The Eye-Pattern Tubular Band of the Peruvian and Bolivian Highlands by Laverne Waddington

Bangles, bracelets, necklaces, fobs for keys and tools, shoe laces, straps and drawstrings for pouches, lanyards and eye-glass holders.... these are just some of the things that can be made using the woven eye-patterned tubular band. The band which is used by weavers to create decorative finishes in the Peruvian and Bolivian highlands can be as subdued or as colorful as you like using a minimum of two, or up to five and even more colors.

NOTE: An extended version of this ebook which includes other decorative sewing techniques is available here.

In the highlands of Bolivia and Peru, removing a piece of handwoven cloth from the loom is cause for celebration. However, it often also signals the end of just one part of the process and a whole new beginning of another which involves finishing the pieces with a series of colorful embellishments, such as this eye-pattern tubular band. The band is dotted with multi-color diamond or "eye" shapes, (ñawi, in the Quechua language of the Peruvian and Bolivian highlands).

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Dozens of step-by-step photos, diagrams, and drawings in this book will take you through the process of weaving these pretty bands as independent tubes. Tutorials show various ways to finish the bands and also how to use findings to create jewelry pieces and fun accessories.

Traditionally, the warp for these bands is attached to the weaver's waist, or even more simply, suspended between a finger and toe! However, when it is woven as an independent tube, the warp for the band can be easily set up and worked on an inkle loom or any other loom or frame that can be adjusted to allow for take-up. Full instructions for weaving the eye-pattern band as an independent tube on an inkle loom are included in the book.

Instructions in the Appendix, show how the method for weaving the independent tube can be adapted to better suit left-handed weavers.

Links are provided to video clips which have been designed to supplement and reinforce the thorough explanations in the book and are optional bonus materials. They are best viewed after you have read the tutorials in the book. Links within the pdf take you directly to each clip.

f you would also like to learn to use the eye-pattern band in the more traditional way in which it is simultaneously woven and sewn to the edge of cloth, a longer version of this book, which includes these instructions, is available. The longer version also has tutorials on two more decorative sewing techniques that are used by highland weavers to embellish their cloth. It includes bonus supplemental material on video for all these techniques.

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