My Journey in Embroidery Design: Creating Khaka Art for Garment Boutiques in Delhi

Embroidery has always been an expression of culture, creativity, and craftsmanship. My journey began in the vibrant city of Delhi, where I worked for two years in a boutique garment company, specializing in khaka embroidery design. This blog post showcases my experience, the types of garments I worked on, and samples of my original embroidery designs—all aimed to inspire, educate, and rank well on search engines like Google.

✨ What is Khaka Embroidery Design?

Khaka embroidery (also spelled Khaaka) is a traditional method of tracing embroidery patterns on paper or fabric before actual stitching begins. These hand-drawn blueprints serve as detailed guides for artisans to follow.

This art form demands high precision and creativity, as each line in the khaka sets the foundation for the final embroidered piece. In boutiques, khaka artists like me help convert fashion designers’ ideas into tangible embroidery blueprints.

🏙️ My Experience in a Delhi-Based Boutique

During my two years in Delhi, I worked closely with fashion designers, tailors, and clients to create embroidery designs for:

Bridal wear
Lehenga cholis
Saree borders
Blouse pieces
Kurtis and salwar suits
Western fusion dresses

My job was to prepare khaka designs using tracing sheets, pencil, and tools like kerosene for dotting, and white or yellow chalk powder for transferring to fabric. Each design was then passed to hand-embroidery workers who brought it to life with zardosi, beads, resham threads, mirror work, and more.

🧵 Types of Garment Embroidery Designs I Created

Let me share the main categories of designs I worked on:

1. Floral Embroidery Designs

Elegant flowers, vines, and leaves are timeless. These were popular for:

Saree pallu & borders
Kurti necklines
Dupatta corners

2. Peacock and Traditional Motifs

Peacock patterns, kalash, elephants, and paisley motifs were commonly used in:

Bridal lehengas
Dupattas
Temple-style outfits

3. Geometric and Modern Art

Boutiques also required minimal, modern, and symmetrical designs for:

Indo-western gowns
Office-wear kurtis
Designer crop tops

4. Heavy Zardosi Designs

I created khakas for zardosi embroidery that involved:

Dabka work
Cutdana
Kundan and pearl embroidery
Sequin and mirror work

5. Border & Butta Designs

Used for:

Saree edges
Blouse sleeves
Lehenga ghera
Kids’ ethnic wear

🖼️ Some Samples of My Embroidery Design Work

Below are actual khaka designs I created. Each of them represents a unique approach, depending on garment type and client preference:

EMB Design 01 – Floral border with vine elements—used for dupattas
EMB Design 02 – Circular mandala motifs—suitable for lehenga flair
EMB Design 03 – Fine neckline design for bridal blouses
EMB Design 04 – Peacock motif with zardosi base—lehenga choli
EMB Design 05 – Mirror-work khaka for kurti front design
EMB Design 06 – Traditional paisley border for sarees
EMB Design 07 – Minimalist pattern for western fusion tops
EMB Design 08 – Bridal heavy pattern for full-sleeve blouse
EMB Design 09 – Butta work, small and repeated—used for dupattas
EMB Design 10 – Rich floral arch—ideal for back blouse design

💡 What I Learned

Working in the garment design industry taught me:

The importance of fine detail in handmade design
How to translate designer vision into technical patterns
Deep knowledge of fabric types, embroidery threads, and materials
Collaboration between designers, tailors, and embroidery artists
Meeting tight deadlines while maintaining artistic quality

🧑‍🎨 My Creative Mission Now

Today, I continue using my embroidery background in digital art, graphic design, and content creation. My aim is to:

Share embroidery stories from India’s roots
Teach youth about the value of handcraft
Promote handmade and digital fusion design
Attract freelance and custom embroidery work

If you’re a designer, boutique owner, or art lover—let’s collaborate!

🛠️ Tools & Equipment Used for Khaka Embroidery Design

To create precise and professional khaka designs, I used a variety of traditional tools and simple equipment. Here’s a list of the essential items:

✏️ Basic Drawing Tools

Tracing paper or butter paper
White sheet or tissue paper
Pencil (2B or 4B) – for soft, bold lines
Eraser & scale – for accurate measurement and corrections
Perforator or needle tool – to punch holes for transferring designs

🧪 Transferring Tools

Kerala oil / kerosene – used to prepare sheets for dotting
White or yellow chalk powder – mixed with kerosene to transfer the design
Fine mesh cloth – for evenly sprinkling chalk dust

🧵 Design Enhancing Tools

Compass, French curves, and stencils – for symmetric and round shapes
Fine-tip black pen – for final outlining
Carbon paper – sometimes used for dark fabric transfers
Cutting board or soft board – to protect surfaces while perforating

🪡 Fabric Handling Items

Wooden frame or hoop – to stretch fabric if direct tracing is done
Masking tape – to fix the khaka onto fabric during transfer
Clips and pins – to hold layers in place

These tools helped me maintain accuracy, speed, and clean design output, especially when working under boutique deadlines.

📐 Step-by-Step Guide: How Khaka Embroidery Designs Are Made

Here’s a clear and practical workflow of how khaka designs are created and used in embroidery production:

1. Design Sketching

Discuss garment style and client preferences.
Draw the initial sketch on tracing paper using pencil and stencils.
Use symmetry and reference images if needed.

2. Finalizing the Outline

Go over the pencil sketch using a fine black pen or darker pencil.
Ensure design accuracy—no uneven lines or unnecessary marks.

3. Perforation (Dotting)

Use a needle tool or pin to perforate along the entire outline.
Ensure consistent spacing in the holes for clear design transfer.

4. Preparing the Fabric

Spread the fabric on a flat surface.
Fix the khaka on the fabric using masking tape or clips.

5. Chalk Powder Transfer

Mix chalk powder with a small amount of kerosene.
Use a fine mesh or soft cloth to rub over the perforated khaka.
The powder seeps through the holes and leaves a dotted design on the fabric.

6. Embroidery Execution

Once transferred, hand embroiderers or machine artists begin their work.
Embroidery threads, zardosi, stones, or sequins are stitched along the dotted design.

7. Quality Check

After embroidery, ensure the design is centered, clean, and symmetrical.
Wash off any extra chalk or tracing marks if needed.

🧠 Pro Tips from My Experience

Always punch dots in one direction (left to right or top to bottom) to avoid misalignment.
For light-colored fabrics, use yellow chalk powder; for dark fabrics, use white.
Keep your hands clean and oil-free to avoid staining the tracing sheets or fabric.
Use reference images and repeat patterns for large areas like lehenga ghera.
Label each khaka with design name, size, and placement instructions for the embroidery worker.

📌 Final Thoughts

Khaka embroidery design is more than a job—it’s an art. My journey in Delhi’s fashion streets gave me lifelong experience in creative design, client collaboration, and garment craftsmanship.

Whether you’re researching embroidery design ideas, searching for a khaka artist, or simply curious about Indian handcrafted garment techniques, I hope this blog gave you value.