Lotus Cutwork Handwoven Semi-Sheer Cotton Curtain

In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, weavers practice a version of the Karhuwa technique, clipping the extra floating threads that are not engaged in the design, leaving deliberate absences in the cloth. The result is a handcrafted semi-sheer curtain where light passes not through the fabric but through the negative space of the weave itself. Hold it to a window; you will see the lotus pattern in shadow.

The Karhuwa-inspired missing weave technique used here is exceptionally labour-intensive: weavers on handlooms in Varanasi clip thread by thread to create the open cutwork that defines this curtain's lotus pattern. It is handmade cotton, but it behaves like a conversation between the room and the light outside.

Hang it where morning sun enters, east-facing windows, a reading corner, a bedroom facing a garden. When light comes through, the cutwork blooms. When it dims, the curtain becomes a quiet panel of off-white and blue. Either way, it earns its place.

Karhuwa Cutwork Weave · Pure Cotton · Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh · Artisanal Lotus Pattern

Care Instructions

• Machine wash cold or hand wash in cold water.
• Wash separately for first two washes to prevent colour transfer.
• Do not bleach. Line dry in shade, avoid direct sunlight while drying.
• Iron on medium while slightly damp for best results.
• Avoid tumble drying on high heat.