Krolevets overshot weaving (Krolevets rushnyky)

What the sources say

Krolevets overshot weaving is a traditional manual technique for creating rushnyky on a loom without templates. Artisans in Krolevets, Sumy region, form geometric patterns by lifting and skipping specific warp threads. Classic pieces display red ornaments on a white background, including flowers and double-headed birds.

In 2021, thirteen masters practiced this craft in Krolevets, with eleven belonging to the National Union of Masters of Folk Art. Around twenty students were learning the technique, and a local vocational school employed three weaving teachers. An artisan can apply six different texture techniques to a single pattern element.

The 2022 war disrupted the local market and education programs in the Sumy region. As of 2025, the primary weavers continue their work from home. Masters such as Олена Петрова and Валентина Гецевич teach the craft to their granddaughters, while the local museum offers express training courses to preserve the tradition.