Nakshi Kantha embroidered quilt said to be indigenous to Bangladesh.
The term nakshi kantha, popularly used in Bangladesh, is found even in
medieval literature. The name nakshi kantha became particularly
popular among literate people after the publicaton of jasimuddin’s
poem Naksi Kanthar Math (1929). In west bengal, all kanthas, both
plain and embroidered, are referred to as kantha. In East Bengal
dialects the kantha is also variously referred to as kheta or kentha. In Bihar and parts of West Bengal, the kantha is also known as sujni. Made from old cloth, discarded saris, dhotis, and lungis, kanthas range from utilitarian quilts to exquisitely embroidered heirlooms. Depending on the thickness required, three to seven saris are layered and quilted with the simple running stitch, which typically produces a rippled effect. Traditionally, thread drawn from coloured sari borders would be used to embroider motifs or border patterns imitative of sari borders. At present, embroidery skeins are used for motifs and border patterns. Yarn used for weaving is also used for kantha embroidery.