Folk Arts - The Thread of Life: Hmong Needlework

Compiled by Pang Xiong

 

Paj Ntaub Txiav - Reverse Appliqué

“Hello, my name is Xiz Thao. In Laos, I lived in a small camp called Ban La Xeng. Sewing has been my main interest since I was 6 yrs old. Every young girl in my village was known for her work. Sewing was my second hobby, besides playing. Now I am making what is called ‘Sev’ (apron). It is pronounced ‘Shay’.

 

Reverse appliqué is one of the hardest kinds of sewing in my culture. Out of 100, only 5 to 6 people can make an apron like I am making, the cuffs for sleeves and the two stripes on the front of the skirt. I learned reverse appliqué when I was 14 years old. Reverse appliqué can only be cut with small, sharp scissors. I can also make the cross-stitch (which is one of the techniques that we Hmong women learned from the Mien in Laos).”

 

Laug Hais – Needle-weaving

“Hello, my name is Xee Vang. I learned to sew weaving stitches last year in California from my two younger sisters. When I first learned, it was really hard. County how many threads to weave is difficult. Not so many young women my age could do weaving-stitches. I learned that weaving stitches were more confusing, but more exciting than cross-stitches. I am now making a head band for my son. I do enjoy doing this because I learned that continuing to sew using different techniques will keep our tradition alive and pass it on to younger generations.”

 

Paj Ntaub Tib Neeg – Story cloth

“Hello, my name is Mai Xiong. I learned to make people-embroidery about 8 years ago in Ban Vinai, Thailand. I learned from my mother, Mai Yang, and also from my friends. Here, I am making people-embroidery for a small pillow case. People-embroidery was very popular back in the refugee camps in the 1980’s in Thailand. Many of our Hmong women made people-embroidery blankets, pillow cases and many other things to sell in order to survive in Thailand, because there is no job available for refugees there. People-embroidery always tells a story from our culture, or tells about Hmong people in Laos, how we lived.”

 

Paj Co – Single-stitch

“Hi, my name is Xa-Mee. I learned how to sew from my sister-in-law in a camp called Ban La Xeng, in Laos. I didn't learn to sew until I had 4 children, when I was 20. My mother, Mai Yang, was a tailor. Now I am making what is called ‘Paj Co’ (single-stitch). It is pronounced ‘Pa-chaw’. This kind of stitch was adapted from the Mien tribal people.

 

The reason why we Hmong women do all sorts of techniques of sewing is that our ancestors wore these clothes from generation to generation, and now are passing this kind of sewing on to us. Bright and attractive is the style we like.”

 

Paj Ntaub Ntawm Laug – Cross-stitch

“Hello, my name is Dou Vang. In Laos I lived in a small city called Sayaboury. Sewing was one of the things we little girls thought was interesting back then. I started to sew when I was 7 years old. My mother, Blia Ch, was a great tailor; she taught me how to sew. It wasn't until I was 9 years old that I could really make something on my own. Here I am making what is called a ‘Sev’ (apron) for my daughter, Xia. This is a cross-stitch apron which usually take me a couple of months to make. This one is easier to make than others, so it will probably takes me another 4 weeks to finish. I also know other stitch techniques, like reverse appliqué.”

 

^ - next article: From a Hmong Village to America: Needlework Survives in a New World an interview with Chia Thao by Ann Tippit