India’s craft from Rajasthan – Home linen from Rajasthani handicrafts

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Written By ms

Best of Home linen choices from Rajasthani handicrafts – Discover Rajasthan’s Bandhej, Leheriya, Blockprint, Pattu, Gota for bedsheets, cushion covers, curtains, tablecloths.

Have you heard about the fabrics of Rajasthani handicrafts? Living in India, you may be familiar with this delightful craft of Rajasthan. In one way or another, Rajasthan crafts are in your home. – as a fashion or as home décor. Yes, believe it or not, some of the popular fashion and home decor selections are from Rajasthan’s craft. One of your bedsheets, or cushion covers, a tablecloth, or a salwar suit comes from the tremendous treasure of Rajasthani fabrics. Let’s explore more.

rajasthani

Home linen – Rajasthani handicrafts

The glory of Rajasthan’s fabrics lies in its deep-rooted culture. The colourful hand-crafted cloth is an essential part of Rajasthani craftspeople.

Cultural roots

Rajasthani fabric making techniques go back to 5000 years. Today, they are part of living heritage. In Rajasthan, you see women wearing different forms of traditional fabrics.

Traditional produce

In Rajasthan, generations of people have been practising the art of crafting fabrics. Did you know that there are 862 mills in India? Rajasthan itself houses about 62 spinning mills.

Global fame

We all know, every Indian state offers its unique culture in handicrafts. One such craft that is famous worldwide is the royal Rajasthani fabrics. In recent trends, designers from the West choose to collaborate with the local artisans. The result is a unique Indo-Western style with origins in the roots of Rajasthani craft.

What are the types of Rajasthani home linen?

Here are the popular fabrics from Rajasthani handicrafts:
a. Block print
b. Pattu weave
c. Gota Bork
d. Rajai Guilt
e. Meghwal Embroidery
f. Bandhej Tie-dyeing 
g. Leheriya Tie-dyeing 


Home Linen from Rajasthan

Although when we think of Rajasthan, the first thing that comes to our mind is “desert”. Despite barren land, Rajasthan is a colourful state. It is known for its beauty, folk dance and colourful fabrics. You can find a wide range of fabric types and qualities here. Rajasthan is the original region of these Indian fabrics. It is the parent state for “bandhani” and other beautiful varieties. In recent trends, designers from the West choose to collaborate with the local artisans. This brings the beautiful Rajasthani handicraft in an Indo-Western style of fabric – a true fusion.

Rajasthani handicrafts
FabricRegionDesign PatternBest for
Block printJaipurFloral, leaf and geometric motifs Bedsheets, Curtains, Tablecloth, Cushion covers
Pattu weaveJaisalmerGeometric with borders, checksBlankets, Stoles and Shawls
Gota Bork JaipurFlowers, leaves, birds, animal motifsCushion covers, Border lace
Rajai GuiltJaipurPrinted fabricsBedsheets, Blankets
Meghwal Embroidery TharGeometric patterns of trianglesWall hanging, cushion covers, bedspreads
BandhejAlwar and BikanerTie-dye patternsBedsheets, cushion covers, blankets
LeheriyaAjmer and AlwarWave patternsWall hangings, bedspreads, curtains, tablecloths

Block printing 

Fabrics with Jaipuri block prints are a 500-year-old handicraft by the Chhipa community. Entirely done by hands, this art form requires years of practice to gain mastery. 

Process

This art form makes use of vegetable dye and mud resist (dabu) block prints. 

Designs

Floral, leaf and geometric motifs are the popular design patterns of block printings.

Popular items

You can find Block printing art in beautiful bed linen, curtains, cushion covers and table cloth. The block printing fabrics can surely bring a Rajasthan Royal look to your home. 


Pattu weaving 

The traditional Pattu originated in Barmer, Jaisalmer. Today, the craft of Pattu weaving is prevalent across the entire region of Rajasthan.

Process

Weavers of the Pattu handicrafts use sheep and camel wool for making blankets and shawls. 

Design

Geometric patterns made from horizontal borders or checks are the highlight of the Pattu weave designs. Popular styles are Kashida Pattu, Baladi check and Hiravali Pattu. Natural colours of beige, cream, black and brown are traditional choices. However, Pattu weave also comes in bright synthetic shades of orange, red, blue, pink and green.

Popular items

You can see the colourful Pattu weaving in the making of blankets, stoles and shawls


Gota Bork

Rising from Jaipur, this craft is gaining popularity since the times of Mughal Era. Gota Bork or Gota Patti is a favourite handicraft of the Rajasthani royal households.

