The Wonder of Handwoven Textiles - Jaspe
Occasionally I get a little giddy about handwoven textiles and the way they are made. (Yes, I am a little nerdy like that.) This is the case with Guatemalan jaspe (pronounced "has-pay"). If you’ve ever wondered what makes handwoven textiles so enchanting, jaspe might just be your answer.
On a recent adventure to Guatemala, we had the pleasure of visiting Salcajá, the heart of jaspe (known as ikat in other parts of the world) production. Picture this: an entire town immersed in the handwoven textile magic. It was like stepping into a living, breathing textile art book!
I first read about the jaspe process in a Guatemalan textile guide, which mentioned a vast field near Salcajá's river where cotton strings are meticulously tied and sorted—kind of like a football field-sized crafting zone. Curious and eager, we set out to find this very field. Upon arrival, we saw locals deftly wrapping strings around poles and knotting them. We watched in awe, though I’ll admit, understanding the entire process was a bit of a stretch for me! In extremely simple terms, the magic involves knotting threads, dyeing them, and then weaving them—think of it like a sophisticated version of tie-dye.
Once the knots are removed (or sometimes re-tied and re-dyed), the thread is carefully organized and threaded onto looms. And here’s where the real wonder happens: as the weaving progresses, beautiful patterns—like butterflies, hearts, and fruits—emerge almost by magic. It’s AMAZING how they manage to tie knots in the threads BEFORE THE WEAVING to create such stunning designs!
We’re thrilled to announce that this week, we’ve received a fresh shipment of two exquisite jaspe products. Both are crafted from upcycled Mayan skirts, or “cortes,” and transformed by our talented partners at Ruth & Naomi into gorgeous cloth napkins and—wait for it—Christmas tree skirts! The vibrant colors, especially the versatile indigo jaspe napkins, will elevate any table setting and add a touch of charm to your home.
