I had the opportunity to tag along with a group of 20 10th and 11th grade girls from the Agnes Irwin School on a trip to Peru. My cousin was putting this trip together for the school. Since I am a weaver and we were to spend some time with a host family at their weaving co-op, she thought I had to come on this trip with her. The trip was amazing and the girls were great. Their task was to build a web site for the co-op. I will pass that along as soon as it is put together.
This is part of the weaving co-op. These ladies sit on small stools and weave on the backstrap looms all all day. They set up their wares on wooden tables around the room for visitors to view and purchase. The cloth tied around the neck is worn by most woman. It is two pieces of cloth woven and sewn down the middle. Woman used these to carry their children, purchases from the market or potatoes from the fields. The shoes everyone wore were made from tires. I don’t think they ever wear out. The younger girls start by weaving bracelets and belts before they learn to weave the more complicated larger pieces.
These are the dyes plants they use and the colors they get. They can alter a color by adding something to the dyepot such as salt or by how long the spun yarn is left in the dyepot.
This is Abuela teaching me how to spin. She is 84 years old. All of the co-op ladies were helping the girls learn the drop spindle. Abuela has Chaska (her 2 year old granddaughter) on her back sleeping in the cloth around her neck. Later in the day, Abuela came over to me and gave me her drop spindle to keep. I almost cried. She is so sweet. She does not speak English and I do not speak Spanish but somehow we are able to communicate (love of fiber, family?)
The ladies from the co-op came up to the main house and we all sat outside while they taught us to weave belts on a backstrap loom. After they spent hours working with us, they gave us the belts and the looms to take home with us.
Nice pics, Cindy! Also, nice tribute to your dad.
I found your site as I’m too tired (not lazy?) to get up and walk to the other PC where I have your e-mail. The Internet, nah PC’s make me sit more than I should! I’ll be running, soon, though!!
By: Charlie on August 1, 2008
at 10:15 pm