Traditional Zapotec Rug Weaving

Our guide Juan took us to see a demonstration of traditional Zapotec rug weaving.

Jesus Hernandez, whose family has conserved the traditional way of weaving rugs for many generations, walked us through the steps.

First the churro sheep wool is washed to remove the lanolin and any impurities.  Traditionally it was placed in a tall basket and was submerged in the river where the current can flow through the basket without the wool washing away.  A saponine containing root was used to rub against the sides of the basket and create suds.

 

Once the wool was clean and dry it was carded.

The carded wool was then spun into yarn.

After that the wool was dyed.  Red tones were made with cochinilla insect, as described in a previous post.  Lime juice (acid) is added to make it more orange and baking soda (alkaline) is added to make it more purple.  Blue tones are made with the indigo plant.  Yellow was dyed using marigolds.  Green tones are created by using either alge or mixing indigo with marigold.  Brown comes from the walnut.  Juliana's hand was used as a palate to demonstrate the different colors. 

 

 

Tree leaves containing tannic acid are used to make the colors in the died wool color fast.

 

The dyed wool is then woven into a rug. 

 

 

 

Children begin learning to weave around the age of 7, working on small pieces and repeating the same geometric designs over and over again until they are memorized.  As they get older they learn more and more complex patterns and work on larger pieces, and eventually learn how to weave curved designs and their own inventions.  Once they master all the weaving "building blocks" they can then weave any design that is desired.
 

 

 

 We had great fun looking at all the designs that were available in the rug studio.  The kids also enjoyed rolling themselves up like tacos in these masterpieces.  (Good thing they had permission to do so!)