Handmade in India

BHAVANI DHURRIES
Production Clusters
Erode district:
Erode:
Pallipalayam
Bhavani
Salem district:
Kumarapalayam
Products
Jamkalam-dhurrie
Pandhi pai-long
narrow dhurrie
Tools
Kai thari-handloom
Pannai-bamboo reed
Vadi settu-heald shaft
Oorulai-pulleys
Bowani ratta-hank
winder
Bowani-bobbin
Tharu kutchi-quill
Sendu kutchistretcher
1. A weaver weaving a Bhavani dhurrie on a pit treadle loom
at a workshop in Kumarapalayam.
2. Bhavani dhurrie features:Patta,thick bands of colour
interspersed with kettai,thinner bands.Seen here is a detail
of the ribbed texture due to the weft-faced plain weave
structure.
The twin towns of Bhavani and Kumarapalayam situate on the
confluence of River Kaveri and its tributary Bhavani,has a
sizeable population of dhurrie weavers.The origins of the multicoloured
stripped cotton flat weave dhurrie called jamkalam,is
linked to temple festivals,as temples required floor coverings for
seating devotees.The numerous weavers spread in and around
Bhavani were organized into a consortium initiated by a weaver
Sangameshwar Chettiar.This enabled the weaving cluster to
supply large quantities of striped cotton dhurries all over
India.Woven on simple pit treadle looms,the dhurries are made
in cotton,rayon and acrylic,in a weft-faced plain weave
structure.2/175 cotton yarn is set openly and the weft,10s single
cotton is densely woven.There is a wide range of sizes
available-from 28x72 inches to 192x120 inches-the latter
requiring three weavers working simultaneously.The weavers
are from Hindu comm-unities of Vaneer,Devanga
Mudaliyar,Chettiar and Gounder communities and the reed and
heald makers are Muslims.
WOOLLEN DRUGGETS
Production Clusters
Salem district:
Salem
Vaniambadi
Tools
Sickle-shaped knife
Hattan-iron comb
Katthi-knife
Charkha-spinning
wheel
Products
Drugget
THE NATURAL COLOURED woollen drugget of Salem are
rugs made of thick coarse woollen yarn.They are woven on
vertical looms wiht a cotton warp and woollen weft.Raw wool
is cleaned and carded on a machine and handspun into yarn on
a charkha,spinning wheel.The hanks of woollen yarn are then
dyed.The closely woven weft faced druggets are very thick
and rough,and mainly purchased by buyers in north India.The
demand for the druggets increases during cold seasons.The
products are available in various sizes,with designs in
stripes,geometrical forms due to the coarseness of the woollen
yarn.
1. Mudi(raw wool),panju(carded wool)and
kondai,handspun woollen yarn.
2. A motif woven by the tapestry technique using natural
wool combined with dyed wool on a vertical
loom,Salem.