Process

This Indian embroidery uses small pieces of zari ribbon to decorate the fabrics. This method also uses Zari, which is made of gold, silver, or copper. 

Design

During the Mughal Era, the artisans made use of real gold and silver for doing Gota work. But now mostly copper is used unless you are ready to spend more money on your outfit. Gota Patti is available in charming patterns that are inspired by the flora and fauna of the region- flowers, leaves, birds and animals are popular Gota motifs.

Popular items

Gota bork styles a decorative border on cushion covers, lacework and fashion items


Rajai Guilt Making 

We all want blankets that are warm and comfortable, especially during the winters. Isn’t it? Jaipuri Razai is a light-weight quilt that is exceptionally cosy comfortable.

Process

Jaipuri Razai makes use of both machine printing and handmade printing techniques. So, unlike the quilts you get anywhere in the world, Jaipuri Razai would rank the topmost among the rest.

Design

Jaipur fabrics are an excellent choice for making bedsheets and cushion covers. The designs are so unique and refined that is genuinely indisputable. I believe it’s the skill, hard work and precision of the craftsmen that make Jaipur fabrics so famous.

Popular items

Winter home linen such as duvets, blankets and quilts for all-weather use.


Meghwal Embroidery 

Meghwal embroidery is a traditional way of expressing art for the Thar desert people from Kolayat and Bajju village. 

kutch embroidery Rajasthani handicrafts
Sourced from Pinterest

Process

Apart from the unmatched skill of craftspeople, Rajasthan’s graceful embroidery art uses just a needle, thread and scissors. The craft boasts of a variety of local threadwork techniques such as 

  • Mucca with gold and silver thread, 
  • Kambhiri with double running stitch,
  • Suf with triangular forms, and,
  • Khare with satin stitch

Design

With roots in Pakistan, Kutch and Rajasthan, there is a distinct appeal to this handicraft. Meghwal embroidery shows densely packed geometric patterns of triangles. The fabric is also adorned with motifs of peacock, tree, temple and hill.

Popular items

The threadwork looks fabulous as a wall hanging, cushion covers, bedspreads. It also comes as the edge lace on curtains or tablecloths.


Bandhej Tie Resist dyeing

Bandhani is a much-liked fabric among women of all age groups. Frankly, it does look impressive in every design and colour. Being in practice since 5000 years, Bandhej is one of the oldest craft. It comes from Alwar and Bikaner

Process

This skilful art form involves dyeing a fabric, tightly knitted with a thread at several points.

Design

This fabric is available in many colour combinations; they help you add a touch of ethnicity to your home. Mothra, Ekdali and Shikari are the common patterns. 

Popular items

Famous across all of India, Bandhani fabric is everywhere. Some popular home linen items are bedsheets, cushion covers, and tablecloths.


Leheriya tie resists dyeing

Coming from Ajmer and Alwar, Tie and dye fabrics are the pride of Rajasthan. Tourists visiting Rajasthan from all over the world love Leheriya fabrics.

leheriya Rajasthani handicrafts
Sourced from shopolics.com

Process

This craft first rolls long lengths of Chiffon, cotton, silk, georgette or satin in a diagonal fashion. Next, these rolls are tied at intervals for dying.

Design

Leheriya pattern is famous for wave-like angular lines that are symbolic of flowing water. The fabric uses bright colours with distinctive patterns – each piece being unique. 

Popular items

The colourful stripe waves create a fabulous pattern design. It brings a casual vibe on large pieces of home linen. You can find it as wall hangings, bedspreads, curtains and table cloths.  


Why choose Rajasthani Fabrics?

Let me ask you something – do you wish for a unique and exclusive home décor style. Do you have a love for the hand-crafted and culturally rooted items?

Yes, we all desire for such a style. For your home, Rajasthani handicrafts offer an abundance of hand-crafted home linen. You see, Rajasthani fabrics are a limitless treasure of varieties. Situated in India’s north-west, Rajasthan’s culture is well-known for its folk dance and handicrafts. Surely, this region offers one of the most craft items. And, in all of the Rajasthani handicrafts, fabrics are most popular. Rajasthani Fabrics are world-famous. With several forms and styles, you can use the fabrics almost everywhere.

There is an inherent charm of these fabrics. The graceful local colours decorate your home with elegance. So, are you ready for a style upgrade at your home? Choose the fabric crafts of Rajasthan. It’s humble, it’s cheerful, and it’s tremendously stylish.