CRAFTS OF PAKISTAN

CRAFTS

An Activity involving skill in making things by hand.

● Art Form
● Creative Act
● Static + Functionality
● Visual Pleasure
CRAFTS OF PUNJAB
● Phulkari
● Woodwork
● Wooden Architecture of Chiniot
● Truck Art
● Khussas
● Piris
● Parandas
● Rag dolls
● Jewellery in Punjab
● Gota Kinari of Multan
● Basketry
PHULKARI
● Silk thread used in an interesting form to create specific embroidered angular patterns
on a piece of rough khaddar cloth. The end product is called Phulkari.
● It is used as a chaddar or orhni of red or blue country woven cotton cloth.
● The patterns are always embroidered in pure floss or raw un spun silk.
● Old women and young girls do this job for their own pleasure and they never do it for
sale purposes.
WOODWORK
WOODEN CRAFT IN ARCHITECTURE
In Punjab , the wood work carved or painted always been of two major varaities

Architectural or free standing articles for daily use.

Wooden in-lay work

● This technique require a lot of skill. The surface of the object is made smooth with plane and
sandpaper.
● The design is outlined on the smooth surface followed by cutting grooves in the surface, filling
grooves with brass wire or strips of bones.
● The brass wire or bone strips then hammered down into grooves and is made flush with the
surface of the object .
● Finally the entire surface is polished and brass work is buffed to an excellent shine.
 Wood Carving
● Wood work and carpentry is considered as one of the oldest crafts of the world and wood
carving is one of the oldest crafts of Subcontinent.
● The raw material used for wood work is Shisham wood, Kikar, Mango wood Lasani,
Deodar wood (biyar/diyar) wood, glue, nails etc.
● Before carving , the craftsman first prepares detailed drawing of motifs to be carved.
● Carving is done in two ways; the craftsman works directly on the wood & creates design
with his tools and in the other way the quick designs of wood are taken to an electric
machine which cuts their outline and later the artisan workout the details of the it by
carving tools.
PIRIS
● It is among the other wood crafts of Punjab.
● Piris are the small stools made of wood. It includes intricate designs on it. They are
small in comparison to chairs.
● The sizes varies from 6 inch to 10 inches in height.
● Apart from surviving the usual purpose of seating, the piris add to the decor of the
room. These are traditional and modern at the same time.
● It involves the artistic skills of carving, incising , coloring and inlaying.
TRUCK ART
● It is one of the known arts of Pakistan.
● The trucks are not only used as the loader or the object delivery purposes.
● In South Asian Region trucks are decorated with bright paints , mirrors,bells , chains,
motifs which includes birds , flowers famous personalities , animals, fish with glittery
sheets , stickers, bells,beads and even woodwork.
● It also represents the interests of the owner and how much it values to him.
KHUSSA
● Khussa is a timeless piece of our cultural heritage and tradition.It is a type of
leather footwear.
● Its earliest influence came all the way from pre-Mughlai times from China.
● Khussas are designed with embroidery, dabka, tilla, kora, gota, beads,
sequins, mirrors, pearls, sells, ribbons, mukesh and even velvet.
● The khussa is made entirely by hand from the curing of the leather to the
cutting and sewing together of the insole, outsole, sole and vamp. Khussas
traditionally have no heel .
PARANDAS
● It is believed that Paranda was initially worn by the women when they didn’t
have many accessories to decorate their hair
● Women try to implement the styles with parandas by weaving multi colored
threads together and tie it in their hair in order to make it look longer than
the actual length of their hair.
● It is made in bright colors and unique designs.
RAG DOLLS
● The skill of Rag dolls was introduced in Punjab since centur ies.
● Rag dolls are made using a variety of materials. The main material used in making
rag doll is a Cloth and cotton. Some glittery materials are used to make turbans and
the chunri.
● The dresses of these dolls are in selected in a manner that it attracts the eye of the
spectator. Beads, strings and sequins are also often used to create jewelry for the
dolls. Sometimes there is wooden base at the bottom of the dolls so that they can be
placed on the shelves as an artifact.
● It is even a source of income as well.
TRADITIONAL JEWELLWERY
● Jewellery is made almost in each small and large city of Pakistan.
● Its history goes back to the ancient archeological sites of Punjab .
● Ornaments are believed to be a symbol of power, wealth and femininity, and also as an
investment by the Punjabi women.
● Its in a culture to gift jewellery of Gold and silver.Everybody holds any kind of
jewellery now a days . The jewellery in Punjab includes jhumkay , baliyan, mathay
ka tikka, jhumar, churiyaan ( bangles) ring, amulet (taweez), nose pin and anklet.
● The art of jewellery making involves metal, gold, silver, beads, stones and threads as
well.
GOTA KINARI
● Gota kinari is famous craft of Multan.
● The work in Gota kinari involves needles, wooden frame. Gota kinari is done on
cloth with help of needles. Sometimes it can be done without fixing it on a wooden
frame.
● If the work is straight then it is known as kinari but if the kinari is turned into
different petals of different shapes and flowers then it is known as Gota.
BASKETRY
● Basketry is the popular craft practiced in several regions of Pakistan like Lahore,
Bahawalpur, Uch Sharif, Ahmedpur sharkiya, Sargodha, Multan & Bhera.
● It is static yet functional. There are simple baskets with natural colour and
