Ikat

Ikat is a weaving technique, in which the yarn is dyed in sections before processing. Several colors are available, also can remain unstained sections. The term is derived from the Malay and means as a verb: harden, wrap.

In the simplest case built on the simple fabric strips. By different sections are colored, geometric patterns, but also complex structures can be produced. It can warp and / or weft yarns are colored. If both groups of threads dyed one speaks of Doppelikat.

The yarn can be dyed by being wound onto a drum, before applied with a brush or similar tool in color stripes transversely to the direction of the yarn. This results in inaccuracies due to differences in tension on the drum, different absorbency and manual variation. This has an effect in the finished fabric by the boundary between two colors is not a straight line but from thread to thread back and jump a little - a typical effect of this form of ikat technique. By combining yarns of a plurality of drums geometric patterns can be produced, which extend step-shaped for example. This technique is maintained on the island of Mallorca.

Alternatively, threads or thread bundles can be wrapped tightly in certain sections before they are immersed in a dye solution. These portions of the strings remain as in the dyeing of whole cloth in batik technique (initially) unstained. With this technique, complex and irregular patterns can be created, for example for Indonesian sarongs.

Ikat fabrics were in the 18th century in Europe as a popular clothing materials under the name Chiné and are used for high-quality kimonos in Japan today.