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Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror) Embroidery

12th February 2008

Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror) Embroidery

posted in Tutorials, Crafts, How-To, Sewing |

Shisha (the Hindi word for “little glass”) embroidery is also known as mirror-work or abla embroidery. Originally, pieces of mica were used as the mirrors, but later, thin blown-glass pieces were broken and used. Today, small mirrors are commercially available for shisha embroidery. If you use these, make sure to file the edges first so the mirrors aren’t sharp.

I like using paillettes, those large sequins with a tiny hole in the side. They’re extremely lightweight, not sharp at all, and readily available in many colors. They worked perfectly in my “Local pride” apron. I also think it would be really neat to use coins from around the world in shisha embroidery.

I’ve recently gotten really into playing with embroidery, and I decided to at the very least do this one tutorial to share my love of the art form with you all. All you handcrafting/DIY-type folks, get ready!
Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to

  1. Gather your materials. You’ll need fabric, an embroidery hoop, a sharp needle, a shisha mirror (or paillette or coin), and embroidery floss.
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
  2. Secure your fabric in the hoop tightly. Thread your needle and knot the end of your floss.
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
  3. Place your shisha on the fabric, and secure it with a crossing of foundation stitches.
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
  4. Now, duplicate the foundation stitches, but turned 45 degrees… like this.
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
    Until you get this.
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
  5. Now, you could leave it at that, and decorate around it. It’s pretty secure and it looks pretty, right? But if you’re more interested in creating a solid frame for your shisha, continue. Poke your needle up through the fabric beside your mirror.
    Then, slide your needle under the foundation stitches, from the center toward the edge.
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
  6. Pull your needle through and tighten the stitch, then work one backstitch right next to your mirror.
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
  7. Now, your next stitches will be like blanket stitches. Again, thread the needle under your foundation stitches from the center to the edge, but make sure your thread is looped UNDER your needle as you pull the stitch tight.
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
  8. From now on, when you work the backstitch after your blanket stitch,make sure to initially poke your needle through the previous backstitch. This will create an attractive chain around your shisha.
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
  9. Once I get mine shishsa started, I like to take it out of the embroidery hoop. You can if you want to, but you don’t have to. Keep working steps 7 and 8 around the mirror.
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
    This is why I like to take it out of the hoop. It allows me to sort of bend the fabric backward to have more control over my backstitches.
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
  10. Keep going until you’re finished!
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
  11. Are you proud of yourself? You should be! You could stop there, or you can decorate it some more (back in the embroidery hoop for this). I started with a border of turquoise chain stitches, to match my paillette.
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
  12. And then… oh look! The shisha is shining with happiness!
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
  13. I finished mine up with some delightful little french knots.
    Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror-work) embroidery, diy, handmade, needlework, how-to
  14. Enjoy! And join the flickr group to show off your own shisha embroidery.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 12th, 2008 at 11:00 am and is filed under Tutorials, Crafts, How-To, Sewing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

There are currently 30 responses to “Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror) Embroidery”

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  1. 1 On February 12th, 2008, Annalisa said:

    That’s gorgeous! My mother had a shirt like that, and I absconded with it sometime when I was in grade school because I /loved/ the “mirror shirt.” In fact, I think it’s still in my dresser at my parents’ house. Thanks for the nostalgia fodder and for telling me what that kind of decoration is called.

    posted on February 12th, 2008 at 11:59 am

  2. 2 On February 12th, 2008, ei! kumpel said:

    This is a great tutorial!! Your photos are fantastic and the tutorial is really full of details! Got to give this a try ;)

    posted on February 12th, 2008 at 3:50 pm

  3. 3 On February 13th, 2008, mub said:

    This is by far one of my favorite tutorials you’ve done! Thank you so much for sharing it =D

    posted on February 13th, 2008 at 5:34 am

  4. 4 On February 16th, 2008, Average Jane Crafter said:

    This is fantastic! So beautiful, and a great advance embroidery tutorial. I love it!

    posted on February 16th, 2008 at 8:19 am

  5. 5 On February 24th, 2008, Annie Howes said:

    Beautiful tutorial!

    Annie

    posted on February 24th, 2008 at 1:42 pm

  6. 6 On February 26th, 2008, Valerie said:

    This is the best tutorial for this kind of stitching I have found! The photos help a lot!!! Thank you for putting this online.

    posted on February 26th, 2008 at 10:12 am

  7. 7 On February 29th, 2008, kelly said:

    Found you via the CRAFT blog — what a great tutorial! Thank you so much for sharing this. I’ll have to try it sometime!

    posted on February 29th, 2008 at 9:13 pm

  8. 8 On February 29th, 2008, Amy said:

    I have always wanted to know how to do this. This is so exciting, I can’t wait to try it! Thanks, very well explained!

    posted on February 29th, 2008 at 11:06 pm

  9. 9 On February 29th, 2008, links for 2008-03-01 | Angelchrys said:

    […] Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror) Embroidery » Joyful Abode Tutorial: Indian Shisha (mirror) Embroidery (tags: embroidery) […]

    posted on February 29th, 2008 at 11:22 pm

  10. 10 On March 1st, 2008, BrendaLea said:

    Wonderful tutorial. I can’t wait to give this a try later today. Thanks so much!

