TULE AND CHISPATA WEAVING
Tule and chuspata are materials originally worked in Michoacá near Pátzcuaro to make baskets and mats of different sizes. This technique is part of those shared by Vasco de Quiroga. There are three types of tule and chuspata fabric: chain, petate and twisted. The force necessary to make the baskets is admirable, they must be tight and with the pattern as clean as possible for the basket to be functional. It is woven in the family.
There is only one season for harvesting tule, so it must be stored for the rest of the year and is most often harvested by elderly people. The raw material must be cared for and stored in a safe place without humidity. To start knitting, moisten it a little. For large pieces, metal bases are used, which help give the piece more firmness and shape. Odi’s family has been working on the technique for years. She is a symbol of strength, tenacity and work.
LIMITATION
- There are three types of weaving: mat, chain and twist. They are shown in the images.
- To make large-format pieces or those that will have a load-bearing use, a metal base must be placed.
- Not recommended for outdoors.
- The color of the tulle is natural color, so it has variations.
TREATMENT
- You should clean the dust with a slightly damp cloth but try not to wet the basket too much.
- If it is to be used in a place with high humidity, we recommend giving the basket a lacquer coating.
- The pieces are made of natural fiber so they can be flammable if exposed to fire.
