Bobbin Lace / Beeralu Lace

6.0535° N, 80.2210° E

Galle

Altitude

300 m above sea level

Gender

48.2% Men

51.8% Females

Population

1,058,771

The practice of beeralu lace making can be traced back to the 16th century after the Portuguese invasion. This practice is also linked to the arrival of malays from the Indonesian islands who introduced the practice to the region.

Since then, this practice has been passed down from mother to daughter for many generations.

Anciently known as the practice of the monarchs, beeralu lace found its way within households and objects of daily use such as table cloths, wall hangers, curtains, bed sheets etc.

At weddings, one can see wedding sarees, scarves, and kaba karuththu (a long sleeved traditional ladies’ saree jacket) made out of beeralu lace.

Step 1

The pattern of the lace is hand-drawn on Koiru ispisalaya (graph paper)

Step 2

It is then marked with round headed pins.

Step 3

It is wrapped around a kotta boley (lace pillow)

Step 4

Several lengths of cotton thread are wound around wooden bobbins.

Step 5

Several lengths of cotton thread are wound around wooden bobbins.

Often, beeralu lace is made in long strips and these strips are then joined together to make homeware or apparel as weaving these items straight away can become time consuming.

The southerners believe beeralu to have been practiced by Queen Kuveni seated at a haunted rock bobbin on the Island of the She-Devil off the southern coast in Sri Lanka.

3-4

hours

approximately
for smaller pieces Large scale apparel and homeware take much longer.
Beeralu lace is made all year long.