animals important to the indigenous American natives, including bears, coyotes, cougars, ravens, wolves, eagles, and the white buffalo, are often a part of the Native American counted cross stitch designs. Specific items, like eagle feathers, are usually present either in the headdresses of the clothing being worn or incorporated in some other manner.

We must not forget the peace pipe, smoked in spiritual ceremonies whilst saying a prayer to the four cardinal points, North, South, East and West, coloured divisions of the circular Medicine Wheel. In fact many cross stitch designs of this genre are based on the circle, representing the sacred hoop or cycle of life, reminding us that as one life ends another begins.

Other ceremonies include dances, such as the Sun Dance, whilst dressed in traditional regalia, much of which was decorated with stitchery or beadwork. For over a century the Seminoles of Florida have used patchwork to make cotton garments, first to wear themselves and later to sell to tourists. The tiniest scraps of fabric were able to be used in this manner. You may see a Seminole border on a Native American cross stitch pattern.

Native Americans have always used items from nature for their ceremonial clothing and jewelry. Beads were carved out of bone, animal horns, hooves, turtle shell and wood. They've also animal teeth and other items like porcupine quills for chokers and breastplates used in dancing.

When the traders began arriving in the 1800s, Native Americans switched to using larger glass beads that they called "pony beads" because of the trader's horses. In the 1840s, the peyote stitch began to be used with smaller beads in multiple colors. Many Native American counted cross stitch designs use seed beads in the patterns based on the traditional use of beading.

Julia Wigham is an experienced writer and co-owner of Patterns Patch cross stitch forums. An online cross stitch community whose members get free: patterns, articles and tutorials. Visit our colorful => cross stitch blogs today!

Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/Native-American-counted-cross-stitch---symbolism-With-tradition/250098

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This entry was posted on Monday, August 3rd, 2009 at 5:46 pm and is filed under Fine Rings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.