Weaving Work – Bhujodi

Bhojudi weaving is a craft that takes name from. Bhojudi village. There is small village in kutch where this craft is practiced. This village is known for weavers which is famous for exquisitely traditional textiles of kutchi shawls., stoles and blankets.

Usage: –

Weaver’s create shawls and stole; carpets and placemats are being made lately. These products are created to bear the harsh winters and cotton is used to weave summer garments. This ensures flourishing business.

Significance: –

It takes around 10-12 days to weave a single shawl and around 5-6 sharks of same designate woven each time. These craftsmen work on hand on patterns and intricate designs. These type of weaving takes months to complete. There is an elaborate shawl being designed by him and took an entire year to complete. Kutchi shawls have received GI – Geographical indication.

The division of labour in bhojudi weaving is decided by amount of physical extension and stamina is required. Men sit at looms and women do the yarn making and ready the looms.  The intricate patterns are worked and unique technique of weaving motifs by lifting wraps. The craftsmen train their children to weave from young age and skill is passed from one generation to another generation.

Design:

• Shawls are made from wool but craftsmen now explore the other material like silk and cotton.
• Weaving traditional motifs and contemporary modifications suggested to them by designers.
• The shawls are having beautiful borders on shorter length and made in natural colors of wool or dyed to suit client requirements. 
• Popular colours like blue, indigo, green, off white, black etc.
• Most popular embellishments like kutch are Bandhini, Ahir, Rabari, Mutwa, mirror embroideries  
• Different designs or patterns which are interprets inter spread with motifs running throughout the the body.
• Even tie dye technique is incorporated and added value to it.
• Border sizes differ from shawl to shawl.
• Border of 18 inched are mostly for males. The shawls or stoles finishing is done using colorful tassels. This is characteristic feature of kutchi weaving.

 Different types of shawls –

• The traditional Dhabda is woven into two parts due to small width of looms. They are pierced together using traditional looms known as khelvani.
• Motif resembles like a tree known as Jhar.
•  distinct feature of kutchi weaving style religious connotation and mandala representation.
• Wrap based design on temple like figure with a thick base. Done on black and white weave.
• Pattern that requires steps in the making.
• Drum shaped motif.

Challenges –

• This craft requires high levels of focus and expertise
• Craftsmen to put lot of effort to get that craft piece together ..
• Health concern – sore arms, poor eye sight and stomach problems.
• Craft takes long time to hand weaving at a stretch and any error will lead to start the entire process all over again.