Surveys

While a lot of this project is based around autoethnography and my own experiences, having only my perspective felt quite limited. My approach to Ukrainian identity and craft is largely shaped by my family in the (WW2-wave) diaspora and my experiences with Ukrainians in academia. This doesn’t set me up for understanding the experiences of Ukrainians raised in Ukraine and other experiences in the diaspora, especially when trying to include the non-academic part of the community. Drawing concrete conclusions from my experiences alone has felt like an overreach on my part. There are so many different backgrounds, contexts, and experiences that define how other Ukrainians approach their identity and the act of embroidery.

It felt more fair to let those who wanted to talk about it have some voice in my project. Early on, I decided to gather surveys so that other Ukrainian views can also be represented here and so that the reader has access to other opinions beyond my own.

Information about the Surveys

I wrote two survey forms for this project, one in English and another in Ukrainian. Both forms contained information about what the survey was for as well as my contact information in case there was any confusion. These surveys are mostly similar, with some slight changes to account for factors associated with emigration among the diaspora. Besides a brief question on respondents’ regional background, the surveys focused on how they learned embroidery, what types of patterns they use, their relationship with embroidery and identity, and their relationship with other Ukrainian traditions. In asking these questions, my hope has been to learn how other Ukrainians from various backgrounds relate to embroidering and how they contextualize it in their lives. Except for the initial question for consent, the questions were optional and allowed for long responses. Responses were collected digitally, using Google Forms.

To collect responses, I decided to reach out digitally for anonymous participants. Anonymity, in my opinion, tends to be a good way to get honest answers in this area. If a participant didn’t think embroidery was that important, for example, I wanted to ensure that they felt comfortable actually saying that without any expectations; they could simply say so in the form and not face any follow-up questions, disappointment from me, etc. Anonymity and these sorts of quick forms also just tend to work better for a lot of younger people today, so it logistically made sense. When designing the surveys, I also knew that my target respondents were hobbyist embroiderers with Ukrainian heritage, no matter their skill level in embroidery.

Most of my respondents found my surveys through my call for responses on Reddit, particularly the r/ukraina subforum. I did deliberate on where I should post calls for responses for a bit, but this seemed to be the best option in the end for a variety of reasons:

The subforum has a readership of both Ukrainian and English speakers from a variety of backgrounds, so getting a variety of responses seemed likely. Other social media sites, like Facebook, tend to segregate these groups a bit more thoroughly.
For all of its problems, Reddit does have some moderation, so I knew I could post on this site about Ukrainian matters and not face harassment from Russia-supporters. I was facing this possibility on other sites; Tumblr, for example, does have an issue with Russia-supporters harassing Ukrainian posters.
Posting calls for responses on Reddit allowed for the anonymity that I had wanted. When I posted on Reddit, I was able to link readers directly to the surveys. On other social media, like Instagram, I would have most likely had to reach out to participants individually, which jeopardizes my goal of anonymity and might have caused undue pressure on respondents.
Reddit is not an insular community but quite open. Anyone can join the r/ukraina subforum as long as they are respectful. Since my project is on how Ukrainians in general interact with their identity through embroidery, I wanted to reach beyond some carefully curated academic community. Again, my target respondents were hobbyist embroiderers. This type of subforum is more likely to attract hobbyists with a variety of skill levels, from complete novices to advanced embroiderers. Opinions and backgrounds would also vary widely, so the representation of Ukrainian embroiderers here would be more diverse.
It was easy to access a specific community here. Other social media sites tend to be messier with their organization, particularly Facebook and Tumblr. By targeting specific subforums on Reddit, I could actually reach the target respondents with ease.

The only exception is one respondent, whom I contacted through a Facebook group. This member of the group had been enthusiastic about learning to embroider and was willing to participate in this survey when asked.

In the end, I got 11 total responses: 4 on the English-language survey and 7 on the Ukrainian-language survey. Considering this survey was rather intense (requiring some reflection from respondents) and on a niche topic, I’m happy with the amount that I received. The 11 responses had similarities and differences that I recognized and that enhanced both my project and (more significantly) my own understanding of the relationship between embroidering and Ukrainian identity. So, without further ado, here are the responses:

English-Language Survey

This survey was aimed at members of the Ukrainian diaspora who may not necessarily speak Ukrainian. It was opened in March 2024, during which four people consented to participating in this project and responded. Respondents learned about this survey through my post on the social media website, Reddit, particularly r/ukraina, and through the Facebook group BORSCHT TALK CANADA!! I have used an uppercase letter system to distinguish each respondent for this survey. These responses are copied directly from the Google form.


