Backstrap Loom Weaving
with Timoteo Ccarita Sacaca

In this course, instructor Timoteo taught students to both construct and use a hand made backstrap loom. Students used hand dyed hand spun yarns brought from his home country of Peru.
Timoteo covered traditional woven designs and explain the indigenous cosmology of important Peruvian symbols and motifs.
"Many of the patterns used by Timoteo are interpretations of ancient Andean cosmology: from observations of the stars, repetitious motifs representative of rituals and energetic spirits and much more, where beauty and mystery coexist in the textiles."

Timoteo CCarita, is a master weaver of more than forty-five years. A dedicated traditional Andean weaver, Timoteo has spent a lifetime revitalizing the ancient traditional ways of weaving and preserving his culture’s textile heritage. In 2013, Timoteo was recognized by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture and was given the distinction of Meritorious Person of Culture (Personalida Meritoria de la Cultura) for his work in preserving and protecting Andean Textile arts and culture. Today, Timoteo continues to instruct young people, encouraging them to teach others and pass on their knowledge. He supports numerous weaving associations and maintains a group of ten or so other weavers from eight communities in the Pitumarca area, helping to market their work at his own shop space in Cusco.