Khit Fabrics
Raised Embroidered Pattern Cotton
The Fabrics under the Magic Spell
Chaiyaphum Province
The Khit Textiles
The Khit textile of the villa e of Ban Noen Than in the North East of Thailand is a unique product of local wisdom handed down through generations. The manufacture of it is an activity that can be seen being performed under most households b many residents in their free time before and after rice harvest.
The word comes from Sakit meaning to nudge or to scratch off. This refers to the action by which the Weaver uses sticks to pick up yarns from the warps in the weaving process while producing special wefts to make raised embroidered patterns across the loom. Khit weaving is an art learnt within the community and high levels of expertise, attention to detail, and imagination are required.
Many of the designs are taken from nature, such as the pattern of orange's jasmine flowers. Weavers have adopted these flowers as traditional pattern for their Khit textile because of their significance in Thai society. The flowers are pure white in color, have a sweet fragrance, and have long been regarded as a sign of virtue. Because of this, they are arranged on trays and used as offerings to Budhist monks at temples, in wedding ceremonies, as gifts for respected persons, and on major merit-making occasions. For these, a pagoda pattern may also be woven on a long flag and erected as an offering to the temple. Other designs include horses, elephants, and roosters. Khit textile is also woven as shawls and scarves and worn by villagers at merit-making functions. .
The word comes from Sakit meaning to nudge or to scratch off. This refers to the action by which the Weaver uses sticks to pick up yarns from the warps in the weaving process while producing special wefts to make raised embroidered patterns across the loom. Khit weaving is an art learnt within the community and high levels of expertise, attention to detail, and imagination are required.
Many of the designs are taken from nature, such as the pattern of orange's jasmine flowers. Weavers have adopted these flowers as traditional pattern for their Khit textile because of their significance in Thai society. The flowers are pure white in color, have a sweet fragrance, and have long been regarded as a sign of virtue. Because of this, they are arranged on trays and used as offerings to Budhist monks at temples, in wedding ceremonies, as gifts for respected persons, and on major merit-making occasions. For these, a pagoda pattern may also be woven on a long flag and erected as an offering to the temple. Other designs include horses, elephants, and roosters. Khit textile is also woven as shawls and scarves and worn by villagers at merit-making functions. .
The khit pattern is thus derived from a traditional background and draws on the imagination and skills of the weaver. This background may involve wondrous stories and show unique expertise on each piece of cloth. For example, one such story is about a strange ordination ceremony called Buat Nak Hhot -Brutal Ordination. This occurs every year during the days of the waxing moon in the sixth lunar month. Those who are to be ordained ‘Nak’ are carried on a bamboo frame as part of a procession through the community.
As the procession progresses, the participants are constantly thrown up and down in an effort to make them fall off! Those who do fall off cannot be ordained. The traditional belief is that the ceremony acts as a test of endurance for the young men wishing to be ordained as monk, a tough and difficult existence. Prior to the ordination day, the successful young men visit relatives and respected persons in the local community to ask for ordination leave and forgiveness for wrong doings in the past They cover their heads with special pieces of red khit textile complete with beautiful designs and trimmed with colored beads, passed down through generations of their families.
As the procession progresses, the participants are constantly thrown up and down in an effort to make them fall off! Those who do fall off cannot be ordained. The traditional belief is that the ceremony acts as a test of endurance for the young men wishing to be ordained as monk, a tough and difficult existence. Prior to the ordination day, the successful young men visit relatives and respected persons in the local community to ask for ordination leave and forgiveness for wrong doings in the past They cover their heads with special pieces of red khit textile complete with beautiful designs and trimmed with colored beads, passed down through generations of their families.
In such a way, khit textile is a very significant item of the people of Ban Noen Than, kept in a special place and treated with great
Auntie Rabiap as a skilled weaver said that: The secret of our khit cotton here lies in the development of patterns from the original ones, so that new forms emerge with color schemes to suit the patterns. Therefore our khit textile is distinctive and striking when compared with the same type of textile from elsewhere.
Khit textile products have taken on a diverse range of forms, as cloth for dress-making, finished garments, shawls, handbags, table runners, mattresses, and pillows. The receipt of OTOP Champion 3—Star, 4-5tar and 5—Star Awards in 2OO7 and recognition from various other institutions confirm the quality and beauty of the khit cotton textile of Ban Noen Than. It is gratifying to find a community that appreciates its heritage and perpetuates its traditions by focusing on encouragement of its young people. Each Friday, boys and girls display their community`s distinctive products by wearing khit patterned shirts to school.
Any persons interested in finding out more about the ancient art of khit textile or buying some examples of the material and/or products should visit the village. To get there, travel from Chaiyaphum on Highway 201 in the direction of Kaeng Khro and keep a lookout for the Women's Weavers Group of Textile of Noen Than in Phu Khieo District of Chaiyaphum province.
Producer: Women Weaver’s Group of Khit Textile of Noen Than
Ban Nnoen Than, Nong Tum Sub-district
Phu Khiao district, Chaiyaphum province
Information from OTOP Stories from Thai Local Wisdom Book by OSMEP
Auntie Rabiap as a skilled weaver said that: The secret of our khit cotton here lies in the development of patterns from the original ones, so that new forms emerge with color schemes to suit the patterns. Therefore our khit textile is distinctive and striking when compared with the same type of textile from elsewhere.
Khit textile products have taken on a diverse range of forms, as cloth for dress-making, finished garments, shawls, handbags, table runners, mattresses, and pillows. The receipt of OTOP Champion 3—Star, 4-5tar and 5—Star Awards in 2OO7 and recognition from various other institutions confirm the quality and beauty of the khit cotton textile of Ban Noen Than. It is gratifying to find a community that appreciates its heritage and perpetuates its traditions by focusing on encouragement of its young people. Each Friday, boys and girls display their community`s distinctive products by wearing khit patterned shirts to school.
Any persons interested in finding out more about the ancient art of khit textile or buying some examples of the material and/or products should visit the village. To get there, travel from Chaiyaphum on Highway 201 in the direction of Kaeng Khro and keep a lookout for the Women's Weavers Group of Textile of Noen Than in Phu Khieo District of Chaiyaphum province.
Producer: Women Weaver’s Group of Khit Textile of Noen Than
Ban Nnoen Than, Nong Tum Sub-district
Phu Khiao district, Chaiyaphum province
Information from OTOP Stories from Thai Local Wisdom Book by OSMEP