Survey Question	Responses
2. Do you know anything about your Ukrainian family history? This may include the region your family is from, when and why they left Ukraine, whether your branch of the family is still in contact with relatives in Ukraine, and other details you find relevant to your Ukrainian background / identity. Specific details (such as names and dates) are not required here, just a general overview.	Respondent A: Yes - Tirnopol, left between 30s-60s to come to Canada. Not in contact with relatives in Ukraine. Respondent B: Yes - I was born in Ukraine myself and have an understanding of my family’s history and location going back about two generations. I still have several members of my family living in Ukraine. Respondent C: Im a 3rd generation Ukrainian American, I dont know what region my grandparents were from, but i know they left Europe during ww2. Respondent D: Not very much, only that we were from a small village near Odessa. All of our family was forced to flee Ukraine. The ones that didn’t escape ended up in camps in Siberia.
3. Do you know if your family carried any particular traditions with them from Ukraine and if/when those traditions ended? For example: your ancestor from Ukraine embroidered and taught this to her daughter, but not to her grandchildren. Language, religion, or other handicrafts may also be may also be considered here, not just embroidery. If traditions skipped a generation and were rekindled later, this is also relevant here.	Respondent A: Yes - Ulrainian language until my mother, embroidery, food, community events Respondent B: Yes, my grandmother did and does preserve many of the traditions of her upbringing, which are also important to her rural lifestyle (ie, subsistence farming and animal raising, pickling, etc). My grandmother passed on these skills to her daughter and because I was partially raised by my grandmother, she passed them on directly to me. Some skills, like recipes and food techniques, were passed onto me as well by my mother. Certain traditions have ended due to lack of necessity, for example, the sewing of clothing from scratch, as cheap clothing is easily obtained in the modern West. Embroidery was one of the skills my grandmother taught me that I carry on in my day to day life. Respondent C: Sure, My Grandmother knew how to sew, make some traditional foods Holubchi, Verenky, Borschch, pyrozhki, paska etc and also made Pysanky. These things were handed down to my mom and aunties. But none of it was taught to my siblings or myself except for cooking some foods. We also didnt learn Ukrainian language. Respondent D: I remember my Grandmother helping me to weave diamond patterns with yarn. I was also given painted wooden eggs by a cousin.
4. How did you learn to embroider - did a relative teach you, were you self-taught, etc.?- If from a relative, did you learn Ukrainian embroidery in particular, or was it more general? Did your relative explain any significance or reasoning for why they embroider?- If you learned outside the family, what inspired you to learn to embroider? Why did you decide to try Ukrainian embroidery in particular?	Respondent A: From my grandmother, cross stitch in traditional patterns from Tirnopol Respondent B: My grandmother taught me to embroider when I was a little girl, and she frequently did it herself before her eyesight prevented her from continuing. Embroidery was an important way of maintaining the traditional aesthetic of embroidered clothing, towels, and pillows. I do not remember what specific styles I was taught, because it happened when I was very little. I picked the practice up again as a young adult after many years of not practicing, and my skills were bolstered by instruction from the internet. I was inspired to pick up the craft again partially because it is a traditional skill from my culture. Respondent C: I taught myself. Respondent D: I learned to cross stitch when I was young. When I lost my father, then the war began, I wanted Ukrainian traditions back. Since I knew how to cross stitch, I sought out traditional Ukrainian motifs and designs, and learned how to design mandalas that spelled out names and phrases in secret symbols.
5. Do you have any particular sources for your Ukrainian embroidery – do you obtain patterns from family members, from your family’s region, and/or from the internet or books? Do you have any other inspirations for your Ukrainian embroidery (such as for events, elements from other cultures, etc.)? How do you choose patterns?	Respondent A: From existing clothing Respondent B: I typically do not embroider traditional designs and materials (linens, for example). I usually embroider on commercially available aida cloth, on patterns from the internet. However, some of the designs I work on contain elements related to Ukraine generally, and many are designed by contemporary Ukrainian pattern designers, who have an active community on websites that sell patterns, particularly Etsy. I choose patterns based on what is workable for my skill level, and appeals to me aesthetically. I like nature scenes, copies of art work such as pop art, and maps. Respondent C: I learned from internet and also from youtube. I mostly just pick patterns i like and think look nice. Respondent D: I found motifs on the internet but then created my own designs that reflect my story, and my family’s story.
6. More broadly, do you find the process of embroidery relevant to your Ukrainian identity? Or do you have any other thoughts about the importance of embroidery to Ukrainian culture and identity?	Respondent A: Yes - we make the same patterns for dance clothes Respondent B: Yes I do. It is meaningful for me to carry on the tradition of needle arts, which has been a core part of the artistic output of my Ukrainian ancestors, and especially of women. I resonate with their desire to beautify their spaces and clothes with embroidery. I feel that this hobby connects me to my heritage, even if my designs are more Westernized/contemporary than traditional embroidery styles. Respondent C: I do very much, altho its perculiar because traditionally it is women that learn these traditions and i am a man. But ever since the 2014 Maidan in Ukraine, i have been becoming more and more interested in my Ukrainian culture. I also enjoy making art and doing crafts, so i thought it would be nice to express my culture thru atwork. So i began to learn about Pysanky, something ive wanted to learn since i was very little, luckily a Ukrainian friend of mine taught me how to write Pysanky. Eventually this evolved into me wanting to learn Ukrainian embroidery. Respondent D: I’m working on a vyshyvanka and intend to make others. Stalin tried to destroy my family. The Cold War forced us to hide our origins. Now I want to wear it on my sleeves. Red and black, blood and grief, threads that tie us together.
7. Do you/your family still observe any other Ukrainian traditions, such as a specific religion, making pysanky, speaking Ukrainian, cooking Ukrainian foods, celebrating Ukrainian holidays, etc.?	Respondent A: Yes - pysanky, food, holidays. My grandparents and older relatives speak Ukrainian at home. Respondent B: Yes to most. While we are not personally religious, we still observe some of the traditional celebrations associated with religious holidays, in particular Svatiy Vechir dinner and psyanky making for Easter. I regularly cook traditional Ukrainian dishes like borscht and try to maintain my language skills. I also try to mix in contemporary takes on traditions, like wearing vyshyvnaky from contemporary fashion brands from Ukraine. Respondent C: Yes I enjoy making Pysanky very much and cooking Ukrainian foods like Verenky and Holubchi. Respondent D: I learned to make pysanky, varenyky, I made a Didukh for Christmas, I make Motanka dolls and I am learning to speak Ukrainian
8. Do you have any other thoughts to add regarding Ukrainian embroidery and/or identity? A response is not required here!	Respondent C: I think its important to preserve these traditions, especially when Ukraine faces the existential crisis of cultural erasure. These artforms are intagiable cultural artifacts that make Ukrainian culture distinct and unique. Respondent D: I love the symbolism in it. Every motif has meaning that reaches through generations back in time. It feels like ancient magic.

