This traditional craft and has been practised in India for the last three to four centuries. The oldest centre, Jamnagar in Gujarat, has involved the womenfolk in this craft since the time of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. This craft is also prevalent in the delta of the Godavari River.
The lace industry at Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh is famous world wide for over 300 kinds of designs which are made by the women of this region who are mainly from the fishing community. Their familiarity with net-making helps them with the crochet work. It was the Dutch and Portugese missionaries who introduced lace and crochet embroidery in both Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Chetipani is the most elementary type of crochet usually made by the novices. The other kind is Athakupani or joint attachment, in which different kinds of flower designs are combined to form the patterns which are inspired from floral, nosegay, almond and date motifs. The colours are black and brown with white weaves. The finished products dominantly comprise items for household use like curtains, bedspreads, furniture covers and dress material.