Process of making a Ralli; Rallis are made in a simple way with only fabric, thread, needles and scissors. The top of the quilt (the decorated portion) is usually the work of one woman. She generally will work on the blocks as she gets time between the chores of the day. When the top portion is all pieced and sewn together, she will start to sew it together. A reed mat is placed on the ground. The cloth that is to be the back or bottom of the quilt is placed on the mat. On top of that is placed small scraps of fabric (usually 3-5 layers) that will be the filling of the quilt. These are basted to the bottom with large stitches. The top fabric is then positioned and it is sewn to the pieces starting from the outside edges. Often a group of women will work on sewing a quilt together (much likes the western quilting bee). The stitches are often very close together (1/8-1/2 inch apart) in long parallel lines extending the length of the Quilt. Ralli is made from love and affection and it is known that a ralli, “embodies all the romance and exoticism of the East.” Many rallis are made for dowries to this day, and the word ‘ralli’ means to ‘mix’ or ‘connect’. This fascinating quilting tradition is found in southern Pakistan and neighboring western India. These quilts, called ralli, are stunning in their designs, brilliant in their colors, and intriguing in their history. The designs - which include patchwork, appliqué, and embroidered styles - are reminiscent of motifs found on painted pottery from the ancient civilizations of the area. They date primarily from the mid- to late twentieth century and feature a wondrous array of designs and patterns that have been passed from mother to daughter and woman to woman for hundreds of years. Quilt descriptions identify where each quilt was made, design or pattern characteristics, type of fabric, and dimensions. The careful research provides intriguing information on quilt construction, colors, patterns, and regional variation of each quilt. The evidence of this age old tradition can be found or seen in the patterns that were discovered at mohenjo daro that is said to have the traces of oldest civilization. Even todays rallis follow the painted pottery of the Indus Region from over 3,000 years ago. Sindh is rich in culture and this richness is depicted fully in the ralli quilts and in the hard work that goes in making it a master piece. A Shahi or Royal Quilt takes 12 to 14 months as it involves all three types i.e. patchwork, appliqué and embroidery. I hope that these rillis can bring some of the pleasure and enjoyment to your life as they have to ours. We try to choose styles and colors that fit with various tastes in the best quality possible. We hope you can find some “treasures” to fit your life! In addition, we try to find communities where income from the sale of these textiles can help improve the quality of life and education of some otherwise poor communities.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:12:12 +0000
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