In A third group of patterns is the corak berjalur
which is the striped of banded group of patterns. In
this group are the vertical weft stripe (corak melintang)
and the horizontal weft stripe (corak berdiri). A fourth
group of patterns used in songket is the chevron pattern
or corak siku keluang a zig-zag structured motif which
is often found on the badan kain and sometimes in the
kepala kain. Songket woven with checked patterns or
corak petak catur or tapak catur resemble the squares
on a chestboard. The corak beragi and the corak Bugis
are member motifs of this group.
The sixth group and a very interesting one is the corak
pucuk rebung (bamboo shoot), a pattern regarded by many
as one of the most dominant and well-known of songket
patterns. This isosceles triangle-shaped motif is a
symbol of fertility. It is usually employed on the kepala
kain and contrasts with the motifs of the badan kain.
The popularity of the pucuk rebung can be gauged by
its appearance not only on songket sarong or samping
(men's short sarong wrapped around the waist) but are
also seen on waistbands (bengkung) and at both ends
of the selendang (stole) and kain panjang (long shawl).
Among the more popular pucuk rebung is the pucuk rebung
lawi ayam a motif that looks like a flower with a long
stem supported by a bunch of leaves or 'feathers' on
either side. The pucuk rebung berjuang is any such motif
so arranged that their pointed ends meet at the centre
of the kepala kain.
The last group of patterns is the tepi kain or border
patterns that run along the selvages of the fabric.
It acts as the border intersection of a sarong or selendang
(stole). Some of the motifs thaiserve to decorate these
borders are: kendik tali (twisted rope of S or Z shapes),
bunga kerawang (tendrils), gigi yu (shark's teeth),
pagar istana (palace fencing) and awan larat (trailing
clouds).
These are some of the more infinite variety observed
in the songket. Over a hundred motifs have been handed
down from weaver to weaver over the ages. Although a
few modern ones have been created and interwoven sporadically
in the fabric of the weaver's world, yet the beauty,
harmony and magnificence of the traditional ones still
and will reign supreme on the songket that adorns royalty
and the common people, and also those who have developed
a love for the 'queen of handwoven fabrics'.