Lyaavi-Kowdhi Collective
Handmade Kowdhi Quilts by Rural Artisans
Koudhi is a traditional hand-quilting technique from Karnataka, passed down through generations of women. A Koudhi quilt is traditionally made using seven layers of old, used fabric—often sarees, dupattas, and other scraps—stitched together to form the base. On top of this layered base, colourful fabric scraps are hand-stitched in concentric patterns—starting from the outer edges and moving inward toward the centre—a rhythmical process that gives the quilt both its structure and its vibrant appearance. The process is deeply rooted in storytelling, sustainability, and community rituals.
BuDa Folklore is working with Kowdhi artisans from rural villages in the Uttara Kannada region. This traditional method of quilting makes use of waste old cloth pieces and cotton scrap cloths collected from tailors, friends and relatives.
The artisans also tell a story about the historical and cultural context of their creation through different motifs and rituals. We at Buda Folklore documented the quilting tradition of Uttar Kannada as a part of our research and documentation. To gift a quilt, sewn with old clothes of the family, for the daughter who gets married, often carries fond memories of the maternal home.
The rural women of Uttara Kannada region are the collective contributors with BuDa Folklore in reviving this age-old traditional art of quilting.
BuDa folklore is also building a learning community among the urban people and bringing awareness of this traditional hand-stitching techniques for the urban participants through workshops.
Through this reviving process, BuDa gave life to a platform for many Kowdhi artisans of the village. These quilts are sold at exhibitions and during workshops.
Goal
Our aim is to set up a resource centre and community space in the village that supports the traditional craft of quilting. This centre will serve as a place where local women can continue their quilting work, improve their skills, and access training in design and market trends.
It will also be a space for students, researchers, designers, and craft enthusiasts to visit, learn, document, and collaborate with the artisans. The idea is to develop the village as a quilting hub — where tradition, skill, and learning come together in a meaningful way.
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The koudhi making workshop
We invite you to something slow, beautiful, and deeply rooted — a three-day traditional Koudhi-making workshop with Nirmalakka , a Master Artisan who has been part of the BuDa Folklore family for over 15 years.
In the workshop you will not only learn how to join pieces of cloth the old way — using just needle, thread, and scrap fabric — but also step into a world of stories, traditions, and customs carried through generations by women quilters of Uttara Kannada.
The process is rustic and meditative; the outcome is a beautiful kowdhi -quilt- that reflects generations of cloth-based narratives passed down from mothers to daughters.
 Together we are trying to revive the craft of community Koudhi-making in the old traditional way.
The Quilts we make
The entire quilt is painstakingly hand stitched by rural women for months together with end number of straight running stitches to create a unique product, one of a kind (no two are alike),thus its a perfect gift too.
The way in which recyled pieces of cloths stitched together with thousands of fine running stitches makes the quits extraordinary
Master Artisans and BuDa's Relationship with Local Quilters
Nirmalakka
Kalavva
Kalavva has been working with us at BuDa since the last 8 years. She is a widow, the only means of income for her is through quilting. Through our observation, we noticed that over a period of time, she learnt to use finer and neater stitches for a better finish. She is also one of the quilting teachers who travels with us to teach this art to urban participants at workshops, exhibitions and various events.
