Cotton shawl, 'Red Chisec Ferns' (Guatemala)
Intricate geometric motifs in red adorn this shawl by Santa Maria Weavers. Working on the backstrap loom, they skillfully transform sheer white cotton into a work of textile art. Our inspiration comes from everything that surrounds us - here we depict the tiny little crabs on the river shore and luxurious ferns in the forest, they explain. The motifs are created with the traditional pic bil technique, which involves laying in thicker threads where the patterns are desired, giving the textile the appearance of embroidery.