WEAVING
Our colleague José and his partners showing the key stages of the weaving process.
MATERIAL PLANNING AND CALCULATION
To start with, José draws the patterns of the pieces that are to be produced. This is not an easy task, but José is an experienced craftsman who creates his own templates.
Before starting anything, he must carefully calculate how much of each colour of yarn is needed. The quantity varies according to the size of the yarn, the patterns and the stitches chosen.
For their creations, José and his colleagues use machine spun 100% baby alpaca yarn.
LOOM ASSEMBLY: WARPING AND THREADING
Then comes the assembly of the loom, which takes place in two stages: warping and threading. These two stages aim to install the warp yarns (vertical) on the loom and on the frames. This also allows for creating patterns.
Assembly takes time and requires attention to detail. Proper assembly guarantees correct yarn tension, which affects the texture and softness of the alpaca weavings.
WEAVING
The actual weaving can now begin. The weaver presses on the pedals with his feet in order to activate the frames of the loom. Using a shuttle, he can then cross the weft yarns (horizontal) with the warp yarns (vertical). The cloth then takes shape!
FINISHING
Many products like our shawls have beautiful patterns and openwork that must be finished by hand.