Follow-up with Respondent B

After processing the responses, I reached out to respondent B for follow-up questions. Luckily for me, she responded and was extremely helpful during our correspondence. In my questions, I asked more for further clarification on the importance of the act of embroidering for her Ukrainian identity, even if she does not embroider traditional patterns.

To my first question on whether embroidering itself is a part of Ukrainian identity and culture, whether or not a Ukrainian woman uses traditional patterns, respondent B answered yes. She then explained that she wants to try embroidering traditional patterns someday, though she has been hesitant because she finds the historic patterns to be limited in color compared to her more modern taste. I found her following quote also quite insightful:

“Generally speaking I’d say the connection to my culture through the act of embroidery/cross stitch of any kind just makes it a more meaningful hobby for me and gives me more pride in the things that I create. I do have some interest in exploring more traditional designs and techniques, which would be more challenging than what I typically do, so I would consider looking into that sometime in the future.”

At the end of her response, she reiterated that she uses patterns designed by contemporary Ukrainian artists. Or, as she more gracefully phrases it: “a Ukrainian executing a design created by another Ukrainian.”

I find respondent B’s answer here to be insightful and, frankly, a perfect voicing of my own past experiences with embroidering as a Ukrainian. The traditional patterns may not always be easy to embroider or even aesthetically desirable in the modern day. While these patterns are by no means forgotten, the more encouraging fact here is that so many Ukrainians still find personal significance in embroidering itself. I also very much appreciate respondent B’s idea of using only Ukrainian designers; it’s an idea that I will likely be borrowing when I switch back to modern embroidery designs in the future! It is a hopeful sign for Ukrainian culture’s future that embroiderers like respondent B continue to embroider within their community and express their identity through this act. I was absolutely delighted to find this response!

