Priscilla will
include written information on "Interesting Facts About the Guatemalan
Textiles, FAQs and Care Instructions"
with each order.
Q: When/how
did you decide to incorporate Guatemalan hand-woven textiles in your art quilts?
A: It evolved as a very natural, comfortable thing to do. Being Guatemalan
and proud of my heritage, I wanted to imprint my cultural identity into my work.
The fact that I do not have a quilting background, (which at first I thought
was a great disadvantage), helped me in using the "G's", because I've
always had the freedom to experiment and try out new things, without being limited
by the rules. For
me, this is a wonderful way of representing my country and my people in a positive,
beautiful light.
Q: What are
the qualities you like most about the "G's"?
A:
1. The fabric has character! It adds a lot of personality to my designs. The
slight irregularities which may appear on the textile, are inherent to the natural
cotton fibers and the ancestral hand-dyed and hand-woven techniques used in
its making. These irregularities only enhance its one-of-a-kind beauty, add
character and make its quality unique in the world!
2. Viewed through my senses, I like its unique beauty, its handmade, rustic
quality, its rich texture, its feel, its strong colors, all those stripes and
Ikats!
3. When working with it, I like its body, its stability and how it holds its
shape when ironed. On the other hand, the looser weave makes it very fudgeable!
When sewn together with lighter weight fabric (which I do all the time), iron
seams towards the lighter weight fabric. When sewing two "G's" together
press seams open to avoid bulkiness. I recommend the use of steam.
4. The fabric is reversible! This is a wonderful feature when working with symmetry,
or when you made a mistake and forgot to turn over your template for cutting
reverse pieces!
Q: Are these
ethnic textiles, each one used by one ethnic group only, or does the weaver
just create whatever looks good to him?
A: All the textiles are typically and exclusively Guatemalan. There are
26 different Mayan ethnic groups in the country. Traditionally, each community
within these groups does have a distinctive use of patterns, designs and colors,
so much so, that you can recognize where a specific fabric came from. This still
holds true with the clothes the Indians wear daily. Now, in modern times, there
is a lot more flexibility and creativity about this, and the weaver does have
the artistic license to create whatever he pleases. This has given us the widest
array of textiles possible!
Q: What style
should my quilt be, in order to use these textiles successfully?
A: : The "G's" are so versatile they fit into many different
styles. You'll find lots of stripes and Ikats, plaids and solids in many colorways:
brights, subdued, darks. Some are more cosmopolitan, others typically Guatemalan
(bolder colors, Mayan designs, multicolor schemes). There are many patterns
to suit every taste. Depending on how you incorporate them into your design
and composition, they can become contemporary, African, ethnic, naïf ,
Mayan, even traditional Take risks using more daring fabric choices…you'll
be so glad you did! I can assure you that your quilts will never be the same!
PREWASHING:
This is a must! Always prewash all Guatemalan textiles before sewing them into
your quilts or garments. Here's how to do it:
· Zigzag or serge edges, to prevent excessive fraying.
· Separate fabric by color: darks and lights. You should be particularly
careful with reds, as they tend to bleed the most.
· Put them in the washing machine, gentle cycle, water temperature hot/warm
(wash/rinse).
· Add 1 teaspoon of Retayne for every yard of fabric. This is a fixative
that'll ensure that colors don't run and stay bright.
· Don't worry if the water in the machine is tinted dark, this is the
excess dye coming out, and will not stain your fabrics.
· Take the fabrics out of the washing machine as soon as the cycle is
finished, they should not be left damp since they could stain.
· Put them in the dryer, using coolest temperature, for half-an-hour
or so. Take them out and hang them to complete the drying process.
· Ironing at this point is optional, not necessary.
SHRINKAGE:
Due to its handmade nature, the fabric does shrink an average of 5% - 8%, after
being washed. Please, take this into account when calculating yardage.
IRONING:
Since the fabrics are 100% cotton, they are very stable and hold their shape
wonderfully when ironed. I recommend the use of steam to make this process even
easier…it makes them lie flat as a pancake!
FADING:
Guatemalan textiles may fade over time just as any other 100% cotton fabric
so it's best to keep them away from direct sunlight.