Tel Kırma Needle

Tel kırma (Bartın work) is the traditional Turkish embroidery in which flat silver or gold-coloured metal strip is broken on tulle; passing and breaking the strip takes a special sharp, double-eyed tel kırma needle, listed here. The tulle is in Tel Kırma Tulle, the strip in Tel Kırma Wire, all needles in Tel Kırma Needles.

How Tel Kırma Is Worked

Stretch the tulle tightly in a frame and thread the strip through the needle's double eye; push the needle down through a hole and break the strip to lock it, folding it over itself at every stitch while counting the motif. The sharp tip passes the tulle threads without strain and the double eye stops the strip slipping. Beginners start with coarse tulle and thick strip; the finished piece is steamed lightly from the back, never ironed.