The design and ‘sisnado’ (transferring specific patterns onto fabric to be embroidered) 

Before starting to embroider, the fabric had to be taken for ‘sisnado’; this is one of the most important stages of traditional embroidery in La Palma. Even before the needle touches the fabric, there is already a whole artisanal process that determines the final result. 

It all began with the design; a good design was passed down as a family treasure. The subsequent marking was a skill not everyone mastered: after drawing the design on paper, it was perforated, placed on top of the fabric and dusted, leaving a dotted pattern on the fabric.  

The marking was done in blue, and the material used was what many embroiderers called:  ‘añil’ (indigo). 

Throughout the tour, we will show you some examples of the most common embroidery styles on the island of La Palma. 

–    Blind stitch. 

–    Devil’s stitch. 

–    Raised embroidery. 

–    Cross-stitch. 

–    Richelieu. 

And other techniques such as crochet.