Ikat requires immense skills for detail of de-constructing the desired pattern according to the density of the cloth, winding threads on the frame according to the calculations made, covering selected sections of the weft for resist-dyeing and finally weaving. The entire process involves almost an entire family’s participation in different aspects.

For the dyed yarn to be woven, they need to be opened up. The bunch is wound on a small wooden charkhi which is put onto an axially rotating stick. One bunch on this charkhi rolls out many more bunches on another charkhi that are of lesser thread-count. Then the bunch is transferred on another charkhi, until single strands of cotton or silk are achieved. These single strands that have the dyed pattern are rolled on to a spindle using a charkha (spin-wheel) that is finally kept in ashuttle that the weaver uses to weave the fabric on the loom.

For more details: http://dsource.in/resource/ikat-textiles-nuapatna