I posted about Iranian pateh embroidery twice before (Cypress tree in Iranian embroidery, Iranian pateh embroidery), but there is one more example in Dr. Shirazi’s collection. It’s a great example of a simple overall design that looks very intricate because of the way the individual elements are worked.

Here it is from the back.

This embroidery has a large circular central motif with a star.

I haven’t really seen this style of stitching much in other embroidery traditions. Here is a closeup to guide you if you are interested in trying something similar.

If it helps, here is the back of the central motif, too.

Finally, take a look at the border, from the front and the back.

This is one of a special series of posts based on the embroidery collection of Dr. Faegheh Shirazi, from The University of Texas at Austin. Her research is on “textiles, dress, gender identity discourse, and material culture in the Middle East; the meanings of veiling; rituals and rites of passage as they relate to material culture.” Over the years she has collected a number of examples of embroidery from around the world, and has very kindly allowed me to photograph them for my blog.