By Elisabeth Uru Ndaya, S.Pd

On Saturday, December 4, 2020, the weaving group of Tanatuku continued the unfinished training on tying the motif. The activity was started at 13.00-17.00 WITA accompanied by Mama Yustina as the trainer. The progress of training through all the weaving stages was shown by the participants’ improvement, some are very good although there are still some mistakes, such as the knots that had to be opened and repeated because the ties were not tight enough. From this mistake, the trainer reminded that if the thread ties are not tight, the motif will not show the designed motif. The participants also realized that the quality of their weaving was determined by the persistence in practices. They were excited to fix it again. That is how the beginners have to go through a long process, from being unable to be able.

Besides the process of completing the yarns tying stage, the participants also prepare colouring materials for the 20 sarongs that are being worked on. If they want to use natural dyes, they have to think about how to get the materials, meanwhile, the natural colouring materials are not available nearby their place. The natural colouring plants are commonly found in the place where the weavers live. Luckily, Mama Yustina, the weaving trainer, comes from Lambanapu, a place of traditional weaving craftsmen and she has a garden for Indigofera plants.

On Sunday, December 6, 2020, after church service, the members of the weaving group accompanied by the trainer and several representatives from other weaving groups left for Lambanapu village, Kambera district to afford the natural dye. By using an open pick-up car, they spent about two hours for their journey. Although the group was wet because of the rain as it was the rainy season, it did not reduce the enthusiasm to get natural dyes. After arriving in the Indigofera garden, they were amazed by the vast Indigofera garden with its green and lush leaves. They immediately picked the leaves and put them in six big containers and returned to Tanatuku.

The Indigofera leaves are then cleaned and ready to soak in the provided container. The soaking process is carried out until they produce dregs and the soaking process is complete. Then the dregs of the Indigofera leaves are dried under the sun to dry. The last step is soaking the tied woven cloth into a container filled with water by mixing the dried Indigofera dregs. Let us continue the spirit of Tanatuku women, for the next stage.***