Weaving ikkat

Ikkat or tie & dye is one of the best known and considerably complex traditions in weaving - something that the Nalgonda belt in Andhra Pradesh is quite famous for. The process involves elaborate calculations and markings on the yarn followed by different stages of dyeing to finally get the complex and beautiful patterns that the tradition is well known for. Here are some pictures from my a few days ago to the village of Kunthlagudem

the weft

the weft to the left. the warp has been laid out for marking and tying to the right

the weaver works on the weft as the warp is stretched across the length of the house