The most remarkable feature of Nepalese cotton weaving can be seen in the variety of patterned colorful caps “Topis”, the traditional headgear for men. This traditional pattern weaving is done on outdoor wood and bamboo treadle looms. Women used to weave all the cloth needed by their family from homegrown and handspun cotton. Weaving is still a major activity in the dry season, during October to march, when little fieldwork is possible.

The strips of mercerized sewing cotton with their intricate colorful stranded cotton patterns are used for making caps, shawl, blouses, waistbands, shoes, bags, cushion covers, tablemat and many more. Each weaving is unique and at every change of shed the weaver decides without chart or counting threads into which section of the warp she is going to lay the colors, which form the patterns. Many weavers know about 100 basic designs and invent new ones all the time.