Apricot Satin Chinese Bellyband with Phoenix, Vase and Lotus Motifs Front

The application of “three blue shades stitches” technique is what makes this item special. Named for its palette, this technique which is often seen on garments of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911 AD) employs threads in multiple (“three” in the name means plural as opposed to its literal meaning) shades of blue, or in rare cases a few other colors are also used to set off the effect with blue remaining the main tone, to create motifs with whatever stitches, satin, seed, gold couching or any others. While as far as this item is concerned, all the above-mentioned three kinds of stitches were used to realize the three blue shades embroidery, with satin stitches floral patterns, seed stitches for toddlers, lotus leaves and phoenix wings and gold couching stitches for tail features of phoenix as well as edges of vases.