Top 10 Traditional Crafts
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1. Weaving
Traditional hand looms are still in use, made by skilled craftsmen from cypress, walnut or mulberry wood.
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2. Embroidery
Rethymno was a major centre for embroidery, a skill introduced to Crete in the Byzantine era.
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3. Spinning
Older village women still spin wool into yarn using a spindle and distaff – a skill that hasn’t changed since the time of the Minoans.
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4. Dyeing
Dyes are still made from shellfish (purple), madder root (red), walnut shells (dark brown), olive or pomegranate leaves (green), and crocus, marigold or narcissus (yellow).
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5. Church Embroidery
Crete’s Orthodox monks and nuns embellish sumptuous church vestments with gold, silver and silk stitching.
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6. Wood Carving
Olive, cypress and mulberry yield a hard wood loved by skilled Cretan carpenters.
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7. Leatherwork
Everything from shepherds’ boots and mule harnesses to satchels, handbags and sheepskin garments.
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8. Silversmithing
Silver jewellery and religious objects such as icon frames and crucifixes.
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9. Lace
Silk kopaneli lace is made by bobbin weaving, a skill revived in Gavalochori.
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10. Antique Weapons
The Cretan pallikar (warriorhero) loved highly decorated weapons. Authentic antique weapons are highly valued.
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