Decorative colourful baskets.
● There is a popular coiled technique is used for making baskets. Date palms are cut
into thin strips and kept in wet cloth to save them from becoming dry and hard.All
these are turned into spiral shape widened and lifted gradually until the desired shape
of basket is formed.
● These baskets are used for keeping roti, nan , selling fruits, spices , keeping grains
and even for decoration purposes. The local names are Chabbi, changir , tokra, tokri.
CRAFTS OF SINDH
● Blue hala Pottery
● Susi
● Ajrak
● Ralli
● Sindhi Topi
HALA POTTERY
● Hala is an attractive town located near the River Indus in Sindh
● It is the home of ancient blue pottery artisanal artists called Kashigars.
● Hala is celebrated for glazed blue pottery in Pakistan
● The pottery is available in many sizes and shapes and is famous for wonderfully magnificent
hand paintings and motifs.
● Pots and tiles are also transported massively to Europe and the Middle East.
● It is made from scrap glass, white clay, quartz stone, and Katria gond
● The material is crushed into granular powder form, and each material in a specific ratio is
mixed to form a dough and is mold into different shapes by artisans’ hands. Then dressing it
by painting and glazing turns it into an eye-catching piece.
SUSI
● Among the many other crafts of our region, is the craft of Susi.
● Susi is said to be a vibrant, multi-striped fabric that has been the identity of
particular areas of the Sindh region namely; Hala and Hyderabad, which are
known to be the birthplace of this craft.
● Susi is multi-colored and hand-woven as it is produced on handloom; in earlier
times this entire craft was a cultural cottage industry division.
● During ancient times, it was made from pure silk or a mixture of cotton and silk,
then later it was made from pure cotton, then with the
evolution of industrialization synthetic fibres came into being, viscose was used
with cotton to produce this fabric.
AJRAK
● Ajrak is a cultural symbol for Sindh.
● It is block printed cloth with deep crimson red and indigo blue background
which repeatedly bears symmetrical patterns with white motifs .It is made of
cotton, its reminds us of smooth silk. More than a fabric, ajrak is a Sindhi
tradition, traceable from the earliest archaeological finds of the old Indus
civilization.
● The three main tools of a block printed fabric are the wooden blocks, the fabric and
the dye.. The printers may use up to 30 blocks to complete a design. Separate blocks
are required for each of the colors used in a design It can take twenty people, each
doing a separate task, up to eight hours to prepare a single block printed garment.
SINDHI TOPI
● Sindhi topi is considered to be an essential thing in Sindhi Attire.
● The history of Sindhi topi is believed to be started before the partition of
Subcontinent. It begins with importing silk from Kashmir for making of
Sindhi Topi.
● It is made with cloth ,a piece of plastic, pearls, multi colour threads, piece of
glasses.
RALLI
● 'Rilli' or 'Ralli' is a traditional craft of Sindh. These are the bedspreads and quilts
handmade by women from remote villages of Sindh.
● There are three categories of design of Ralli : patchwork, applique, and embroidery.
● Patchwork is the most common and is found on most village beds. It is made from
pieces of cloth torn into squares and triangles and then stitched together.
● Applique designs are also found throughout the rilli region. Appliqué made from
intricate, cut out patterns in a variety of shapes.Small squares of fabric are cut out
similar to a paper "snowflake", edges are turned under and sewn unto the block
fabric.
● Embroidery quilts generally use a large piece of whole or patched cloth and using
colored thread, have stitching in embroidery designs go through all the layers of the
cloth.
CRAFTS OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHAWA
● Brass work of Peshawar
● Peshawari Chappal
● Gabbah
BRASSWORK OF PESHAWAR
● Brass utensils were commonly used in household uses, specially in the villages.
● These have slowly and gradually vanished due to their high cost, but brassware
handicrafts can still be found displaying master craft of the artisans.
● These are decorative plates, vases, bowls and similar other things in time of the great
Mughal period. Products of polished brass have their own appeal but it is the engraved
work in colourful and artistic patterns that is most prized.
● In Peshawar, brass work is done on many things like household utensils of daily use to
decoration pieces. In Hindko (one of the much spoken languages in
khyberPakhtukhawan), brass is called as "Mis," and the individuals who work on this
metal are called "Misgar."
● In Peshawar a big market is allocated for this handicraft, known as, "Misgaran Bazaar,"
that means, bazaar of brass workers.. These include water storage and cooking utensils.
PESHAWARI CHAPPAL
● Peshawari chappals are least a hundred years old. These chappals, initially were
made in the city of Peshawar.
● The process of manufacturing of Peshawari chappals includes the leather
cutting, then the sole-making process. Stitching is done by needle or the
machine. Finally the fitting of the chappal takes place. The chappals are mostly
handmade.
● Kheri Peshawari chappals make up a small scale business that provide a living to
many shoemakers who spend their days busy in making, stitching and fitting the
shoes.
GABBAH
● Gabbah rugs are handmade rugs of modern style. They have plain and simpler patterns
including stripes and checkers. The wool is dyed with natural dyes. The dyes are made
from plants and minerals.

