Ukrainian Workshop Series: Holiday Ornament

Learn how to make a holiday ornament in the Ukrainian “lyshtva” method. This workshop will be led by artist Nataliia Shynkarenko.

“Lyshtva” is Ukrainian counted stitch embroidery technique that originated in the 19th century. It is an archaic Ukrainian word that, literally translated, means “trim around a door or window”, because of the elongated appearance of the stitches. Typically, stitches are worked from left to right in a form of a line, weaving around several threads of fabric. In the next row the pattern shifts by several threads, forming a geometric shape. As a result, the pattern looks almost identical on both sides. Visually it appears like a satin stitch, the difference being that lyshtva threads are counted.

After successful completion of workshops, a lecture on traditional Ukrainian embroidery techniques will be presented. The participants will learn more about the origins of lyshtva, its subsequent replacement by cross stitch, and modern-day rediscovery. Contextual information about other Ukrainian embroidery stitches will be visually presented along with explanation of pattern symbolism, and local geographical variability.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State legislature and administered by Auburn Public Theater.