I have not had the opportunity to weave yathra, and only the briefest opportunity to watch it being woven. Continue reading
Yathra Technique
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Category Archives: Bhutanese Techniques
Other Bhutanese Looms
Frame loom for weaving yathra, Bumthang
In addition to the backstrap loom two other kinds of looms are used in Bhutan: the frame loom and the card loom. Continue reading
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Warp Preparation for Backstrap Loom
Warp preparation for the backstrap loom is done by winding the threads around a series of upright bamboo, wooden or plastic poles.
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Aikapur Technique: Supplementary Warp
The Bhutanese describe the width of these supplementary warp patterns in “legs” which are counted in the cross-hatched bars that run at right angles across the yellow and red stripes. Continue reading
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Aikapur Technique: Supplementary Weft
In this close-up, you can see how the supplementary weft threads in this type of pattern (on the green ground in this gho) are taken all the way to the rainbow stripes, and the point where they reverse direction is hidden there. Continue reading
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Thrima Technique
Thrima means “to coil” and there are several ways the Bhutanese coil the supplementary weft threads in their kushu designs. Continue reading
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Sapma Technique
Sapma designs look very similar to supplementary weft patterns from non-Bhutanese weaving traditions, except that the Bhutanese technique is not visible on the reverse of the fabric. The other difference is that thread ends are worked as pairs. Continue reading
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Kushutara Technique
Kushutara means brocaded dress, and refers to cloth decorated with the intricate kushu techniques, involving discontinuous supplementary wefts. Continue reading
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Bhutanese Backstrap Loom
The rigid part of a Bhutanese backstrap loom consists of a platform to sit on connected to a vertical frame Continue reading
