One of the most beautiful traditional embroidery of Iran, which goes back to Sassanid dynasty, is “Dah Yek Douzi” or sewing “Dah Yek”. “Dah Yek” literally means one tenth of something and is a kind of embroidery where the needle and thread penetrate one point 10 times or ten plies of thread are attached to fabric by a special kind of fastener.

This method of embroidery creates a special sight and creates an embossed vision. Dah Yek is used to ornate margins of clothing, “Sofreh Ghand” (a piece of linen on which sugar is arranged for ceremonies like weddings), mirror frames, exquisite curtains, bundles, head wears, decorative tableaus, cover of holy Quran, money bags, pencil holders and many other objects. To make Dah Yek usually satin, Termeh (a kind of Persian hand woven cloth) and velvet fabrics, that can survive heavy needle work, are used. Patterns such as “Bazoubandi”, “Band-e Rumi”, “Ghabghabi”, “Shah Abbasi” or “Anari” (pomegranate), “Afshani”, “Goldani”, “Mehrabi”, geometric, figurative and animal motifs are used. As for the history of Dah Yek, since its principal material is Golabatoon thread, its history has intertwined with the history of Golabatoon. History of Ancient Iran and art during Medes, Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanid dynasty shows, and writings of historians and discovered cylinder seals from treasuries in Persepolis prove that Golabatoon, Dah Yek and Malileh (Filigree) have existed in Iran from Achaemenid dynasty and have evolved during each era.

The importance of decorating military and official clothing enhanced art of Dah Yek, and along with products in which golden threads were used, Dah Yek was considered as one of the export goods of the time. During Islamic era, after Iranian artists in city of Susa and Shushtar were commissioned to prepare twelve pieces of curtain for Kaaba, they began using the art of Dah Yek to ornate curtains.

In addition, this embroidery decorated covers of holy shrines. Safavid dynast witnessed flourishing of Dah Yek, and it was around that time that artists began signings and sewing their own names on their creations. In addition to highly detailed curtains and bundles, interesting tableaus have remained from Safavid era that showcase unique skills and abilities of the Safavid artists now kept in museums. Dah Yek can be used solely or incorporate sequins, pearls, glass beads, stones, “Naqadeh”, “Sharafeh Douzi”, “Pateh Douzi”, Silk work, Sormeh embroidery and filigree. This kind of embroidery is very common in cities like Qazvin, Isfahan, Tehran, Yazd, Kashan and Bandar Abbas.