Maguey Journey: Discovering Textiles in Guatemala

Chapters focus on maguey fibers in Guatemala and include history, botanical information, harvesting, fiber extraction, spinning, dyeing and patterns, and loom-woven (treadle, fixed-vertical, vertical, back-strap and horizontal looms) and non-loom or hand-construction (looping, knitting, ply-split darning and braiding, linking, crochet, interlacing, sprang, braiding, macramé and plait-coiling) techniques used to create bags, hammocks, rope, equestrian gear, tumplines and other products. Initially with a Fulbright grant, the author spent a year plus researching in rural Guatemala.