Weaving in Mesoamerica

An overview of Mayan weaving traditions

Presented by:

Stephanie Dodson

• Indigenous people in

Mesoamerica have

practiced weaving for

thousands of years.

Weaving in Mesoamerica

• The Mayans, Aztecs, and

Incas boasted vibrant

weaving traditions

characterized by bright

colors and intricate

patterns.

• Their descendants still

continue these traditions

combined with European

influences.

Weaving in Mesoamerica

Mayan Weaving• In Mayan culture, weaving was

central to a woman’s role in the

household.

• In addition to its economic

importance, weaving was

considered to have spiritual

elements.

• Today, Mayan descendants in the

Guatemalan highlands continue

these traditions.

“Well then, little girl,

This will be your hand

This will be your foot

Here is your work

With this, you’ll look for your food,

Don’t take the evil path,

Don’t steal

When you grow up

Only with these will you work

With your hand

With your foot”

--Traditional words spoken by Mayan midwife when

presenting a baby girl with her first weaving tools.

Ixchel

Ixchel, the Moon

Goddess, was the

Mayan patron of

weaving.

Ixchel• Ixchel was depicted sitting in

profile, with one end of her loom

tied to a tree and the other

around her waist. She is

weaving with the shuttle in her

left hand.

• Today, women in the

Guatemalan highlands weave in

exactly the same way.

Huipil

• Huipil (“wipil”) is the most common

traditional garment worn by indigenous

women from central Mexico to Central

America.

Huipil

• It is a loose-fitting tunic,

generally made from two or

three rectangular pieces of

fabric which are then joined

together with stitching,

ribbons or fabric strips, with

an opening for the head and,

if the sides are sewn,

openings for the arms.

Huipil• Huipils are heavily decorated with designs woven

into the fabric, embroidery, ribbons, lace and more.

• Some have intricate and meaningful designs.

• Ceremonial huipils are the most elaborate and are

reserved for weddings, burials, women of high rank

and even to dress the statues of saints.

Backstrap Loom• Traditional huipils are made with

fabric woven on a backstrap

loom.

• This is a simple loom constisting

of two sticks or bars between

which the warps are stretched.

• One bar is attached to a fixed

object, and the other to the

weaver usually by means of a

strap around the back.

Backstrap Loom• The weaver leans back and

uses his or her body weight to

tension the loom.

• Width is limited to how far the

weaver can reach from side to

side to pass the shuttle.

• The looms are used to produce

such things as belts, ponchos,

bags, hatbands and carrying

cloths.

Patterns Found on Huipil

Patterns Found on Huipil

Patterns Found on Huipil

Patterns Found on Huipil

Patterns Found on Huipil

European Influences

• The Mayans and Aztecs wore

huipils long before the arrival

of Europeans to the Americas.

European Influences

• Since the European

conquest, the huipil has

survived and evolved,

incorporating elements

from Europe and other

regions.

European Influences• The treadle (or foot)

loom was introduced

to Mayan weavers by

Spaniards shortly after

the conquest.

• Traditional weavers

still use a backstrap

loom.

Treadle loom

Backstrap loom

Weaving materials•Since pre-Colombian times, fibers from

the agave plant (“Ixtle”) were used to

make cloth.

•Both white and dark cotton are spun

into yarn for Mayan cloth. In ancient

times, cotton was expensive and used

mainly for ceremonial costumes. Today,

cotton is used in all types of weaving.

•Sheep were introduced to Mexico in the

16th century, and Maya spinning and

weaving practices expanded to include

wool.

Natural

agave

fibers

Cotton

threads

Wool blanket

Weaving Vocabulary

Huipil- Traditional

women’s blouse.

Weaving Vocabulary

Tocoyal- A piece of

cloth wrapped tightly

and worn as a circular

headdress.

Weaving Vocabulary

Malacatl- Wheel used

for spinning cotton and

wool.

Mayan Design Elements

Calendar symbols

•Symbolically mark the passage of

time.

•Some weavers make color

changes on the eighteenth,

twentieth, nineteenth and fifth rows

to make the eighteen months of

twenty days and the nineteenth

month of five days that comprise

the Mayan calendar.

•Others illustrate the solstices by

placing two bright spots in their

designs.

Mayan Design Elements

Universe Design

•Four sides represent the boundaries of space

and time.

•Small diamonds in each corner are the

cardinal points: east on top where the sun

rises, west at the bottom for the end of the day,

north on the left and south on the right.

•Often the east and west sides are colored blue

to represent the Caribbean Sea to the east and

Pacific Ocean to the west.

•At times a thin yellow line connecting east to

west shows the sun's path across the sky.

Mayan Design Elements

Ancestor Design

•Mayan communities have a strong

relationship to their ancestors.

•The ancestors watch over and guide

the living and speak to them in dreams.

•They don't represent the actual

ancestors of an individual, but are rather

supernatural symbolic beings who were

the first people to plant corn and live as

humans.

Mayan Design Elements

Flowery Flag

•This design represents

ceremonial flags used at

festivals and special

occasions.