Stages of the artisanal production of the cotton thread (Dokmai cushions)
Pick and prepare the cotton
During the harvest season, in November, they harvest the flowers of the plant five hours a day in the fields. Then, a small hand operated wooden mill separates the cotton flower from the seeds. In order to soften the cotton naturally, the women beat it with a piece of bamboo, then let it rest in the sun, giving it a new shine as it passes.
Thread the cotton
The small white flowers are then ready to be evenly wound around a metal tube, making spinning easier. This step is carried out using a handcrafted wooden roulette wheel and requires a lot of patience and vigilance. Discover the beautiful little film illustrating the spinning of cotton in the cooperative. The bobbin thus obtained is then unwound to form a skein of about 50 cm long which will be simmered several times in local and natural concoctions.
Colour the yarn and weave the patterns :
According to the desired color, the weavers use turmeric for yellow, blue with indigo leaves, red cucumber seeds for orange... Thanks to techniques developed over time, they deploy a warm range of colors. Finally, to see the colored thread is hung on the frame to be woven by hand the various delicate traditional patterns.
Discover below the time of artisanal work implemented by the women for 1 Dokmai cushion at each step:
A total of 10 minutes of craftsmanship is realised for each cushion.
Several weaving techniques exist and each ethnic group has its own method! The weaving methods influence the maximum and minimum widths and lengths of the woven pieces.