Guatemalan Textiles Today

The rich heritage of varied and colorful textile arts - weaving, embroidery, looping, crochet - in Guatemala is now, through this book, accessible to today's weaver. The author, a professional photographers and writer, spent many years in Central America gathering material and documenting the various types of fabrics currently being made. The book shows the men and women at work producing woven garments and lengths of cloth, their looms and weaving setups and their materials. Special emphasis is placed on the specific techniques used to weave different kinds of cloth, especially supplementary weft patterning, long considered the highest achievement of Guatemalan weavers. After a brief review of the origins and history of Guatemalan weaving, the author discusses the background of the craft today, the lifestyle of the weaver, the traditional uses of the textiles, and recent weaving trends. The next chapter describes the different fibers used in textile production: how they are spun and dyed, and what types of looms and weaving apparatus are used. The various approaches to weaving throughout Guatemala are described and compared in a lengthy chapter on backstrap weaving (which includes techniques used in patter weaves, brocades, and gauze). A chapter on floor-loom weaving shows the equipment and weaving techniques for plain-weave, tapestry, and Jacquard-loom weaving, among others. The author also describes looping, embroidery, knitting, and crochet used for making bags and nets. The conclusion surveys new directions in Guatemalan weaving. The book conveys both the glory of the cloth produced and a portrait of the patience, skill, and exacting demands of the weaving craft. 225 black-and-white illustrations. 8 pages of color. Glossary. Annotated Bibliography. Index.