Information on Mexican Woven Rugs

History

• The earliest recollection of Mexican weaving begins with Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in 1540 when fragments of woven articles were found in caves in Mexico. Traces of war-ravaged items have been collected from Massacre Cave in Canon Del Muerte, often referred to as the canyon of the dead from previous wars of this time period. There could have been earlier woven products, but these are the earliest dated discoveries.

Several Uses

• Mexican rugs and blankets are interchangeable because they are one in the same. The only difference is the size and how you choose to display. Rug, blanket, throw, yoga rug and tapestry are some examples of how you may find Mexican Hand Woven Rugs listed for sale. They can range in size from 30 inches by 60 inches to use as a doormat to a large 8 feet by 5.5 feet that make beautiful tapestries. Original Mexican rugs are made of homegrown wool that gives more texture, durability and longevity than those that are mass-produced where polymeric yarn is often used.

Family Affair

• Learning to make handwoven Mexican rugs is not just a skill passed down from earlier generations to their offspring, but a family affair where everyone in a community pulls together and takes part in the creation. Sheep are raised to provide the wool that is boiled with vegetate dyes for color. These colors are gathered from cactus parasites for red, alfalfa for green, chamomile and marigolds for yellow and pecan shells for brown. After the dying process, the wool is spun into wool warp or yarn where the spinners show their skill. It takes many members of a family and community to keep this effort running smoothly.

How Mexican Rugs are Crafted

• Since original handmade Mexican rugs are made with warp thread (a thread that runs the entire length of the project), measurements must be calculated in order to have just the right amount of thread for one rug. An upright loom is used by sons, daughters, parents and grandparents to weave the intricate designs into the rug. Weaving each fiber horizontally by hand through tightly placed vertical threads is a slow task and takes much patience. There are no other rugs known that are hand crafted in this meticulous manner. When the rug is complete, one tiny warp thread can be seen on one end of the rug; a left over from the entire project that shows the accuracy in measuring the exact amount of yarn used for each rug.

Eye of God

• The colorful designs woven with reds, blues and yellows represent different legends of Mexican beliefs. For example, one popular style contains one or more symmetric diamonds that symbolize the four energy types contained in the human body. The Mexicans believe that by using physical, emotional, and mental and soul in unison, the body is able to work in harmony to fend off illness. Each diamond contains a figure that is referred to as The Eye of God, or butterfly, representing the wisdom of God that arrives on powdered wings. Moths and butterflies naturally have a thin powder on their wings. Through the Mexican belief, as the powder softly sheds, the wisdom of God is shared with humans.