Lakiya - Weaving Process

					04/03/2008 DISTRIBUTER IN THE USA Please visit this web site for our distributer in the USA: www.bedouinweaving.com 15/09/2007 CONTACT INFORMATION Sidreh P.O.Box 1588 Omer 84965 Tel. 086519883 Fax. 086513031 Cell 06/06/2005 EXTENDED OPENING HOURS Our Showroom in Lakiya is open daily Sunday- Thursday 8:00am-5:00pm, Saturdays 10:00am-4:00pm 02/01/2004 OUR NEW LOCATION We are now located at the entrance of Lakiya, at the left side on the main street. Our telephone and fax are working as usual.

Lakiya purchases yarn from shepherdesses, who spin the fleece of local Awassi sheep into yarn on drop spindles.

The shepherdesses hang a bag containing carded fleece on their backs and pull the fleece over their shoulders to spin as they tend their flocks in remote areas of the Negev desert.

The spun yarn is wrapped into balls and then two strands are skeined together ready for dyeing.

Lakiya’s uses dyes and mothproofing of the highest quality. The coloured yarn is hung in the sun to dry.

Women then reball and ply together the two yarn strands on a larger spindle.

Weaving Process

Finally the yarn is then ready for weaving.

Lakiya’s rugs are woven on traditional ground looms, the same model that Bedouin women have been using for the last 4,000 years. Warpface ground looms are constructed from stones, ropes, sticks, cans and other readily available items. Traditionally, the width of a loom was measured by hand spans, and the length by circumferences of the head. Few women knew how to set looms and the loom setter was usually a woman of high social esteem who was often also the community midwife and herbalist. Today all of Lakiya’s weavers enjoy the special status of loom setters and independent earners.

For information on caring for a Lakiya weaving, click here.