Kullu
Woolen Shawls may be made out of Australian merino wool or local
sheep wool that are cleaned, carded and spun at the spinning mills
at Kullu, etc. The fiber is soft and well in worth.
Most of the Kullu shawls are prepared in this quality wool tinted in diverse
colors. At times hand- spun Merino wool may also be used for the
weft in the case of the hand- spun array of shawls.
Usually the count of the yarn used for the body ranges
from 2/44's to 2/ 50's. The count of the reed used maybe 36's, 40's
or 42's. Most commonly, a 2/ 48's warp is woven using a reed of 42's
count- this is considered to be the ideal combination for weaving
the ground fabric as well as the patterned border of the shawl.
Local Wool
This is the wool acquired from sheep bred in Himachal Pradesh. Most
of them are migratory. In summer, the sheep migrate from the villages
in the lower plains to the higher up Himalayan paddocks for grazing
with the Gaddies or local shepherds. Through the glacial iciness,
the sheep are brought back to their villages in the lower Himalayas.
These sheep are sheared twice a year during the autumn and spring
seasons i.e. in the months of September and April.
This wool is obtainable in natural white, black, grey
and brown. Due to its coarseness, local wool is usually used for
floorings and blankets. |
