Discover Phulkari – A Beginner Embroidery Experience
Saturday, November 14, 2026
1-4 PM
$40 | General
$30 | Textile Museum Members
Step into the world of Phulkari, a traditional South Asian embroidery practice meaning “flower work,” and learn the history, technique, and stories behind this vibrant textile art form. This beginner-friendly workshop begins with an introduction to the origins of Phulkari, its cultural significance, and its connection to generations of women who preserved stories through embroidery.
Participants will experience a visual presentation about Phulkari and explore the artist’s personal journey of learning this craft from artisans in Northern Pakistan. Rafia will share her own Phulkari pieces and discuss how traditional embroidery continues to evolve in contemporary spaces.
Participants will learn the signature darning stitch used in Phulkari embroidery and create their own embroidered textile piece to take home. Their finished work can be displayed in an embroidery hoop, transformed into an appliqué, used as a patchwork element, or presented as a small wall hanging.
In this Phulkari workshop, participants will explore the traditional embroidery known for its vibrant colours and intricate patterns that define this embroidery style. Phulkari is a South Asian embroidery technique, meaning flower work. Rafia Shafiq has hosted more than 50 workshops across the Greater Toronto Area teaching craft techniques to foster appreciation for fading crafts and encourage its continuity.
By the end of the workshop, each participant will have the opportunity to learn the basic techniques and stitches used to create your own embroidered piece, which can be appliquéd onto a shirt or scarf, framed, or displayed as a wall hanging.
All materials are supplied by the artist but if you require reading glasses, it is highly recommended to bring them to this workshop.
Facilitator Bio:
Oakville-based artist dedicated to promoting the intricate art of phulkari embroidery. Phulkari is a South Asian embroidery technique, meaning flower work. Each textile tells its own story, and Phulkari is the language of my craft. Over the past seven years, I’ve hosted more than 50 workshops across the GTA, including at the Textile Museum of Canada, the Art Gallery of Burlington, the University of Toronto, Contemporary Textile Studio and others.
I have successfully built my business ‘Dhaga Art’ in Canada, Dhaga meaning thread in Urdu language. My work is renowned for the unique custom embroidered hoops, and I have carved a niche in the North American market by crafting one-of-a-kind products. In my recent workshop highlights for Ontario Culture Days, I was selected by the municipalities to lead four phulkari workshops in Oakville, Milton, Georgetown and Burlington. The workshops were highly appreciated, and I won the award for the best collaborative program.
This workshop is presented in recognition of Monica Gupta and her generous support of the Textile Museum of Canada.
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