Terme

The decorative and applied arts of Kyrgyzstan are bright, original, brilliant in their simplicity, and surprisingly diverse. The development of handicrafts and crafts among the Kyrgyz Republic was led by the practical, spiritual, and aesthetic demands of the household.

Weaving takes an important place among folk crafts. There are several types of patterned weaving - terme-taar, kadjary, beshkeshte. Terme is considered to be the most difficult of all types of weaving. “Terme” is a dense and thick fabric 3-10 cm wide with an uneven surface.

Today, thanks to the effort and hard work of modern craftswomen, the terme fabric is known to almost everyone. However, until quite recently there was a danger that this beautiful, rather complex method of weaving would disappear.

Terme fabric is manufactured via fumigation methods. Its popular name "terme" reflects this as it means prefabricated. In its production, the warp threads are created, gathered in pairs on a stick (tergich) during weaving, and temporarily, in connection with the pattern, removed from the interweaving of the warp and weft threads. These warp threads are later re-intertwined with the weft according to the pattern, at which point they enter the throat, and through one weft again protrude upward. This weaving technique explains the deepening of the dotted design in the fabric and results in a font-based mechanism. On the backside of the terme fabric, there are transverse stripes alternating in color.

The yarn for the terme warp is made from sheep and yak wool. It is prepared in the form of tightly twisted straight threads, which the craftswomen call "byshyk" (strong or durable). The weft contains dark-colored threads, as they are invisible. Such threads twist much more weakly.

Terme yarns are dyed with natural dyes obtained from various berries and plants. In fabrics made in recent years, combinations of gray and blue, blue and orange, and brown and yellow have been used. Natural brown wool is usually introduced to create the border line. An unpainted cotton thread is also used, with the help of which the pattern is created.

There are also terme stripe patterns called eki juzduu (double-sided). There is no wrong side to this pattern. Such terme is woven up to 6-8 cm wide and is used as a braid in the “jel boo” which hang down from the top of the dome of the yurt, allowing it to be seen from all sides. Contemporary designers have found another use for eki juzduu, using them as handles for bags. Terme was also previously, and continues to be, widely used in the manufacture of "ayak kap", "kurjun" (saddle bag), carpets, horse equipment and other various accessories.

Caring for such painstaking work requires a lot of attention and care since terme is made exclusively from natural wool. To preserve the integrity of the fabric, you need to use anti-moth sprays from time to time. You can clean or wash terme in a washing machine at 30 degrees. Terme paints do not fade, and the fabric itself does not stretch.

The Kyrgyz people highly appreciate the craftswomen who know this technique. This is reflected in folklore. In lamentations ("koshok") after the death of a good craftswoman, her art of weaving patterned terme is always highlighted