Colcha: Embroidered Connections

An embroidery method that is traced back to the 1700s in New Mexico is the focus of a tradition-rich exhibit called “Colcha: Embroidered Connections.”

Colcha, a single and versatile stitch, has succeeded in connecting people of different continents, cultures, and generations. The pieces on exhibit have become known as colchas, as well, synonymous with the stitch used exclusively on them. Colcha is a Spanish term for “bed covering.”

The exhibit features about 20 pieces including 14 from the Albuquerque Museum, the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, and the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art in Santa Fe. The other items are from private collections.

The colcha technique is believed to have been brought to what is now New Mexico by Spanish settlers. Colcha embroidery, which is defined by a specific type of stitching, was used early on mostly for bed coverings, altar cloths and later, clothing. But now the technique also is used to create decorative arts for the home.