Ikat is one of the most fascinating ways to create patterns on fabric. It is a resist-dyeing technique, where the craftsmen dye the yarn first instead of dyeing the fabric. Today we paint Ikat patterns on paper.

 While we do this, we will also go through the incredibly complicated process of creating the patterns on cloth.

The patterns are geometric, so it might be easier to draw using a square or a grid notebook.

The other geometrical pattern that we find is the floor painting, Rangoli.

What is Ikat?

Ikat is a weaving technique that is done on fabric.

Watch this video of the weaving of ikat.

Bundles of yarns are tied at different points and dyed multiple times to get the desired pattern. Dyeing is either done on warp or the weft threads.

Well, warp are the fixed vertical threads attached to the loom while weft threads are the horizontal threads that are woven in and out of the warp threads.

So in ikat, either the warp or the weft thread can be dyed.

Sometimes both the warp and weft threads are dyed and they are known as double ikat. You can imagine how difficult it might be to do that. It will be almost solving a logic puzzle.

In India, double ikat is found in Patola sarees from Gujarat and they are so precious that they are only worn on very special occasions.

Other places that you find ikat in India is the Sambalpuri ikat of Odisha and the Pochampally ikat sarees from Telangana.

Ikat started almost simultaneously in different parts of the world. South America, India, China, Malaysia, and Indonesia are some of these places. The word comes from the Malaysian word, ‘mengikat’ which means to tie threads.

Lets Paint ikat designs

For this, you would need some squared or grid paper and markers. If you want to give the faded looks use acrylic paints.

A grid paper always helps to create geometric patterns and made them look similar.

Considering how ikat is made, our work here is much easier, where we can draw the pattern by counting. But since the patterns need to look woven we would not use straight lines to create the designs. Instead, the edges are made up of up and down strokes fading around the ends.

Repeating patterns is slightly challenging but you will enjoy it. So initially do not start creating patterns that are organic in shape.

The post How to Paint Ikat Designs appeared first on LilCreativeKids.