Cross-stitching began as needlework slowly transformed from a simple necessity into a decorative art. Archaeological findings such as embroidered jugs, vases, and other artifacts show that this technique is nearly as old as humanity itself. The first examples are believed to have originated in Asia before spreading to Europe, where each civilization gave it new forms, meanings, and uses.
For the Turkish people, whose heritage is deeply rooted in both craft and culture, cross-stitch became a vital expression of tradition. Over centuries, it flourished as part of daily life, sustained and enriched by the hands of women who carried this art forward. Turkish embroideries remain treasured pieces of cultural heritage, and cross-stitch motifs have long held a place in wedding chests, passed lovingly from one generation to the next.
Every pattern reflects more than design. It carries thoughts and emotions stitched into fabric with patience and care. Turkish arts and culture continue to be a vast source of inspiration for creators, and cross-stitch, one of the most ancient and enduring handicrafts, still connects the present with the echoes of the past.
Sources:
Horoz, Hati̇ce & Taştepe, Çiğdem. (2019). GELENEKSEL TÜRK EL SANATLARINDAN BİRİ OLAN KANAVİÇENİN DÜNÜ, BUGÜNÜ, YARINI. Pamukkale University Journal of Social Sciences Institute. 10.30794/pausbed.457445.
Özdemir, Hüseyin & Çoruh, Ebru & Gümüş, Çiçek. (2025). GELENEKSEL TÜRK EL İŞLEMELERİNİN ÇANTA TASARIMINDA KULLANILMASI: TEZHİP, NAKIŞ VE KANAVİÇE ÖRNEĞİ * THE USE OF TRADITIONAL TURKISH HAND EMBROIDERY IN BAG DESIGN: ILLUMINATION, EMBROIDERY AND CROSS STITCH. ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR DIE WELT DER TÜRKEN / JOURNAL OF WORLD OF TURKS. 17. 103-122. 10.5281/zenodo.15123395.
Özkan, Nurhan & Üniversitesi, Selçuk & Ve, Sanat & Fakültesi, Tasarım & Burcu, Başaran & Selçuk, Üniversitesi & Sanat, & Başaran, Burcu. (2018). ATLAS INTERNATIONAL REFEREED JOURNAL ON SOCIAL SCIENCES THE REFLECTIONS OF CROSS-STITCH EMBROIDERY ON CLOTHING KANAVİÇE İŞLEMELERİN GİYSİLERE YANSIMASI. ATLAS JOURNAL. 4. 1151-1160.