Lace-making, embroidery

Today lace-making is carried on at the centres in Vologda, Yelets, Sovietsk (formely the Sloboda of Kukarka), Mikhailov, and Kirishi, which produce hand-made pillow lace in characteristic manner, differing from district to district.

Modern embroidery continues to be based upon and to develop folk traditions. The delicate drawn-thread work in white from Krestsy and Katunki is of a high artistic standard, as is the attractive, festively coloured drawn-thread work from Tarusa; the satin stitch work in contrasting colours produced at Vladimir; the Mstera embroidery with its exquisite, intricate patterns of white satin stitch; the colourful tent-stitch work from the Mari and Chuvash autonomous republics and, finally, the gold embroidery from Torzhok resembling beaten gold.

The art of block printing kerchiefs and shawls, for which Pavlovsky Posad is so famous, has reached real perfection in its decorative patterns. Traditions evolved over centuries are displayed here in an endless variation of rich ornamental motifs, high compositional skill and an impressive variety of colour combinations.