A board or rod which holds the warp threads in a frameless backstrap tension loom. It may be a flat board around which a discontinuous warp is rolled, or a bamboo roller for a continuous circulating warp.

The ikat-resist dyeing process applied only to the warp threads so that the warp threads are patterned before weaving. The fabric is woven to achieve a predominantly warp- faced weave. See also ikat, warp-faced.

The printing of warp threads before weaving, which gives an indistinct design when the weft threads are introduced.

Woven fabric in which the warp threads conceal the weft.

To wind or string the warp threads on to a frame or loom by laying out threads of equal length parallel to each other. See also warp.

A resist dyeing process in which a substance such as hot wax or rice paste is applied to the surface of fabric as a resist to dyes to form undyed areas of pattern. The resist is removed by boiling, melting or scrapping after dyeing. See also canting, cap, block printing, resist dyeing, stick batik.

To interlace warp and weft threads in a specific order with the aid of apparatus, usually a loom, which facilitates shed openings.

The yarn in weaving that runs from selvedge to selvedge, at right angles to the warp threads.

The ikat-resist dyeing process applied only to the weft threads so that the weft threads are patterned before weaving. The fabric is woven to achieve a predominantly weft- faced weave. See also ikat, weft-faced.

Two sets of threads worked together by spiralling around each other while encircling successive warps.

The encircling of wrapping of passive warp elements by weft threads to create a pattern. The weft threads can be either the sole wefts in the fabric or supplementary to regular wefts in a ground weave. The weft threads, usually discontinuous, can be wrapped with the fingers, a pick or a needle. See also sungkit.

Woven fabric in which the weft threads conceal the warp.

To damp before putting the yarn or cloth into the dye.

A bamboo winnowing fan, kulo, is a multipurpose implement in the hands of the village housewife. Apart from winnowing the paddy and wheat, it is used in separating the husk from grains after the paddy is dehusked in the household husking pedal. It is also used in the kitchen to clean and dry all kinds of grains and condiments. The kulo is also a sacred adjunct to almost all folk rituals and ceremonies in Bengal.

The threading of small beads on to the weft yarn before it is inserted into the warp.