In Kerala lace and crochet embroidery was introduced by Dutch and Portuguese missionaries.
Chetipani is the simplest kind of crochet and is usually made by the beginners. The other kind is Athakupani or joint attachment, in which different kinds of flower designs are combined to form the pattern and require great skill and dexterity. The color combinations are pleasing with white used commonly and then dyed into other colors. The designs are old-style and based on floral, nosegay, almond, and date motifs. The products made are items for household use from curtains, bedspreads, to furniture covers; edgings are made as borders for clothing while a range of crochet is especially made in large commissioned pieces for export .