I will emphasize my gratitude to respondent B here for responding to my survey and follow-up questions. Her responses were immensely helpful for understanding how other Ukrainians approach embroidering beyond the historic patterns and continue to keep this tradition alive and well.

Ukrainian-Language Survey

This survey was aimed at Ukrainians who grew up in Ukraine and feel more comfortable speaking Ukrainian. It was opened in March 2024, during which seven people consented to participate and responded. Respondents learned about this survey through my post on the social media website Reddit, particularly on the subforum r/ukraina. I have used a number system to distinguish each respondent for this survey. While the original responses were collected in Ukrainian, Yelyzaveta Farafonova, a professional translator, has translated these responses into English for accessibility. Please note that the italicized text in brackets indicate the translator’s notes, which she has kindly provided for further context.


Survey Questions	Responses
2. Which oblast are you / your family from?	Respondent 1: Kharkiv oblast Respondent 2: Dnipropetrovsk Respondent 3: Ivano-Frankivsk Respondent 4: Volyn Respondent 5: Zaporiz’ka Respondent 6: Kyiv Respondent 7: Ternopil
3. How did you learn to embroider? With relatives, at school, by yourself…? Did you specifically study folk embroidery? If so, was it explained to you why embroidery is important? Were you motivated to learn to embroider?	Respondent 1: My mother and grandmother taught me to embroider. At school, we also had lessons on different embroidery techniques. [girls are often taught embroidery in school as part of Design and Technology classes]. No one actually told me about the importance of embroidery, but I was motivated by the fact that women in my family have always embroidered. In my house, we still have towels, bedsheets, and pillowcases that my great-great-grandmothers embroidered. I was taught to treat them like treasures. Respondent 2: I wasn’t taught that. Modern families don’t make clothes, they buy them in the store. So there is no motivation for me to learn embroidery. Respondent 3: My mother taught me to embroider when I was a child. To create something beautiful and to calm my nerves. Respondent 4: My relatives did embroidery, and I also had a few lessons on it at school Respondent 5: I was taught to embroider at school and at home. I studied folk embroidery specifically at school and was taught the history of embroidery, what kind of embroidery is typical for which regions, and that embroidery is our identity. I was not very motivated and studied it simply out of curiosity. Respondent 6: I learned it at school during Design and Technology classes and then at an art camp. No one among my close relatives embroidered. I didn’t study folk embroidery specifically. Teachers at school and teachers at the camp did not explain why embroidery was important, except for general statements about the importance of preserving Ukrainian cultural traditions and heritage. My main motivation for learning embroidery was the desire to reach the same level of skill as my older female colleagues and more skilled classmates. Respondent 7: In school and at home
4. Where do you find patterns for embroidery? In your family, in your area, or on the internet/books? Do you have other sources of inspiration? How do you choose patterns for embroidery?	Respondent 1: I don’t embroider now. When I did, I used to look for patterns on the Internet. Respondent 3: Everywhere. I used to find them in a specialized store in Lviv, now you can find everything online. My mother still embroiders a lot (but she does embroidery on canvas now, not on shirts). Respondent 4: The patterns are different in each region [of Ukraine], some are handed down [from parents to their children], some patterns were saved, some can be found as old photos on the Internet Respondent 5: I found patterns for embroidery on the Internet and in school textbooks. My inspiration is usually nature and Ukraine. I don’t have a specific strategy for choosing embroidery patterns, I just choose those that look aesthetically pleasing to me. Respondent 6: I choose from the ones available in local shops based on which ones I find pretty. Respondent 7: There are many patterns, sometimes you just take an old embroidery and embroider a copy of it with your own additions to fit a particular item.
5. Do you consider embroidery important for your Ukrainian identity? In your opinion, is embroidery an important component of Ukrainian identity and culture?	Respondent 1: 100% Respondent 2: Yes, it is important. It’s kind of like “pixel art”, but a local version of it. I like things that have local ornaments embroidered on them. Respondent 3: Yes, of course. And it has even more special importance for Ukrainian women and girls. Respondent 4: Embroidery seems to be not popular and has been actively destroyed, like everything else in my country… [as a part of Ukrainian cultural genocides by USSR/Russia]. I think it is important, but most people will choose to just buy a ready-made vyshyvanka Respondent 5: Yes. Yes. Respondent 6: I recognize the important place of embroidery in Ukrainian culture, but I do not associate it with my own national identity. For me, embroidery is primarily a pleasant hobby for relaxation. Respondent 7: Yes, embroidery is a process of delicate manual labor, with a punishment for mistakes (needle prick) and a reward for patience (a beautiful finished product). It is a great tool for education, hobby, and art.
6. Do you practice other folk traditions (holidays, pysanky, etc.)?	Respondent 1: Yes, definitely. Respondent 2: No. Respondent 3: For the most part, yes, although I have been living abroad for many years. Respondent 4: Of course. Respondent 5: Partially Respondent 6: I don’t practice any other traditions, except when I participate in Ukrainian cultural events abroad to advocate for Ukraine. Respondent 7: Yes, of course
7. Do you have any other thoughts on this topic?	Respondent 3: Embroidery should be included in the school curriculum, at least to learn it as a skill, but better for learning embroidery styles. Respondent 4: I think embroidery will remain very unpopular, and it is difficult to popularize it when there is a war for survival, but vyshyvankas are still popular and will most likely be supported by people Respondent 7: Children perceive cross-stitch as a game or a mosaic. When you get married, embroidery becomes much more important, especially if you receive something that was embroidered by a loved one specifically for you. Purchased embroidered objects are used mostly for casual decor. Objects that were embroidered by hand are used for big holidays or events [e.g. putting a handmade embroidered tablecloth on the table for display during Christmas]

