Silk Weaving - Kanchipuram
Different types of tools and raw materials used are:
Mulberry Silk:
The basic raw material used for the production of saris is silk. Finely processed silk is purchased from Karnataka. The tough silk which comes from Karnataka grants luster and smooth finish to the Kanchi sari.
Zari:
Golden thread is imported from Surat. Pure silver and gold is used to make Zari thread. Recently, the artisans of Kanchipuram started zari unit to produce zari thread locally. This thread is especially used for borders and pallu of sari.
Dye Color:
Different colors of dye color powders purchased from local markets. The color powder is mixed in boiling water while dyeing the silk yarn.
Copper Containers:
Huge copper containers are used in dyeing process. These containers are used to dye the boiling solution.
Rice Starch:
Starch is extracted by boiling rice. The extracted solution is locally called as Kanji. Yarn is dipped in the kanji to obtain stiffness.
Spinning Wheel:
This is a hand cranking spinning wheel which is locally called as ‘Mara Ratinam’. It is used to spin the silk yarn to spools and spindles. These spindles are used in weaving process for weft weaving.
Fly-shuttle:
It is mainly used to process the weft. The spools are inserted in fly-shuttle while weaving. These shuttles are made of whole bamboo pole.
Warp Beam:
The length of yarn is wound on warp beam which is later loaded into the loom.
Jacquard Machine:
The improvised equipments such as jala and jacquard are used to produce the designs for borders and Pallu.
Warping machine:
This is used to draw the length of the yarn from the spools.
Handloom:
Looms of Kanchipuram ranging from traditional to modern. Traditional looms can be operated manually. Modern looms are upgraded with motor pedals.
Punch Cards:
The design is punched on the punch cards. The cards are loaded into jacquard machine.
