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Dhaka weave pattern loom

Also known as ढाका

Dhaka is a hand-woven Nepali cotton cloth in which coloured extra threads are laid in by hand, row by row, to build bold geometric bands of diamonds, stars and steps. It is best known as the cloth of the national cap and of shawls and scarves.

Play the previewAbout this tradition
Dhaka weave pattern loom: photograph by Masuriya-Hem chand
Photo: Masuriya-Hem chand, CC BY-SA 4.0, source on Wikimedia Commons
Dhaka weave pattern loom: the game in attract modeLive previewPlay

Runs in your browser, works offline once loaded.

How to play

  1. Choose a thread colour and a motif from the strip under the cloth.
  2. Tap a square to weave it: the same motif appears in the matching squares of every quarter, as the pattern repeats across the cloth.
  3. Match the small design shown above the cloth, then press Check.
Rules at a glance
  • The cloth repeats left to right and top to bottom, so every stitch you place is copied to its three partners.
  • A square counts only when its motif and its thread colour both match the design.
  • Three stars need a nearly perfect copy; you may undo or clear as often as you like.

About the tradition

Dhaka cloth has been woven in Nepal for several generations, with the hill town of Tansen and the Palpa district long known as its home; weavers still follow charts of geometric bands and many pieces are made on small narrow looms.

Origins

A living tradition passed from person to person; it is not tied to a single dated origin. It belongs to the cultural world of South Asia.

Credits

Sources

Get the app

Dhaka weave pattern loom is one of 17 textile crafts in the Textile Crafts of the World app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Submitted to the App Store and Google Play; in review. Store links appear here the day it goes live. One app, many traditions, no account needed.

See all 17 textile crafts in the app

In review on theApp StoreIn review on theGoogle Play

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