● The main markets for these rugs are in industrialised countries. These traditional artisans
have gone into the rug making business and now make rugs professionally and
commercially. Other spellings may include: Gabbeh, Gabba
CRAFTS OF BALOCHISTAN
● Balochi embroidery : Patch work, Mirror Work
● Afghan Rug
● Balochi Garment
BALOCHI EMBRIODERY
●Balochi embroidery is considered one of the ancient handicrafts that have been passed from one generation to
another. The embroidery includes unfaded colours, small mirrors and detailed use of colourful threads. These
embroideries are believed to be originated from the Mehrgarh civilization dated back to 700 BC.
●It is believed that when Mehrgarh civilization was discovered in Balochistan through excavation, the same motifs
were seen on the pottery and the Balochi Embroidery.
●It is designed with colourful fabrics.They are often stitched with geometric patterns that give a vibrant and unique
charm to these designs.
●There are two major concepts in Balochi embroidery Dodh And Bedhodh, and there is a third concept Kantok in
which both Dodh and Bedhodh concepts are used. Some of the names used in Balochi embriodey are Gool Patt
(embroidery sewn on daman), Pandol e dap (front side of the pocket), Sarzi (embroidery that is sewn on every
edge of the clothes), Pashk e Posht (embroidery on the backside of the cloth), Rehl (embroidery on the sides of
the sleeves), Dammon (two horizontal lines that are sewn on the bottom of the shirt).
AFGHAN RUG
● The Baluchis live in , Pakistan and Afghanistan. Sometimes Baluchis can also be found in
other countries, but in significantly smaller numbers. Most of them live in Pakistan today
● Afghan carpets are woven by Baluch tribes.In addition to the Baluch, many other ethnic
groups in Khorasan weave carpets that look like the Baluch carpets as well.
● Baluchi rugs are usually all wool, but their material may also include goat and camel hair, cotton
for whites, and in some cases a few knots of silk.
● Colors. The use of dark colors like dark blue or blue-black, dark brownish red, dark reddish
brown, dark brown on black, dark purplish brown, dark brownish violet, and some ivory.
● Camel hair is sometimes woven into the niches (meḥrāb) of Baluch prayer carpets. These
rugs are less somber, even occasionally light in ground color. There are ornaments like
rectangles, hexagons, and octagons and Plant motifs . It also create a honeycomb pattern.
BALOCHI GARMENT
● This is widely famous for Balochi people. Women’s outfits all over the Baluchi
world consist of ankle length trousers shalwar, an ankle-length and loose fitting
dress paskh, and a large shawl or outer cover chador.
● Baluchi women’s clothing most important feature is the embroidery, which once
was largely hand worked, but now a days it is made by machine. This decoration
consists of four panels of embroidery, covering the chest, two panels on the
sleeve cuffs, and a large, narrow, rectangular pocket that runs from the waistline
to the hem of the dress.
●
CRAFTS OF KASHMIR
● Pashmina Shawl
● Kasheeda
● Namda
PASHMINA SHAWL
● Pashmina is considered the finest craftsmanship in the world which transforms
Cashmere threads.. The fleece of Changthangi Goat is known as Pashm which is an
Urdu word & has origins in Farsi. This goat is exotic and is only found there, 15000
feet above sea level in Ladakh - Jammu and Kashmir, making the art of Pashmina even
