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PHOTO ESSAY: TRADITIONAL UKRAINIAN WEAVING AND EMBROIDERY

Weaving and embroidery have a special place in Ukrainian history and culture. For centuries, Ukrainians have produced vibrant and intricate handicrafts. Designs and colours typically range from region to region in Ukraine.

In Toronto, Ukrainians still practice these crafts, giving them a means to stay in touch with their cultural heritage. In November 2017, I went to a Ukrainian weaving and embroidery group meeting. When I went, I was welcomed by very pleasant and inviting women who showed me their current projects and told me the symbolic meaning behind each and every single piece. They have worked months, and at times years, on these pieces. Some of the pieces are produced for family members, others for weddings and other celebrations.

These sessions are hosted by the Kosa Kolektiv – a Ukrainian folk art collective – which meets every Wednesday at the Ukrainian Folk Camp's arts and crafts studio in Toronto.

Below are some of the photos that I captured from one of their weekly sessions.

The Ukrainian Folk Camp's arts and crafts space in Toronto. Here, people gather every Wednesday for weaving and embroidery sessions.	Christina Dashko, left, and Liz Cherkas, right, practice the art of Ukrainian embroidery at a studio in Toronto on Nov. 15. They are a part of the Kosa Kolektiv – a Ukrainian folk art collective – which meets every Wednesday for weaving and embroidery sessions.	Christina Dashko works on an embroidered sleeve for a blouse in Toronto on Nov. 15. She has been working on the blouse for a year now.
Christina Dashko's blouse design was inspired by a book on traditional Ukrainian methods and patterns of embroidery.	Liz Cherkas embroidering a shirt in Toronto on Nov. 15. The design of the shirt was inspired by a similar one that Cherkas' husband's father owned.	Liz Cherkas makes references to sketches for a shirt she's working on. The shirt is for her husband, whose father owned a shirt with a similar pattern.
Myroslava Boikiv uses a loom to weave cloth in Toronto on Nov. 15. She's experienced in both traditional Ukrainian weaving and embroidery.	Myroslava Boikiv's intricate embroidered blouse she made for her sister.	Laurissa Werhun, left, and Myroslava Boikiv, right, at a weaving loom in Toronto on Nov. 15.
Laurissa Boikiv uses a loom to weave cloth in Toronto on Nov. 15. This is her first time weaving at the embroidery and weaving sessions hosted by the Ukrainian Folk Camp team.	Traditional Ukrainian plates and artwork at the Ukrainian Folk Camp's folk arts collective's Toronto studio. One painting says "make art and the world will keep on spinning."

Noushin Ziafati

Journalist

FILM

PHOTO ESSAY: TRADITIONAL UKRAINIAN WEAVING AND EMBROIDERY

The Ukrainian Folk Camp's arts and crafts space in Toronto. Here, people gather every Wednesday for weaving and embroidery sessions.

Christina Dashko, left, and Liz Cherkas, right, practice the art of Ukrainian embroidery at a studio in Toronto on Nov. 15. They are a part of the Kosa Kolektiv – a Ukrainian folk art collective – which meets every Wednesday for weaving and embroidery sessions.

Christina Dashko works on an embroidered sleeve for a blouse in Toronto on Nov. 15. She has been working on the blouse for a year now.

Christina Dashko's blouse design was inspired by a book on traditional Ukrainian methods and patterns of embroidery.

Liz Cherkas embroidering a shirt in Toronto on Nov. 15. The design of the shirt was inspired by a similar one that Cherkas' husband's father owned.

Liz Cherkas makes references to sketches for a shirt she's working on. The shirt is for her husband, whose father owned a shirt with a similar pattern.

Myroslava Boikiv uses a loom to weave cloth in Toronto on Nov. 15. She's experienced in both traditional Ukrainian weaving and embroidery.

Myroslava Boikiv's intricate embroidered blouse she made for her sister.

Laurissa Werhun, left, and Myroslava Boikiv, right, at a weaving loom in Toronto on Nov. 15.

Laurissa Boikiv uses a loom to weave cloth in Toronto on Nov. 15. This is her first time weaving at the embroidery and weaving sessions hosted by the Ukrainian Folk Camp team.

Traditional Ukrainian plates and artwork at the Ukrainian Folk Camp's folk arts collective's Toronto studio. One painting says "make art and the world will keep on spinning."