Science and Art Thai Craftsmanship |111
Khit
Is a technique of selecting the
special wraps to create patterns and
insert weft through the longitudinal
dimension of Khit fabrics. Each row
of Khit will have same color and
pattern floated over the fabric.
Chok
Is a technique of adding
extra special wefts continuously
to pass through the length of the
fabric. A stick, quill or finger can be
used to lift the ends and insert the
extra picks to make up the pattern
more beautiful.
Yok
Is a pitching technique to
make the pattern noticeable, similar
to Khit weaving. However, using
special pick yarns such as silver
and gold silk with a hem requires
a more complicated process than
Khit fabrics weaving.
Yok Muk
is a technique to weave with
extra special end yarns on the loom.
The pattern is created by the use of
heddle and special weft, similar to the
pattern of Khit and Chok. Weavers
who first used this technique are Thai
Phuan people at Hat Siao sub-district,
Sukhothai province and at Lap-lae
district, Uttaradit province.
Madmi
Is a technique of tie-dyeing.
Yarns are wrapped with banana tree
fiber or plastic rope before they are
dyed. Then, a weaver will roll the
dyed yarns in the heddle following
arranged patterns and weave.
We a v i n g
theYarns
“Stories of Fabrics
Weavers will design their
own patterns by collecting
natural materials such
as flower, stars, animal
or household utilities.
They also call the name of
the patterns based on the
description of the source
of inspiration, such as Dok
Kaew (flower of orange
jasmine), Bang (Colug),
Krabia (butterfly), Kho
Kham Duean, Khit, Sam
Ruat (rocket), Hong (swan),
and further develop more
complicated and beautiful
patterns.”