Counted Cross Stitch Camel

Today’s picture is a counted cross stitch project that I completed and had framed. 

This camel seems happy to sit down and rest.  The camel has a saddle on its back and perhaps has been busy giving tourists a ride.

The dromedary camel allows a rider to sit in front of, on top of, or behind the hump.  The two-humped Bactrian camel is saddled between the humps.  

A camel saddle is called a mahawi in Arabic.  The saddle is placed behind the hump and it is supported by a pair of wool or canvas pads positioned on each side of the hump to level the contours of the camel’s back.

Camel saddles helped traders ride the camels without injury, so it was easy to carry goods faster.  A working camel cannot wear a bit and bridle as a horse does.  Its mouth must be free to chew cud.  Instead, a rope for leading the camel is attached to a nose peg which is inserted into a hole near the camel’s nose.  It is like a nose piercing.  

The blanket on my camel reminds me of the traditional red pattern blankets of the Bedouin people.  

Have a great day everyone.

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