Who can top the Ukrainian Embroidery Styles, Post your Embroidered Aprons Online!

Ukrainian embroidery (Ukrainian: Vyshyvka) occupies an important place among the various branches of Ukrainian decorative arts. The Art has a rich history in Ukraine, and has long appeared in Ukrainian folk dress as well as played a part in traditional Ukrainian weddings and other celebrations.

Appearing all across the country, Ukrainian decorative arts varies depending on the region of origin. From Poltava, Kyiv, and Chernihiv in the East, to Volyn and Polissia in the Northwest, to Bukovyna, and the Hutsul area in the Southwest, the designs have a long history which defines its ornamental motifs and compositions, as well as its favorite choice of colors and types of stitches.


Embroidery is an ancient and symbolic tradition in Ukraine. In 513 BC Herodotus, the famous Greek historian, in describing the invasion of Darius mentioned that the Thracian-Dacians people who lived in what is now the Balkans and western Ukraine used this style to decorate their clothes. Excavations of sites from the first century AD have revealed examples of decorative clothing in the territory of Ukraine. Other early examples include pre-Christian goddess motifs, such as Berehynia. There are eleventh century examples of decorative arts in the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv on frescos and miniatures. Many of these early examples have distinct similarities to the local embroidery throughout history. Until the 19th century, Ukrainian decorative arts was an everyday art in the common peoples lives. During the 19th century it became more of a craft.

decorative arts was mostly used for the decoration of clothing and fabrics and for the decoration of homes and churches. These products, especially towels, are greatly symbolic for a series of ceremonies and rituals of Ukraine.Most decorative arts was used for clothing. The primary object of clothing that was decorated was the shirt or blouse. The shirt was mostly decorated on the sleeves, and also on the neck, bosom, and the cuffs. Other elements of clothing are also decorated including scarves, skirts, aprons, men's caps and trousers, sleeveless jackets, sheepskin coats, sashes, etc.

In some areas, bed linens were also embroidered. Aside from clothing, other items decorated with decorative arts are towels, table-clothes, bench covers, veils and kercheifs, and pillowcases. Many of these items are used to decorate the interior of churches, for example a cover for the sacraments or a shroud for icons.

According to Mary Doliszny, a Ukrainian-Canadian activist, the Soviet Unions attempts at Russification took a toll on the embroidery of Ukrainians. Because of attempts to destroy the art of Ukrainian embroidery, diaspora Ukrainians worked to document patterns and revive the art. Much of this research was done at the institutes of Ukrainian studies at Harvard University and the University of Toronto.