This tic-dyeing process constitutes the ikat method, which came to indonesia along with the Dong-Sun Culture. There are three ways in which it is possible to obtain certain patterns, namely by applying the ikat method to the warp, by applying it to the weft, or to both.

As the warp has to be dipped into the dye-bath a second time after the threads have been tied up, the threads are not mounted from the beginning on the loom, but on a special frame, where they are tied by their ends. For the purpose of tying the threads, any substance can be used which does not absorb much dye, usually the so-called agel thread, obtained from the leaves of the gebang palm.

It is, of course, important to take the necessary care when tying the threads. If they are tied too loosely, the coloring matter will seep in, and the pattern will become blurred, thus giving a more picturesque effect.

There are various methods by which the required colors may be applied. The choice depends mainly upon the result desired. If one is content with just a simple pattern, a cloudlets; motif on a one colour ground, much less preparation is of course required than if one seeks to obtain more complex patterns in several colors.

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