The lacemaking tradition of Lefkara — Lefkaritika — is the village's defining characteristic and the reason most visitors come here. Women sit in doorways and courtyard entrances working on intricate geometric patterns with needles, threading cotton into designs that have barely changed in centuries. The craft was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2009.
The patterns are always geometric, always white or off-white, and always worked by hand. A single tablecloth can take months to complete; prices range from modest (small handkerchiefs and mats) to substantial (large tablecloths that represent weeks of labour). Buying directly from the maker ensures the money goes to the craftswomen themselves and gives you the chance to watch the work in progress. Many workshops allow visitors to watch and ask questions.