IKAT WEAVING

Ikat weaving is a traditional handloom technique where warp and weft yarns are dyed using a tie-dye method, creating geometric wave-like patterns. It is practiced in around 40 villages in Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, with Pochampalli and Chirala being the most renowned. Ikat fabrics can be single or double ikat: in single ikat, only the warp yarns are tie-dyed, resulting in less sharp patterns, while double ikat involves tie-dyeing both warp and weft, producing sharper imagery that can include floral and human figures. While it was previously believed that ikat textiles were only woven in silk, it has been shown that the technique originated with cotton. The precise origins of ikat in Andhra Pradesh are still under research, as it was adapted from techniques learned through royal patronage.