A cluster is defined as a geographic concentration(a city/town/few adjacent villages and their adjoining areas)of units producing near similar products and facing common opportunities and threats. An artisan cluster is defined as geographically concentrated(mostly in villages/townships)household units producing handicraft/handloom products.In a typical cluster,such producers often belong to a traditional community,producing the long-established products for generations.Indeed,many artisan clusters are centuries old Artisan.

About Mandalsera Cluster:-

Mandalsera Cluster falls under Uttarakhand State in Bageshwar district.

The Mandalsara cluster is able to form 300 plus Artisans & 12 SHGs supporting the strong work force.The mobilisation gains momentum day by day.

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Embroidery:-

The term embroidery is basically defined as the method of ornamenting a piece of clothing with needlework;or embellishment with fanciful details.Thus embroidery is regarded as the art of decorating textiles using a needle and thread.Embroidery of Uttarakhand has earned its fame because of the versatility of creations by the artisans.The artisans of Uttarakhand use an array of stitches that are used to decorate the items.The most important centres of embroidery work of Uttarakhand are located in the Uttarakhand regions and are admired for the creative excellence.The embroidery of Uttarakhand is one of the main sources of income for different other communities.Today, even though embroidery is amongst the most traditional methods of decorating clothes,it is still as popular.Designs may date back to ancient times,or the modern geometric modern day designs,but all the same embroidery continues to be one of the common ways of decorating clothes.In fact,specialists feel that today,there is much more scope for creativity and innovation,because of the acceptance level.

This has ornamentation of tikris and beads,which make them,look attractive.This type of embroidery is done on a frame of wooden beams.The fabric is worked upon with a long needle,threads,tikris and beads.Multi sized frames are used,usually about 1.5 feet high,to secure the cloth on which the design is sketched with a stencil. One hand secures the thread under the cloth to the needle while the other hand moves the needle on top of the cloth with ease.Decorative tikris and beads are attached to the cloth with the needle.

Another embroidery pattern is the jaali or net embroidery in geometric or floral shapes and is done by pulling the warp and weft threads and fixing them with minute buttonhole stitches.The finished products dominantly comprise items for household use like curtains,bedspreads,furniture covers and dress material.

Raw Materials used:-

The fabric is worked upon with a long needle,threads,tikris and beads.Multi sized frames are used, usually about 1.5 feet high,to secure the cloth on which the design is sketched with a stencil. One hand secures the thread under the cloth to the needle while the other hand moves the needle on top of the cloth with ease.

Process:-

As embroidery is not so technical craft to follow procedure but then also small process like:

1. The motif is made on the tracing screen for symmetrical marking and uniformity,like the Khaka.
2. The motifs are marked on the fabric with a marking mixer(liquid) for embroidery work.
3. Now set the marked fabric very tight from all directions.(Saree,Dress materials,etc.)On Wooden frame(it can be done without frame also).
4. It will work easier to do embroidery with the help of frame to reduce tension and get pucker less product.
5. The desired motif is neatly embroidered with different stitches(Pakko,Kachho,Soof,Rabari,kharek etc)to  achieve desired motif.
6. The result can be many colors and is easy to make.

Set the fabric(Saree,Dress,material,etc.)on Wooden frame(it can be done without frame also) according to the design with desired allowance for the product.The motif is made the tracing screen for symmetrical making and uniformity,like the Khaka.The motif is marked with a marking mixer in a liquid form (Kerosene and gali powder) whether for embroidery the desired motif is neatly embroidery with different stitches to achieve desired motif.

Embroidery designs are prepared by fixing small round shaped mirrors to the material with the help of the buttonhole stitch,the outline being sketched by hand.Silken thread is used for the stitching done in stem or herringbone,closely worked.Flowers and creepers are patterned against a dark background.

Techniques:-

Techniques vary with the community and region.The term embroidery is basically defined as the method of ornamenting a piece of clothing with needlework; or embellishment with fanciful details. Thus embroidery is regarded as the art of decorating textiles using a needle and thread.This includes the hand and machine embroidery methods.And till date,hand embroidery continues to be an expensive and time-consuming method.However,in spite of this it is preferred because of the intricacy of the handiwork involved.

The basic techniques an embroiderer uses includes:-

1. Cross stitch
2. Crewel work
3. Quilting

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How to reach:-

The capital city of Dehradun has its own domestic airport named Jolly Grant Airport. Located at the outskirts of the city, the airport lies only 25kms away. Daily flight operates to and from Delhi, which is the nearest international airport. Delhi is connected by air to all the major Indian cities like: Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata etc.A few prominent cities, which have road connections to Dehradun, are: Agra (381kms), Delhi (235kms), Jaipur (493kms), Lucknow (582kms).Dehradun itself is a key railway station in northern part of India. Almost all metro cities in India like: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata have direct trains to Dehradun. Several important trains also connect the city with Varanasi, Lucknow , Mussoorie and so on.