Pashmina jali shawl sozni work

Cashmere Pashmina ,the raw unspun wool of domesticated Changthangi goats, One goat sheds approximately 60–150 grams  of the fibre. In the spring (the moulting season), the goats naturally shed their undercoat, which regrows in winter. This undercoat is collected by combing the goat, not by shearing, as in other fine wool. A traditional producer of pashmina wool in the Ladakh region collects material and brings it to Kashmir valley.

All steps, from combing (removing impurities and guard hair, and aligning fibers) and spinning, to weaving and finishing, are traditionally carried out by hand by specialized craftsmen and women in the old  city of Srinagar. The approximate time put into producing a single traditional pashmina shawl (100x200cm) is more or less a week and months depends on amount of embroidery  typical cashmere ranges from 12 to 21 microns in diameter.
Sozni is the most sophisticated forms of hand embroidery known for its  fine, delicate, and artistic form of needlework is only practiced in Kashmir.

PREPARING THE DESIGN
we Finalize the design with Designer Called Naqash which is to be embroidered on the shawl. He draws it on graph paper using geometrical techniques.

CRAVING THE WOODEN BLOCK FOR STAMPING
 wood is carved as per the design in case design is new, and then stamped,most of the designs are heritage designs belong to Mughal dynasty.

SOZNI EMBROIDERY
 Single-needle and thread are needed so that it becomes lightweight and fine. The embroidery requires massive hard work and concentration of the artist It is a pure passion,

These motifs usually are flowers, creepers, paisleys, and chinar leaves. Embroidered Pashmina shawls vary from each other as far as the density of embroidery is concerned. Thick all-over patterns are called Sozni Jamawar shawls, while those with loosely embroidered motifs are called Sozni Jaalidaar. The stitch can be open chain, couching, buttonhole, or the famous herringbone stitch locally called Kashmiri stitch.