Through my textile souvenirs, I’m revisiting Peru today. One of the most wonderful textile souvenirs I’ve ever collected is this lovely arpillera from the markets in Aguas Callientes, the town nearest Machu Picchu. I’ve written about it previously so will focus on other things today.

It’s wonderful wall hanging, but I try to focus on practical textile/fibre art I can use when we get home. This table runner from Cusco, Peru is an example. While without doubt it was produced for the upper end of the tourist market, such things also offer insights into the best of local craftsmanship. In common with most cultures, weaving and embroidery go together, and Peru artisan markets and shops are a bewildering delight.

Those colours fit our decor perfectly, and I’ve used this table runner more or less continuously since our Peruvian trip in 2008. Raised in Australia to always hand wash anything made of wool, I had reservations about putting it into the delicates cycle of the washing machine – but eventually took the plunge several years ago, held my breath, and it came out beautifully. I take great care of it, and it needs washing only every 3-4 months. I hang it over the clothes airing rack before putting it back on the table, as there’s no way I’d let it find its way into the drier. If I didn’t take care to circumvent her, my wonderful cleaning lady would have it have it thoroughly washed and felted in no time flat 🙂

Writing about this souvenir had me searching for information about the chain stitch so widely used in the Ayacuchano area around Cusco, and I found this video explaining and demonstrating the plain simple chain stitch punta cadena and its variations punta crespo which are used to form fillings and textures, and all of them are used with stem, straight and satin stitch. There’s an academic paper to delve into, too, if your spanish is up to it, on how the Spanish colonisation broought European influences to indigenous textile making over time.

The next two things are in the bright colours which by far dominated everything on sale. Glorious riots of colourful textiles abounded in street markets and all the shops selling local artisan made goods.

I know, I’ve claimed to focus on practical things I can use at home – but I now confess I have never used this red bag for anything 🙂