Weaving and handloom traditions
A baya weaverbird hangs a pouch nest from a branch, weaving grass over and under, long before humans learnt to weave.
Weaving crosses threads over and under: one set runs up-down, the other left-right, forming mats, baskets or cloth. Weaving by hand on a loom gives handloom fabric, and India has been weaving for thousands of years. Kanjeevaram, Pashmina and Ikat are famous handloom traditions. Handloom weaving gives work to many families and keeps skills alive.
In the figure: Cloth is made when threads cross over and under.
Key point 1: How weaving works
- Easy : Paper strips woven over-under make a mat.
- Medium : Using threads instead of strips gives cloth.
- Exam-type : A tiny fault in one thread can loosen the woven piece.
Key point 2: Handloom in India
- Easy : A loom is the tool for weaving by hand.
- Medium : Famous handloom styles include Kanjeevaram, Pashmina, Ikat and Patola.
- Exam-type : Handloom supports many families and uses no electricity.
Every thread is needed to keep a woven cloth strong.
Thinking all cloth is made by machines.
Weave = Cross over-under. Memory clue: "Over-Under-Over".
Spot the difference
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Weaving | crossing threads | cloth, mat |
| Loom | weaving device | handloom |
| Handloom | woven by hand | Kanjeevaram |
Practice questions
- 1What is weaving?
- 2What is a loom?
- 3Name two handloom traditions.
- 4Which bird weaves its nest from grass?
- 5Why is each thread important in a woven mat?
- 6What does handloom give to families?
- 7What can you weave from paper strips?
- 8Why is weaving special for India?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Crossing threads over and under to make cloth.
- 2A device used to weave cloth.
- 3Any two of Kanjeevaram, Pashmina, Ikat, Patola.
- 4Baya weaverbird.
- 5If one breaks the weave can loosen.
- 6Work and livelihood.
- 7A mat or basket.
- 8It supports culture, skills and livelihood.
Fibres and spinning thread
Pull a cotton ball gently into a strand and twist it. It suddenly becomes stronger. That is how thread begins.
A thin hair-like strand is a fibre. Twisting fibres together into thread or yarn is spinning, done with a charkha. Natural fibres come from cotton, wool, silk, linen, jute and bamboo; silk comes from the cocoon of the silk moth, whose life goes from eggs to caterpillar, cocoon and moth. Synthetic fibres like nylon and polyester are made by humans. Cloth from hand-spun, hand-woven thread is khadi.
In the figure: Fibre becomes thread, and thread becomes cloth.
Key point 1: From fibre to thread
- Easy : Twisting a cotton strand makes it stronger.
- Medium : The twisting process is called spinning.
- Exam-type : A charkha spins thread from cotton.
Key point 2: Natural and synthetic
- Easy : Natural: cotton, wool, silk, jute, linen, bamboo.
- Medium : Synthetic: nylon, polyester, rayon.
- Exam-type : Silk life cycle: eggs, caterpillar, cocoon, moth.
In 1915 Gandhi ji returned to India from South Africa. He wanted people to wear cloth spun at home, but funnily enough, he had never actually seen a spinning wheel himself! Nobody at his ashram knew how to spin. In 1917 he met Gangaben Majmudar. She searched village after village and found old spinning wheels lying as junk in lofts at Vijapur in Gujarat.
The people of Vijapur began spinning again, and Vijapur khadi soon became famous. The charkha became a symbol of the freedom struggle. The tricolour flag adopted in 1931 had a charkha in the middle! When the national flag was decided on 22 July 1947, the Ashoka Chakra took its place.
Khadi became a symbol of self-reliance in the freedom struggle.
Thinking all fibres come from plants.
Fibre → Spin → Thread → Weave → Cloth. Memory clue: "F-S-T-W-C".
Spot the difference
| Type | Examples | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Natural | cotton, silk, wool | plants and animals |
| Synthetic | nylon, polyester | made by humans |
| Khadi | hand-spun cloth | cotton |
Practice questions
- 1What is a fibre?
- 2What is spinning?
- 3Name two natural fibres.
- 4Name two synthetic fibres.
- 5Where does silk come from?
- 6What is khadi?
- 7List the stages of a silk moth's life.
