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Weaving Process

Traditional Mapuche Weaving Process

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The production of traditional woven products is a long and delicate process carried out in the home of the craftswoman, and can be broken down into the following stages:

Washing the Sheared Wool
The unrefined wool is washed thoroughly with extremely hot water to extract any organic material, skin oils or dirt that has adhered to it. Once clean, it is rinsed with cold water.

Drying the Wool
The washed, clean wool is left to dry on a flat surface in the open air or, if drying inside the house, near the heat of a kitchen stove or the wood-burning firepit. 

Carding the Wool
This stage consists of drawing out the pieces of sheared wool, and carefully separating the fibres so that they take on a soft texture and a very light weight.

Spinning the Wool
This process is still carried out using a spindle, a traditional instrument, or a distaff, a craft machine, and consists of twisting the fibres of carded wool to obtain a thread of the desired thickness.


The Hank
The spun thread is collected in equal loops, using an aspa, then washed again with soft soap. It may be used in its natural colour, in which case it is now ready to be wound into balls and woven, or it may be dyed.

Dyeing the Wool
Firstly, the vegetable product is selected, from which the desired colour to dye the wool is obtained. It is then boiled in water to facilitate the loosening of the color. Then the wet wool is added and after being boiled for a certain period of time, a substance used to fix the colour is added (salt, vinegar, flint, or copper sulphate).

Weaving the Wool
When the dyed wool is dry and the loom has been set up according to the measurements of the garment to be produced, the craftswoman starts weaving, feeding the wool into the huitral or loom. She uses her individual experience in interweaving the threads to create a unique product.