Ikat Fabric, Handloom Fabrics

Ikat created by dyeing the warp are simpler to make than either weft ikat or double ikat. First the material, be it cotton, silk, l or other, is tied into bundles. The bundles may be covered with wax (as per batik, where however the resist is applied to whole cloth, not to separate threads), wrapped tightly with thread or some other dye-resistant material- to prevent unwanted dye permeation. The resist dye procedure is repeated depending on the colorations desired of the warp bundle. Multiple colorations is common requiring multiple tying and retying. The newly dyed and thoroughly washed bundles are tied as the warped (longitudinal strings) onto the loom. The patterns are usually decided by the weaver as the warp threads are tied. Warp threads are adjusted for the desired alignment for precise motifs.