Reflections

Beyond the purposes of my MA thesis, I prefer to let my respondents speak for themselves. I do want to acknowledge here that, based on the responses, it’s very likely that Respondent 2 wasn’t clear about the survey’s purpose, as they do not seem to be an embroiderer, but I include their opinion here all the same for some perspective by the non-embroiderer. Otherwise, there are a variety of responses and preferences here that represent many different backgrounds, contexts, and opinions regarding embroidering and Ukrainian identity, which may interest the reader. While reviewing these responses, I identified two points that I wanted to expand on here.

First, there is a startlingly wide variety of perspectives represented in the community, particularly in the Ukrainian-language survey. When I first saw this diversity, I thought some of this to be region-based (Western Ukrainians generally tend to be tied more to Ukrainian nationalism than Eastern Ukrainians), but this stereotype didn’t appear to fit when looking at the individual responses. I’m also hesitant to say that this is a matter of Ukrainians in Ukraine vs. diaspora sentiments, as enthusiasm for embroidering can be found in both groups. Individual experiences and views are likely a significant factor here; after all, Respondent 4 from Volyn (northwestern Ukraine) is starkly pessimistic compared to others, regardless of region. Much more comprehensive research on this matter would, of course, would be useful to have someday, but this is a good start for seeing how other Ukrainian embroiderers view and assess this practice. It is a positive thing to see that so many of my respondents found some significance in embroidering in the wider context of Ukrainian community, culture, and (usually) identity, regardless of the various patterns and teachers mentioned in the responses. Even if embroidering is declining in popularity, there is some awareness of its connection to Ukrainian heritage (even among non-embroiderers like Respondent 2) and a sense of regret that it is not taught and practiced more, as expressed by Respondents 3 and 4. It’s also very interesting to note how it has become one significant point of reference for the diaspora to reconnect to the Ukrainian culture, for which I think this entire blog testifies.

Second, respondents identified several different reasons for why embroidering is important to them. Embroidery is often directly tied to Ukrainian culture and heritage, as explained by respondent B. Other embroiderers emphasize how it has connected them with their community, such as ancestors and friends, and that their community is their prime motivation for embroidering. This certainly is a promising sign of how embroidering connects crafters to collective cultural memory (my ancestors embroider, and therefore I embroider) and contributes to Ukrainian community-building today (my friends/colleagues and I embroider). Others speak to how embroidery helps maintain other aspects of their Ukrainian identity (such as respondent A, a Ukrainian dancer). And others talk about how they see embroidering as a way to maintain their well-being due to it being calming. For one reason or another, embroidering has come up as a comfortable state of being. This is an attitude that I have heard several times from Estonian knitters, and I’m not particularly surprised to find that embroidering takes plays that role for many Ukrainian textile crafters. It’s a promising sign to read that many Ukrainian embroiderers also find meaning in the craft beyond just the preservation of their heritage.

I really appreciate the embroiderers who took the time to answer my surveys. Personally, their responses have helped me collect my own thoughts on how crafting contributes to Ukrainian identity and other areas of life. I also just really appreciate this opportunity to add other experiences and thoughts to my own, as other voices help level out my own optimism in the craft that may not always be shared in the community. I hope the reader may also find some insight in their responses and gain insight into how they interact with their own crafts.