Textiles of Oaxaca
Have you ever seen a big, warm blanket that your mom or dad uses to snuggle up with on the couch? Well, in a place in Mexico called Oaxaca (wa-ha-ka), they make these blankets and lots of other things like skirts and shirts and tablecloths.
The people who make these things use something called a loom. It looks kind of like a big box with strings going up and down and side to side. They start by taking some long strings called yarn and tying them to the loom. Then they use other strings to weave in and out of the yarn to make a pattern.
There are lots of different patterns they can make, like a simple stripe or a more complicated design with lots of pictures. Some of the designs are special to Oaxaca and have been made there for a long, long time.
Some of the yarn they use is very special too. It comes from a plant called the agave, which also makes something called mezcal (a very strong drink that is only for adults). The yarn from the agave is really tough and lasts a long time, so the things they make with it are very strong.
The people of Oaxaca are very proud of what they make and they show it off in big parades and festivals. Lots of people come from all over the world to see and buy their beautiful textiles. They work very hard to make sure the tradition of weaving is passed down from generation to generation so that it never goes away.
The people who make these things use something called a loom. It looks kind of like a big box with strings going up and down and side to side. They start by taking some long strings called yarn and tying them to the loom. Then they use other strings to weave in and out of the yarn to make a pattern.
There are lots of different patterns they can make, like a simple stripe or a more complicated design with lots of pictures. Some of the designs are special to Oaxaca and have been made there for a long, long time.
Some of the yarn they use is very special too. It comes from a plant called the agave, which also makes something called mezcal (a very strong drink that is only for adults). The yarn from the agave is really tough and lasts a long time, so the things they make with it are very strong.
The people of Oaxaca are very proud of what they make and they show it off in big parades and festivals. Lots of people come from all over the world to see and buy their beautiful textiles. They work very hard to make sure the tradition of weaving is passed down from generation to generation so that it never goes away.