    posted on March 1st, 2008 at 9:27 am

  11. 11 On March 1st, 2008, Elle said:

    Wow, than you so much!!! I have wondered about this for years and have wanted to do it for just as long. Why I didn’t just google it, I have no idea…but the tutorial is fabulous and I’m going to give it a whirl this weekend. Who knew it was that easy??? I’m thinking if I can embroider than, what else can I add to clothes? LOL. Thanks again, it’s a great tutorial and it was fabulous of you to share.

    posted on March 1st, 2008 at 11:50 am

  12. 12 On March 2nd, 2008, Miranda said:

    Wow. That is sooo gorgeous and inspirational! Thank you for sharing! The flickr photos are amazing as well.

    posted on March 2nd, 2008 at 3:38 pm

  13. 13 On March 4th, 2008, Robin Rivers said:

    That is so pretty. I just love the look. Can’t wait to try it out. Thanks!

    posted on March 4th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

  14. 14 On March 6th, 2008, sir jorge said:

    that’s just too cool, i like it!

    posted on March 6th, 2008 at 12:33 pm

  15. 15 On March 7th, 2008, stacy said:

    I just “stumbledupon” this tutorial…it’s really great…can’t wait to try it!

    posted on March 7th, 2008 at 6:18 pm

  16. 16 On March 7th, 2008, Bunny said:

    Nice. Its just a shame nobody uses stuff like that anymore. Oh well…

    posted on March 7th, 2008 at 8:01 pm

  17. 17 On March 7th, 2008, SewDelish said:

    Thanks for the tutorial. I wondered how this technique was done!

    posted on March 7th, 2008 at 8:28 pm

  18. 18 On March 8th, 2008, Ethel said:

    This is great - the photos really helped explain the ‘blanket stitch’ part. And the suggestions of coins, big sequins and the like were great!

    posted on March 8th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

  19. 19 On March 14th, 2008, useful links - how to embroider shisha mirrors said:

    […] Joyful Abode has an easy to follow tutorial on how to embroider shisha mirrors.  What are shisha mirrors you ask?   They are little mirrors that are used to embellish clothing, […]

    posted on March 14th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

  20. 20 On April 3rd, 2008, The Downtown Boutique said:

    This looks really easy to do based on your tutorial. I’m going to bookmark it so that I can come back to it later and try it!

    posted on April 3rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm

  21. 21 On May 8th, 2008, zabacorporation said:

    Bless you! :-D

    posted on May 8th, 2008 at 1:31 am

  22. 22 On May 31st, 2008, Link Love: Thanks for Noticing Me! » Joyful Abode said:

    […] learned how to do shisha embroidery from my tutorial, then used it to add a gemstone to a hat she made for a […]

    posted on May 31st, 2008 at 6:01 am

  23. 23 On June 13th, 2008, Paulette Capperis said:

    I was wondering if you have bit larger inch oval mirror to restore missing shisha mirrors on an antique choli, do you make the same kind of spiderweb design on it. I think some of the threads would be too far away from the edge and create an uneven edge. What do you think? I will be looking forward to hearing from you.

    posted on June 13th, 2008 at 10:09 pm

  24. 24 On June 14th, 2008, Joyful Abode said:

    Paulette, I’m not sure about doing the ovals, but the idea is the same… just create a “web” over it in a way that you think would hold it steady, then do your shisha stitching around it. I’d get a couple of similar mirrors and practice on other fabric before restoring your antique choli. Good luck!

    posted on June 14th, 2008 at 4:28 am

  25. 25 On June 17th, 2008, Devin Chopra said:

    Beautifully explained and neatly executed!

    Excellent!

    I will try and get this listed on my website.

    posted on June 17th, 2008 at 10:31 am

  26. 26 On July 23rd, 2008, Leslie said:

    A lovely, well-explained and illustrated tutorial. I have been looking for a supplier of the mirrors for quite some time. I live in Saskatchewan, Canada, and cannot find them locally. Can you suggest a source?

    posted on July 23rd, 2008 at 6:08 pm

  27. 27 On July 23rd, 2008, Joyful Abode said:

    Leslie, this website ships to Canada and sells the little pailette sequins I used.

    Small round mirrors are also available on Etsy and at craft store websites though these can be too thick for some uses… and you may benefit from filing or sanding the edges so they’re not as sharp if you decide to use them.

    Good luck with whichever materials you decide to use! And I hope you post your projects to the Flickr group!

    posted on July 23rd, 2008 at 7:07 pm

  28. 28 On August 26th, 2008, meggiecat said:

    Thanks for this tut. Very well done!

    posted on August 26th, 2008 at 2:17 pm

  29. 29 On August 27th, 2008, lisa said:

    This is a great tutorial! I’ve wanted to know how to do this for some time and you’ve made it seem so easy! Thank you!

    posted on August 27th, 2008 at 12:41 pm

  30. 30 On September 2nd, 2008, radhika said:

    hey this is amazing…its my parents’ 25th anniversary and i wanted some mirror work on a lehenga (indian) … just that i dint really get a clear picture of how it wud be done or how it wud look after the thread on it… and it looks fab… im gonna get the same thing done with golden and silver thread!! thumbs up!

    posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 3:08 pm

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