Kasuti
कसूती
Kasuti is Karnataka's traditional hand embroidery tradition, practised by women of the Lingayat community across northern Karnataka.
What is Kasuti?
Kasuti is Karnataka's traditional hand embroidery tradition, practised by women of the Lingayat community across northern Karnataka. The embroidery uses four distinct stitches — gavanti (double running), murgi (step or zigzag), negi (darning), and menthi (cross stitch) — all worked in a single colour thread on cotton fabric, creating geometric and figurative patterns including temple chariots (rathas), palanquins, and religious symbols. Kasuti is the definitive embroidery on Ilkal sarees and is also worked on blouses and home textiles.
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Daily WearFestiveOffice WearDasaraGiftingCultural EventsTECHNIQUE
How Kasuti is Made
- 1
Cotton or silk fabric is stretched on a frame
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The artisan works only with geometric counting stitches following the fabric weave grid
- 3
Gavanti stitch creates a double-sided running stitch outline
- 4
Negi fills areas with darning stitch
- 5
Murgi creates step patterns
- 6
Menthi adds cross stitch accents
- 7
All stitches are counted and reversible
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No freehand embroidery is used
Where Kasuti is Made
Explore Kasuti by city — curated products and local context
How to Identify Authentic Kasuti
Key markers that distinguish genuine handcrafted pieces from machine-made imitations
- 01
Kasuti embroidery is completely reversible — both sides of the fabric show the same pattern without loose threads
- 02
All stitches follow the fabric weave grid precisely — freehand embroidery is not authentic Kasuti
- 03
Single colour thread is traditional — multicolour Kasuti is a modern variation
- 04
The stitch count creates perfectly geometric forms — curved lines are achieved through step sequences
Related Craft Traditions
Ilkal
इलकल
Ilkal sarees are GI-tagged handloom textiles from the town of Ilkal in Karnataka's Bagalkot district, practised by the Devanga and Momins weaver communities.
Read guide →
Mysore Silk
मैसूर सिल्क
Mysore Silk sarees are GI-tagged pure silk textiles produced by the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) and registered weavers in Mysuru, Karnataka.
Read guide →
Phulkari
फुलकारी
Phulkari — meaning 'flower work' in Punjabi — is a GI-tagged embroidery tradition from Punjab in which vivid darn stitch embroidery is worked on coarse khaddar (hand-spun cotton) to create densely patterned shawls and odhnis.
Read guide →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kasuti?
Kasuti is Karnataka's traditional hand embroidery tradition, practised by women of the Lingayat community across northern Karnataka. The embroidery uses four distinct stitches — gavanti (double running), murgi (step or zigzag), negi (darning), and menthi (cross stitch) — all worked in a single colour thread on cotton fabric, creating geometric and figurative patterns including temple chariots (rathas), palanquins, and religious symbols. Kasuti is the definitive embroidery on Ilkal sarees and is also worked on blouses and home textiles.
How do I check if Kasuti is authentic?
There are 4 key markers of authenticity: Kasuti embroidery is completely reversible — both sides of the fabric show the same pattern without loose threads — All stitches follow the fabric weave grid precisely — freehand embroidery is not authentic Kasuti — Single colour thread is traditional — multicolour Kasuti is a modern variation — The stitch count creates perfectly geometric forms — curved lines are achieved through step sequences
Where does Kasuti originate from?
Kasuti originates from karnataka, specifically the cities of Bangalore.
What is the price range for Kasuti?
Kasuti products range from ₹699 for simple everyday pieces to ₹20,000 for elaborate handcrafted garments. Bridal and heavily embellished pieces command premium prices, while casual kurtis and dupattas are available at accessible price points.
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