![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QMXMB4EKHRCSXBWHDXBWZAMMTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=983d72f1fc645637c68380f7fede839388e51ebcb3eb1c0e229364b1b51ff05a&width=400&height=225)
Cross stitching was traditionally used on soft furnishings, but Varma believes it is an art form that belongs on pictures too
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TNUPANHLJ5F7TLPHCCWDTQG6RQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d1813e23d4eef4dc1124c8bb7ce7a289b4d4ec3ac34085e938f3502fcbe68f4&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi resident Nira Varma with her cross-stitch painting entitled Lady of the Rhine. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VRH5YX35UNFBTH2CKNLZX37GII.jpg?smart=true&auth=4cc02f53150802b6493658d130788b4cbe8efe22059e96a15bceaf6b7b2021a1&width=400&height=225)
Varma as been cross stitching since she she was a little girl and has created nearly 100 pieces
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SDWO52WEJZDO5BKZNDXPAQ32FA.jpg?smart=true&auth=ae1be8e77fcc87e6603d2c9dd7febaa98fec8a682ac0d94d950c37e3bad54832&width=400&height=225)
Each work can take anywhere between 10 months to a year to complete
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CGMWV7RGUNDFDH3K7QVQ6FGTEM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8afbfdb710b0b048b5d5f8d091bffd88f2ad5e5d96fcf6a1c935fe83bd614383&width=400&height=225)
Autumn Goddess took 19 months to make using various cross-stitch techniques and is the largest piece by Varma
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D4SDXMERWZDKLOV3QQM5P5FRZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a51d253a8934847e84b18e09bf7ebb6d393d08d511d8c770bef69559099a7060&width=400&height=225)
Varma cross stitching in the comfort of her home, but she has also cross stitched while travelling on long-haul flights
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/COL67WRRLJEMHGSPFLXQ4BLUQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1c1144146c24d9e2cd3c04b2971f18516219dd187099bd5b0041177b71210b60&width=400&height=225)
Cross stitching is a form of thread embroidery that involves creating X-shaped stitches on a piece of evenly woven fabric
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7KIKVPHS3FH73OQB7A5E35A4KQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=013fcae89a2db52958d7abadf64607b756cd8c6da6d5aa62832f4a1aa521c069&width=400&height=225)
The materials used for cross stitching include diagrams and threads
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZHB3OWFTT5CWDGNZR4BPUMX6RQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=85239fb6f40c028d2e5d9c0410801309133d969d8dfb945ade6c38f935ecd717&width=400&height=225)
Varma chooses an image, prints it on an A3-size sheet then squares it off into 10 by 10 squares and then transfers on to the fabric that will be cross stitched
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5CAKPFDAB5AITDITASC3PL54PU.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb1716b5eb0cc5b68d3c58d1d6225db16ce31808ef54c62f6822e10975487d67&width=400&height=225)
Alternative Reality by Varma
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QMXMB4EKHRCSXBWHDXBWZAMMTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=983d72f1fc645637c68380f7fede839388e51ebcb3eb1c0e229364b1b51ff05a&width=400&height=225)
Cross stitching was traditionally used on soft furnishings, but Varma believes it is an art form that belongs on pictures too
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TNUPANHLJ5F7TLPHCCWDTQG6RQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d1813e23d4eef4dc1124c8bb7ce7a289b4d4ec3ac34085e938f3502fcbe68f4&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi resident Nira Varma with her cross-stitch painting entitled Lady of the Rhine. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VRH5YX35UNFBTH2CKNLZX37GII.jpg?smart=true&auth=4cc02f53150802b6493658d130788b4cbe8efe22059e96a15bceaf6b7b2021a1&width=400&height=225)
Varma as been cross stitching since she she was a little girl and has created nearly 100 pieces
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SDWO52WEJZDO5BKZNDXPAQ32FA.jpg?smart=true&auth=ae1be8e77fcc87e6603d2c9dd7febaa98fec8a682ac0d94d950c37e3bad54832&width=400&height=225)
Each work can take anywhere between 10 months to a year to complete
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CGMWV7RGUNDFDH3K7QVQ6FGTEM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8afbfdb710b0b048b5d5f8d091bffd88f2ad5e5d96fcf6a1c935fe83bd614383&width=400&height=225)
Autumn Goddess took 19 months to make using various cross-stitch techniques and is the largest piece by Varma
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D4SDXMERWZDKLOV3QQM5P5FRZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a51d253a8934847e84b18e09bf7ebb6d393d08d511d8c770bef69559099a7060&width=400&height=225)
Varma cross stitching in the comfort of her home, but she has also cross stitched while travelling on long-haul flights
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/COL67WRRLJEMHGSPFLXQ4BLUQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1c1144146c24d9e2cd3c04b2971f18516219dd187099bd5b0041177b71210b60&width=400&height=225)
Cross stitching is a form of thread embroidery that involves creating X-shaped stitches on a piece of evenly woven fabric
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7KIKVPHS3FH73OQB7A5E35A4KQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=013fcae89a2db52958d7abadf64607b756cd8c6da6d5aa62832f4a1aa521c069&width=400&height=225)
The materials used for cross stitching include diagrams and threads
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZHB3OWFTT5CWDGNZR4BPUMX6RQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=85239fb6f40c028d2e5d9c0410801309133d969d8dfb945ade6c38f935ecd717&width=400&height=225)
Varma chooses an image, prints it on an A3-size sheet then squares it off into 10 by 10 squares and then transfers on to the fabric that will be cross stitched
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5CAKPFDAB5AITDITASC3PL54PU.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb1716b5eb0cc5b68d3c58d1d6225db16ce31808ef54c62f6822e10975487d67&width=400&height=225)
Alternative Reality by Varma
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QMXMB4EKHRCSXBWHDXBWZAMMTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=983d72f1fc645637c68380f7fede839388e51ebcb3eb1c0e229364b1b51ff05a&width=400&height=225)
Cross stitching was traditionally used on soft furnishings, but Varma believes it is an art form that belongs on pictures too
Photo Essay: Abu Dhabi artist paints pictures in cross stitches
Nira Varma's detailed images take months of painstaking work
Khushnum Bhandari
16 February, 2024
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