Tatiana Figurová
Curved needle embroidery is part of traditional folk culture at the Podpoľanie region (Detva and its surroundings). The technique developed with development of decorated folk clothes and was used predominantly at bonnets, sleeves, skirts, men´s shirts, trousers and aprons. Besides, leather parts of clothes were embroidered, too. Artisans, traders, seasonal and factory workers who worked outside Detva usually abandoned folk costumes as the first. Both world wars accelerated changes in clothing, too. The village of Detva developed a specific tradition of ceremonial wearing of folk costumes and abandoned them in daily life in the 1940s. That the custom has been preserved until today helped to keep the curved-needle technique alive. The Detva residents celebrate important events wearing folk costumes even today.
Curved-needle embroidery is produced with a textile drawing put on a wooden frame. Curved-needle chain stitch is used, full, cut or tulle-backed motives are used. Colours and materials varied during the 20th century, particularly during its second half. Curved-needle embroidery technique is used for soft furnishings. Two firms operate in Detva that produce traditionally embroidered textile articles with help of a network of very skilled local embroiderers. The author met the embroiderers who are introduced in the article in 2006. They are a perfect example of non-commercial embroidery in Detva.