The ikat technique is used in many different cultures. It consists of creating a warp, or the vertical yarns in a fabric, and repeatedly binding off sections and dying them. Once all the colors have been dyed, the weft, or horizontal yarn is woven through creating the final product. The seeping of dye into the edges of the bound sections is what gives ikat its unique jagged appearance. The pattern often dictates size, and this one needed to be big, making a bold statement on a bed or sofa. We backed the silk and cotton ikat with linen velvet for dual duty.