Kantha embroidery is practiced in West Bengal mostly by the rural women. It is a very popular and traditional art and craft form and every woman in Bengal is said to own a few Kantha products, either handed down from past by tradition or simply because of their liking for this beautiful and detailed form of ornamentation.
Running stitch is mainly used in alternate or parallel repeats as per the design requirement. Beautiful patterns of flowers, animals, birds and geometrical shapes, as well as themes from everyday activities are embroidered mainly on silk and cotton, however, these days this embroidery is done on various other fabrics too. The running stitch on the cloth gives it a slight wrinkled and wavy effect which gives any fabric a different texture unlike other types of embroideries. The colors used are generally warm like red, orange, mustard, gold, however other colors look beautiful too.
Here are a few pictures that depict the style in which Kantha is traditionally shaped.
Patterns, Colors and Design 
Thank you for your amazing images and thorough blog.
I am in awe and so pleased that I came across you on the internet.
_svala
Thanks Svala!