In the design part you can find the steps for getting your design ready for weaving. This section will give some tips on tools and weaving techniques.
At Surco Tapestry we work with a mix of very fine fibers that allow for a wide variety of bright colors. Because of its specialty we work together with dying specialists. They can create virtually any chromatic expression from natural to special dye.
The fibers we use include wool of the
Every fiber allows for its own special effects.
At Surco Tapestry Art we buy all our fibers. We don’t engage in spinning the wool. The spinning process depends on the fiber as well. For lama, guanaco, alpaca and sheep, it is often still done by hand using a pushka. After spinning double threads are twined, so they become very strong. As for cotton and silk, these fine fibers are fabricated.
In our workshops we can advise you as to what fiber mix allows for the best effect in your design, and what texture can accentuate important parts.
The tools you use have to be tailored to the fibers you use and the size and complexity of your design.
For tapestry weaving we use horizontal and vertical floor looms made of wood. This allows for a comfortable posture when weaving. Taking care of posture is very important to prevent any shoulder or back aches.
The looms are warped according to the size of the art work. Once the thread warps are in place, the cartoon is transferred onto the warps to guide the weaving work. Then, the fun can begin!
You can now begin to weave the butterfly yarns into beautiful designs as row by row, colors and textures emerge in images!
Some of the weaving techniques we use are tabby weaving, Rya knots, interlocking, soumak and weaving with roving. So, even as a beginner you can make a beautiful piece of art.
After the weaving process is done, the weave is taken off the loom. First, the long threads at the back of the tapestry are cut short and secured. Then you can double the borders and sew them nicely so there are no loose ends left.
Finally, the stretching process helps with the elasticity of the tapestry, as there is a change of tension when the tapestry is taken off the loom. By stretching the tapestry its final size will be defined.
At the end we clean the art from any dust and put a black stripe tape at the back so it is easy to hang the tapestry on the wall.
Once the tapestry has been cleaned and stretched, a Certificate of Authenticity will be stitched onto the back of the tapestry, signed by Hector Surco. You will, of course, sign your own piece of tapestry art!
Hector Surco was born in Cusco, the capital city of the Incas, in 1986. Since he was a child, he has shown his passion for drawing and painting. Like many children growing up in Cusco, his grandmother showed him how to weave and create textile art
Community of Ccaccahuara, Ancahuasi District, Anta Province, Cusco Department.