The Toda Embroidery is an intricate form of needle-weaving, done on a Pootkhull(zh)y in continuous bands in lengthwise strips, rather than across the width of the Pootkhull(zh)y.

The Toda Embroidery is done by the people of Toda tribe. The toda tribe is the most ancient and unusual communities of the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. The Toda Embroidery is hand made only by the Toda women.

Toda Embroidery is reversible, so one can use both sides. The Todas consider the �rough� obverse side as the right side, with its generous looping of threads that is the display side and the not apparent far neater, reverse side. However, the outsiders feel quite the opposite.

The Toda word for an embroidery motif is �pukhoor� and the traditional motifs draw inspiration from birds, insects, animals, flowers, nature, and inanimate objects.

Apart from clothes, nowadays Toda embroidery is used for adorning a range of products like pouches, spectacle cases, wall decors, luncheon sets, table cloths, table mats, and other similar accessories, bedspreads, runners, some shawls and dupattas (veils).

The designs or patterns of the Toda Embroidery are mostly symbolic ranging from floral motif to animals and human figures.

Uniqueness

• The hand made Toda Embroidery is reversible, so one can use both sides.
• The main and only stitch used in this embroidery is darning stitch, done from the back of the fabric.
• The motifs on Toda Embroidery are inspired from animals, flowers, insects, birds, architectural designs, etc.
• Motifs are embroidered by counting the warp and weft threads of the coarsely woven fabric.
• Geographical & climatic conditions add to the refinement of the desired shades of colors.

Additional information