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

A weaver's house, Nalgonda district

The Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh is famous for its weaving villages and even better known for its tie & dye (ikkat fabric). The old traditional houses of the weavers here too are a treat to be in - huge, spacious, beautifully made and very functional. The houses were constructed with the loom in mind and generally speaking there is also a small opening in the middle of the house that is open to the sky.
I visited the villages of Vellanki and Kunthlagudem just the day before...

In village Vellanki

this is in Kunthlagudem

A window in the wall, Kunthlagudem