The Foot Loom Weavers

Although most of us know how to weave on the backstrap loom, the first thing we did was learn to weave on the foot loom.  We shared one loom while we were learning. In fact, we learned so well we were able to use our very first fabric in the very first product we sold --these pink  cosmetics bags. Then  we added three looms, and  later another two. So, today we have six looms. Five of us weave full time, taking turns on each of the looms. We like to learn new designs, and have learned some more complicated designs using 4 pedals. Some of the fabrics we weave are simple, while others are more complicated, so it is nice to have the chance to take turns working on each of the different fabrics. The sixth loom is shared by three of the backstrap loom weavers who recently learned to weave on the foot looms and now split their time between weaving with the backstrap and weaving on the foot loom.

We weave with 100% cotton yarn that we buy from a shop in the town of Salcaja. We work closely with the owner, who does her own dyeing, to be sure the yarns are colorfast and true. She sells us the yarn already wound on plastic tubes so we don't have to spend time winding the yarn ourselves.  One day we dream of learning to dye our own yarns as well.

You can see on the photo of the cosmetics bag a hand embroidered symbol from our cosmovision. Quatrefoil flowers represent  portals to the other world. We Maya believe in a simultaneous  natural and supernatural worlds.