Songket cloth is brocaded (sungkit or nyuntik; decorated with an extra weft) with metallic thread. This cloth is worn during weddings and other religious occasions by the royal family and the upper class.
Songket on display at the Bali Museum in Denpasar.		Songket worn at a 2007 royal wedding in Ubud, Bali.

Songket cloth is backstrap woven in Sidemen, Bali. It may be purchased from Pelangi in Sidemen, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia (telephone 366 23012). This weaver was too quick for me to properly photograph in sequence. As she moved forward and backward, she pressed her feet against the front brace of the loom to increase and decease the tension as needed, changed the sheds, and inserted the weft at lightning speed!
Supplementary metallic weft is inserted.	The shed is changed.	More SMW is inserted.

The shed is again changed by pulling up another string heddle.	The beater is inserted to help open the shed.	The cotton weft is passed through.

SMW is carefully placed.	The shed is again changed by pulling up another string heddle.

Beater placement assures that only warp along the edges is raised for the SMW.	More Supplementary Metallic Weft is carefully inserted.

The shuttle is passed through.	A bamboo shuttle holds a bobbin of cotton thread.

LINKS:
Batik of Java and Bali, Indonesia
Ikat Weaving in Bali, Indonesia
Rawhide Shadow Puppets and Dance Accessories in Bali, Indonesia
Traditional Painting in Bali, Indonesia
Filigree in Java, Indonesia
Kris in Java and Bali, Indonesia
Gamelan in Bali, Indonesia
Woodcarving in Bali, Indonesia
Stone Carving in Bali, Indonesia
Water Buffalo Horn Carving in Bali, Indonesia
Terracotta Roof Tiles in Bali, Indonesia
Art-Batik of Cameroon, Africa
Shibori in Japan
Katazome (stencil dying) in Kyoto, Japan
Backstrap Weaving in Jacaltenango, Guatemala
Backstrap Weaving School at Santa Maria del Rio, Mexico
Backstrap Woven Shawls of Esperanza Valencia Morra of Morelia, Mexico
Maya Hair Sashes Backstrap Woven in Jacaltenango, Guatemala book
Foot-Loom Weaving in Central Mexico
Ikat Shawls of Uriangato and Moroleon, Mexico
Gobelin Tapestry Weaving in Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico
Backstrap Woven Ikat in Mexico
Footloomed Woven Ikat in Mexico
Toba Sashes of Argentina with Pickup Motif
Adinkra in Ntonso, Ghana
Ashanti Kente Weaving in Bonwire, Ghana
Ashanti Kente Weaving in Adawomase , Ghana
Ewe Kente Cloth Weaving in Denu, Ghana
Painting and Baskets of Sirigu, Ghana

Recommended Book:
Songket Weaving in Indonesia, by Suwati Kartiwa, published by Djambatan, Jakarta, Java, Indonesia, 3rd edition, 1996, ISBN 979-428-130-1.

Highly Recommended Non-Governmental Organization: Threads of Life

Recommended Guide: Rudy (arranged through Tutut) was my fabulous bilingual guide and driver in Bali.

Web page, photographs, and text by Carol Ventura in 2007. Please look at Carol's home page to see more about crafts around the world.