I’m aware that I’ll be throwing in a bunch of Ukrainian and also the odd needlework-specific word.  Here are explanations/translations.  Appearing in no particular order, to be updated as the site progresses.  If you come across a word somewhere within the site that hasn’t made it to this page, please shout out!

~oOo~

sorochka  pl. sorochky;  сорочка, сорочки

Quite literally meaning “shirt” this is the term used for an embroidered shirt.  Although cut, styling and the classic location of embroidery differs, the term refers to both women’s and men’s shirts.  Another common term for these heard in Ukraine is vyshyvanka  pl. vyshyvanky (вишиванка, вишиванки).

vyshyttia; вишиття

The Ukrainian word for “embroidery” yay!

rushnyk  pl. rushnyky;  рушник, рушники

A long, narrow piece with symmetrical embroidery at each end.  Rushnyky are used in ceremonies – at weddings, welcomings, engagements – and are also hung above icons, portraits and doorways and the ends fanned out so the design is seen to its fullest.  See GENERATIONS RUSHNYK ~ ПОКОЛІННЯ РУШНИК.

servetka  pl. servekty;  серветка, серветки

These are either square or rectangular pieces with embroidered design around all four sides.  They can be very small or very large and anywhere in between.  A classic use for a servetka is covering the trad Easter basket filled with food for blessing on Easter Saturday.  They’re also used under objects, on surfaces – very versatile, the servetka. You’ll see how on one of my project pages…  See SERVETKA – AN EMBROIDERY PROJECT BY KX.

nastilnyk  pl. nastilnyky;  настільник, настільники

A table cloth, usually embroidery located around the edges… a lot of work in this.  Not something that I have so far undertaken…

khrestyk  pl. khrestyky;  хрестик, хрестики

Cross stitches.  See FLORAL BOOKMARKS FROM KYIVSCHYNA.

pivkhrestyk;  півхрестик

Embroidering in half-cross stitches.

nyzynka;  низинка

A very beautiful embroidery technique giving clean diagonal lines and intricate designs. It is embroidered from the reverse side, is prone to mistake-making and much unpicking!  See ON NYZYNKA AND COZINESS.

paska  pl. pasky (and you’ll want more than one);  паска, паски

High in yolks and yeast, these are specific round loaves of bread made at Easter and blessed on Easter Saturday in a basket filled with food and covered by embroidery.  See MY PASKA RECIPE.

Velykden’;  Великдень

Easter for Ukrainians.

Merezhka;  мережка

An embroidery technique whereby a series of parallel threads are pulled out and the remaining perpendicular threads are embroidered together or embroidered over to create a lace-like effect.  See FOR MY FRIEND FOR HER WEDDING.

Ochka;  очка

Embroidering a square or round shape.  The stitches radiate from a centre and when pulled a little tightly, open up a small hole in the middle.  Очка literally means “little eyes”.  See FOR MY FRIEND FOR HER WEDDING.

Hutsulka Ksenia;  Гуцулка Ксеня

A song, to the tempo of a tango, about a girl called Ksenia from the Hutsul region being loved and then abandoned for another girl.

Rizdvo; Різдво

Uki Christmas, a 7th of January affair.

Pysanky;  писанки

Ukrainian decorated Easter eggs, often done with wax and dyes but other techniques are also used.  See EASTER SERVETKA.

Velyka subota;  Велика субота

Ukrainian Easter Saturday, when baskets of food including paska and pysanky are take to church covered by embroidered servetky.

Derevoriz’ba;  дереворізьба

Wood-carving, one of the core Uki folk arts.

~oOo~