I have long admired the Turkish needle lace. This video shows how to unwrap the cacoons and dye the threads. It´s interesting if you like and admire oyas.

Thank you.    This put a smile on my very much serious face. I went back to my childhood where I used to sneak and peek old ladies doing the same work. We, younger children were not allowed to even watch. It was kinda secret. Maybe it was forbidden in the Soviet Union? I remember I too wanted to play with those cocoons like the ladies in the film. But I never was allowed

Politburo were against "iğne oyası" as they thought it was because of boredom and boredom´s always counter revolutionary  

Too bad, they seemed to have encouraged most arts, perhaps it was the association with Islam, as many of the scarves women used to wear had them on the edges? Although I have also heard some Armenians claim they invented the art.

Perhaps they needed a Moiseyev of needle arts, but didn´t get one. I formerly worked in Broadway costume house. We made the garments for Tony award winning shows, famous stars and even some high level political persons. Many of the women who worked there I noticed,  were from former Soviet countries. They were very well trained in needle arts, and knew some very obscure skills.

By the way, I´m glad to see this subject is interesting, and brought a smile to dear Lemon´s face. I was afraid nobody would be interested in it.

Scalpel, where are you from?

Wrong! Official religions like Islam, Russian Orthodox or Catholic were not persecuted much. Churches and mosques were open, but they raised children atheist. 

The reason they had it in secret (mini cocoon productions), because it was sort of additional money making. Communists hated when people made some money.

Of course, they hate it in capitalist countries when unaccounted money is made. Not much difference in that area as far as both systems are concerned.

Do you know if knowledge and production has increased in recent years? As far as the religious persecution is concerned, I have heard some pretty awful stories in that area, but of course, have no first hand experience.