- 8Why did khadi matter in the freedom struggle?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1A thin hair-like strand.
- 2Twisting fibres to make thread.
- 3Any two of cotton, wool, silk, jute.
- 4Nylon and polyester.
- 5From the cocoon of the silk moth.
- 6Cloth made from hand-spun, hand-woven thread.
- 7Eggs, caterpillar, cocoon, moth.
- 8It showed self-reliance.
Stitching and embroidery
A tiny green tailorbird sews leaves into a nest. People also stitch cloth to join and decorate it.
Stitching joins cloth with a needle and thread. The simplest stitch is the running stitch: up, down, up, down in a line. Stitches can also decorate; this is embroidery. India has many kinds, such as Chikankari (Lucknow), Phulkari (Punjab), Kantha (East India), Kashmiri embroidery and Banjara. Bandhani is a tie-dye craft. Handle needles carefully.
In the figure: Stitches join cloth and decorate it.
Key point 1: Basic stitching
- Easy : Knot the thread, bring the needle up at A, down at B, up at C, down at D.
- Medium : Repeat in a straight line to make a running stitch.
- Exam-type : Handle needles carefully, with an adult nearby.
Key point 2: Decorative traditions
- Easy : Chikankari comes from Lucknow, Phulkari from Punjab, Kantha from Eastern India.
- Medium : Bandhani is made by tying cloth before dyeing.
- Exam-type : Each embroidery tells a story of its place and people.
A stitched cloth may come apart if a thread breaks, so keep stitches tight.
Playing with needles instead of handling them carefully.
Running stitch: Up-Down-Up-Down. Memory clue: "UDUD".
Spot the difference
| Embroidery | Origin | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chikankari | Lucknow | white thread work |
| Phulkari | Punjab | flower patterns |
| Kantha | East India | running stitches |
Practice questions
- 1What is a running stitch?
- 2What is embroidery?
- 3Where does Chikankari come from?
- 4Name another embroidery of India.
- 5What is Bandhani?
- 6Which bird stitches leaves into a nest?
- 7How should you handle a needle?
- 8What happens if a thread breaks in a stitched piece?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Stitching up and down in a line.
- 2Decorating cloth with stitches.
- 3Lucknow.
- 4Phulkari, Kantha or Kashmiri (any one).
- 5A tie-dye craft.
- 6Tailorbird.
- 7Carefully, with an adult nearby.
- 8The stitches may come loose.
Reusing and recycling cloth
A small shirt becomes a younger sibling's shirt, then a duster, then part of a quilt. Nothing is wasted.
In India people rarely throw away clothes. They reuse them by passing them to younger siblings or others, and recycle them by turning scraps into quilts, mats, table cloths or cleaning cloths. Joining many small pieces to make a quilt is an old tradition. Using old cloth reduces waste, saves resources and keeps creativity alive.
In the figure: Old cloth can have many lives.
Key point 1: Reuse
- Easy : Pass clothes that no longer fit to someone who can use them.
- Medium : Repair tears and sew buttons instead of throwing away.
- Exam-type : Share with the community.
Key point 2: Recycle
- Easy : Join small scraps to make a mat, coaster or quilt.
- Medium : Use old cloth as a duster.
- Exam-type : An exhibition of such crafts can inspire others.
Reduce, reuse and recycle apply to clothes too.
Throwing away clothes that can still be mended.
Cloth: Wear, Share, Repair, Remake. Memory clue: "WSRR".
Spot the difference
| Action | Example | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Reuse | hand clothes to a sibling | less waste |
| Repair | sew a button | longer life |
| Recycle | quilt from scraps | new object |
Practice questions
- 1What does reuse mean for clothes?
- 2Give one example of recycling cloth.
- 3Why should we not throw away old clothes?
- 4What is a quilt?
- 5How can you fix a button?
- 6Who can use clothes that no longer fit you?
- 7Name one thing you can make from scraps.
- 8Why is mending good for nature?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Using the same clothes again.
- 2Making a mat or quilt from scraps.
- 3They can be reused or recycled.
- 4A cover made by joining small pieces of cloth.
- 5By sewing it with needle and thread.
- 6A younger sibling or someone in need.
- 7A coaster or a table mat.
- 8It reduces waste.