THE STORY BEHIND THE CRAFT
A pattern tied into thread before weaving begins
Ravi Chinta
Koyalagudem, Nalgonda, Telangana
Representative photo: Tarunsamanta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · credits
Meet the maker
Ravi Chinta
Ikat weaving
“The pattern is decided before the loom even starts. Weaving is only when it is revealed.”
Ravi (a fictional demo maker) and his wife run a two-loom workshop. He handles tying and dyeing; she winds the weft.
In ikat the design is dyed into the threads before weaving begins. Ravi measures, ties and dyes his warp in sections, a process that can take longer than the weaving itself. His wife handles the weft winding, and together they finish around four stoles a week.
Visit profile- Making time
- About 3 days
- hours of handwork
- 9
- Materials
- Cotton, Madder-based dye
- Origin
- Nalgonda, Telangana
- Craft
- 19 years of practice
How it is made
Step by step
In ikat the pattern is resisted into the yarn: sections of the warp are tightly bound with thread, then dyed. When the ties are removed, undyed areas form the design. Weaving reveals it.
- 01
Measuring
The warp is measured and marked where each motif will fall.
- 02
Tying
Sections are wrapped with thread so dye cannot enter.
- 03
Dyeing
The yarn is dyed red; tied areas stay white.
- 04
Weaving
Threads are aligned by hand as the pattern appears on the loom.
Tradition & history
Ikat (tie-resist) weaving
Ikat traditions in the Deccan are known for bold geometric motifs and the soft 'feathered' edge that no printing can imitate.
Materials
Cotton yarn, madder-based red dye.
Sourcing
Yarn from a regional handloom cooperative; dye mixed in the workshop.
Impact & fair price
How this price is made
Tying and dyeing often takes longer than weaving — the price reflects both.
Maker's share (estimate)
- Materials
- ₹420
- Labour (9 hrs) × ₹120
- ₹1,080
- Listed price
- ₹1,700
An estimate from material cost, hours and margin — not an official market price.
Own this piece
Ikat Cotton Stole — Madder Red
₹1,700
Every motif was tied into the yarn with thread before it ever touched the loom.
Story QR tag
Scan to open this page. Print it as a tag for the product.
THE STORY BEHIND THE CRAFT
Ikat Cotton Stole — Madder Red
by Ravi Chinta · Nalgonda, Telangana
Scan to open the story
Reviews
- A
Ananya (demo)
The ikat edges are gorgeous. Scanned the QR tag and showed my family the story.
- P
Priya (demo)
Lovely stole, a little shorter than I expected.
More stories
Ikat Cotton Stole — Madder Red
₹1,700