Tucson Lifestyle Home & Garden Magazine-Winter 2002

Mexican Sarapes

by Donna McMenamin

One circumstance must be observed by all who travel in Mexican territory. There is not one human being or passing object to be seen that is not in itself a picture: the chance horseman who passes with his sarape of many colors, his ornamented saddle, Mexican hat, silver stirrups, and leather boots—all is picturesque.  From Life in Mexico by Fanny Calderon de la Barca 

While the arrival of the Spaniards is often construed as disastrous for Mexico in many respects, there were many positive changes that occurred during this time. One of the most productive transformations that occurred was in the art of weaving. It took a giant leap forward and was forever altered due to two important commodities brought by the Spaniards—sheep and the pedal loom.

Weavers in Mexico had been working with cotton, feathers, rabbit hair and dyed threads, but sheep’s wool was new to them. They soon learned from their Spanish instructors how to card and spin this new material.  They must have been amazed at how tightly the wool could be spun, which in turn would yield an extremely fine and durable material for weaving. Continue PageTwo