rarer and revered all over the world. Pashmina has fascinated kings, royals, and people
all over the world by its magical allure and a traditional grace.
● The process of making Pashmina begins in the spring when Changthangi goats naturally
lose their winter coats, a period in a season in the area. This is when the goat's undercoat is
collected by combing rather than shearing, which is the most common method for
collecting fine wool. The raw Pashmina is then shipped to Kashmir. Once it arrives, highly
skilled artists, designers, and craftspeople work by hand to refine and transform it into a
fabric, employing centuries-old processes passed down from generation to generation.
● The wool industry in Kashmir is supposed to have been founded by Zayn-ul-Abidin, the
monarch of Kashmir in the 15th century. The origins of Pashmina shawls, however, may
be traced back to the 3rd century BC.The Pashmina has been an important part of
traditional clothing. It was exclusively worn by kings and queens in the past and hence
became the symbol of royalty.
KASHEEDARI
● Kashidakari is the most famous embroidery of the Kashmir valley. The term
‘kashidakari’ literally means ‘needle work’. The origin of this craft is not clear but
according to various legends it was introduced by Sufi saints from Persia in the
valley. Numerous kings patronized the craft, the most famous of them being Sultan
Zain-ul-Abidin. Over the course of time it started to define the cultural essence
though the beadwork and threadwork.
● The term Kashidakari is used as an umbrella term which covers all the different
types of embroideries. it involves many different embroidery techniques such as ari
work, rezkar, tilla, sozni and dori work. Sozni embroidery uses fly stitch, stem
stitch and darning stitches. The ari embroidery uses aari to fill in the motifs with
chain stitch. It uses stitches such as chain stitches ,open work or doria work,
buttonhole stitch and gold work.
NAMDA
Kashmir is world famous for its handicrafts. Namda is a craft that is endangered and needs special attention. It is a rug made of wool by felting technique.
The process of preparing a namda includes.
●Carding: The process of removal of dirt and foreign particles from wool and achieving uniform and consistent thickness.
●Creating the border: After carding, the border is created to define the outline under which filling will be done.
●Creation of layer: The wool is then spread evenly with in that border and thick layers are created.
●Sprinkling soap solution: A solution of soap and water is sprinkled over the layers with the help of a container and broom.
●Rolling the namda: The mat is then tightly rolled and tied up with a rope and is then compressed by rolling to and fro on the floor with the help of hands
and feet. This process is repeated for about an hour that allows the fusion of the fibres together-technically known as 'fibre to fibre' fusion.
●Drying: After rolling the mat for an hour, the rope is untied and the mat is unrolled to discover the well-shaped namda. The derived plain namda is then
dried in the sun to remove any moisture.
Types of namda
There are numerous varieties of namda available; a few are pure woollen, while others are cotton mixed with wool namda. Some other variations
are:
Plain namda: It is a type of plain rug with no embellishment.
Embroidered namda: These are embellished ones. 3

Cut work namda: In this, cut pieces are arranged as per the design while creating layers .