Class 7 Arts (Kriti) Chapter 18, Textiles and Traditions, explores the symbolic motifs of Indian handloom and embroidery traditions, guides students to build a fabric journal, teaches foundational hand-embroidery stitches, and creates an original textile artwork.
What Class 7 Art Chapter 18 Covers
Indian Textile Motifs, Fabric Journal & Regional Embroidery (Activities 18.1–18.2) decodes traditional motifs—parrot, mango/paisley (ambi/kairi), peacock, lotus and geometric patterns—collects fabric swatches in a journal, and surveys regional embroideries like Phulkari, Kantha, Chikankari, Kasuti, Toda and Kutch mirror work.
Basic Embroidery Stitches & Textile Artwork (Activities 18.3–18.4) practices running stitch, back stitch, chain stitch, stem stitch, satin stitch and blanket stitch with needle and thread to create an embroidered/appliqué cloth composition.
A story in thread: the chapter opens with a story of Dhaaga (thread) and Soodi (needle) arguing over a curtain, which then tells its own story of patchwork, embroidery and crochet.
Fabric journal and embroidery traditions: collect fabric samples from discarded clothes, bags and a local tailor for a fabric journal. Explore India’s embroidery traditions, learn basic stitches on card with a needle and wool, and make a textile artwork, which can even be three-dimensional like a cloth toy.
Exercises in Chapter 18
- Activities, Circle Time reflections and end-of-chapter Assessment rubrics.
Read Class 7 Art Chapter 18 Online
More Chapters
- Previous: Chapter 17: How You Feel
- Next: Chapter 19: The Art of Calligraphy
- Hindi medium: Class 7 Arts Chapter 18 PDF in Hindi (Kriti)
- All Art chapters and the other Class 7 books: Class 7 NCERT books 2026-27
- All Class 1 to 12 NCERT Textbooks: NCERT Books PDF (Class 1–12)
- Every book chapter by chapter: NCERT chapter wise PDF
FAQ
What do the mango (paisley/ambi) and peacock motifs symbolise in Indian textiles?
The mango (paisley/ambi) motif symbolises fertility, life and abundance, while the peacock symbolises royalty, beauty, rain and immortality.
Name five famous traditional embroidery styles from different states of India.
Phulkari (Punjab), Kantha (West Bengal), Chikankari (Uttar Pradesh), Kasuti (Karnataka), and Kutch/Rabari mirror embroidery (Gujarat).
What is embroidery?
The art of decorating fabric with different stitches, patterns and needlework techniques.