Thread Garden, Ooty, Ooty (2024) - Images, Timings

Thread Garden, Ooty Overview

The thread garden at Ooty is a popular tourist spot that exhibits some of the most magnificent and exquisite collection of artificial flowers and plants, all made by the expert hands of the skilful artists by using JUST thread.

Antony Joseph, the mastermind behind this unique inception along with his 50 skillful and profecient helpers has worked constantly for 12 years, to create the marvels of thread we see today. Approximately 6 crore meters of embroidery thread have been employed in the creation of this one-of-a-kind attraction in the world. The most astounding fact stay to be that not a stitch of a needle or any other machinery have been used in the production of these flowers. Stiff cardboards for flowers and petals, steel and copper wires for stem were veraciously used along with a variety of colorful threads to create these visual delights. Here you can find more than 150 varieties of artificially made flowers which promise to remain fresh for a long long time to come.?At the Thread Garden in Ooty you do not only get a chance to behold these beauties in your eyes, but you can carry these astounding crafts home as well. However, you need to be a little cautious and preserve them well, in order to avoid

History of Thread Garden

Created by a former professor- Mr. Antony Joseph in 1988, the wonderful Thread Garden continues to enjoy one of the top touristy positions in Ooty even today owing to its dimly lit chambers full of hundreds of realistic looking artificial thread flowers and blossoms. Antony Joseph formed this self invented technique called “Four Dimensional Hand Wound Embroidery” following several experiments when he joined his family business of textile brushes and related accessories. He was always interested in handicrafts and he started this venture initially with a group of nine women, who he first taught the technique. This unique thread designing technology receives utmost recognition when the Coats India acknowledged and accepted this newly crafted technology in 1993 and sent a personal special message to congratulate Joseph.

Soon after, Antony started this work on a full fledged basis. The garden used 60 million metres of thread in length and 12 long years of hard work to look like it does today. Radiant! The spectacular work was done under the strict supervision of Joseph himself by 50 skilled workers and craftsmen; 400 different shades of colours were put together to obtain the desired natural colour flowers. Initially the garden was located in Malampuzha in Kerala but later in 2002, it was moved opposite to the Boat House in Ooty. Today the garden boasts of 100 different flower species put together after tedious labor and hardwork. It has been listed as the first of its kind in the world and have been mentioned and graced in the India Book of Records, Tamilnadu Book of Records, and Unique World Records.

Technique used in the Thread Garden

The unique self-invented technique used behind making the flowers and the garden so fresh and realistic is called the “Four Dimensional Hand Wound Embroidery”. The procedure involves ‘no machines, no needles’ and is done completely with the help of bare hands. After a series of experiments, permutations and combinations, observations and inferences, the garden was created by using a whopping 60 million metres of thread in length. More than 400 shades and combinations of different colours of threads were used to get the right natural hues and to give the garden the realistically vibrant visual appeal. Painting, printing or any form of machinery is not used and a natural embroidery system is followed. Different and realistic looking colors are made from natural dyes which are then used to make the thread.

First the structure or the canvas for the leaves and the petals and the petals is cut out. For the stems and the filaments, copper or steel wire is wound around a fine stick with great precaution to avoid any recoil or gaps, with a machine made perfection. The skilled craftsmen use a special base to wrap the thread around the canvas for the petals, leaves and stems. This base helps for a cleaner winding, better support and faster results. Once the individual parts are created, they are joined together by glue. As the process does not involve machines or needles, the process of creating these flowers and filaments is a long and tedious one. And once the flowers and the produce should however, be protected from direct sunlight and any bright artificial light once they are finished.

Special Features of the Thread Garden

The unique Thread Garden enjoys absolutely monopoly as it is only one of its kind garden in the world. With a self invented flower making technique called the “Four Dimensional Hand Wound Embroidery”, the creator - founder Antony Joseph created this brilliant display of hues and aesthetics. The garden looks like it is covered in natural flora while it is only made up of thousands of metres of artificial thread dyed and coloured to bring out the right shade. Also termed as the “Millenium Miracle”, the garden is visited by tourists from all over the world. Result of several permutation of forms, light, shades and patterns, each singular piece is an artistic masterpiece. To ensure lasting effects and premium quality, the material used in the making of these flowers and parts is sourced from Coats, India- the world famous manufacturers of threads. The flowers are then covered with a glass case made of acrylic fiber of high transparency to protect the delicates from direct artificial or natural light and also from dust, head, moisture and humid to ensure lasting durability.

Instructions to Follow in the Thread Garden

In any case, the flowers and the parts are to be protected from natural sunlight or any form of direct natural or artificial light.
For cleaning the outer surface of the glass case, only cotton cloth should be used.
The glass case should never be taken off to leave the flowers naked.