Private Advanced Pikbil Weaving Week, Contact us to schedule
$1,000.00
We are honored to offer this special week-long Pikbil Weave experience in collaboration with master weaver Doña Margarita. The "pikbil" (also spelled "picbil") weave is a regional, gauzy open weave performed on a backstrap loom from Alta Verapaz. It is a gentle and stunning translucent weave that stands out in Guatemala where brocade tends to be heavy in weight and rich in color. It is fascinating to explore this great diversity in textile tradition.
This course is designed for Monday to Friday, with Doña Margarita traveling to Antigua from her community (which could take up to 10 hours) and staying in Antigua for 7 nights in order to teach every morning from Monday to Friday. The course fee covers all expenses for Doña Margarita's stay in Antigua as well as her travel to and from.
To learn more about the historical and cultural context of this special open weave, we recommend watching the documentary Sheer Elegance: Surviving Strands of Ancient Maya Weaving by Endangered Threads.
See a little glimpse below, starting with warping.
Read how the first week-long session went on our blog.
What's included?
- 5 days of one-on-one instruction with master weaver Doña Margarita, each morning from 9:00am - 12:30pm at our studio in Antigua Guatemala. (Total 17.5 hours of instruction)
- Kakaw staff assistance, facilitation, expert local input (If you would like to add Spanish-English interpretation, please select that at the drop-down menu)
- all materials to create your own loom
- a physical pikbil sampler (textile piece) to guide the weaver for supplementary weft motifs
- our PDF guide to this course with 10+ pre-recorded videos to highlight the many steps involved in the loom set-up, starting with warping. It includes starching, preparing the "chocoy" string heddle, setting up the loom with spacing for an open weave and switching the warp rods to allow for a four-selvage weave, and more.
- a small snack every day
- a printed Antigua Guide with our favorite restaurants and stores for you to explore during your free time
Schedule:
Please keep in mind that this one-on-one format allows flexibility and personalized instruction. There is no "fixed" progress, learn and practice as you'd like!
Monday 9:30am-1:00pm: Introduction and warping demonstration with the thin, gentle pikbil cotton. Separately, a loom will be partly already prepared to facilitate the experience.
Tuesday 9:30am-1:00pm: Open plain weave using the gentle thin cotton.
Wednesday 9:30am-1:00pm: Pikbil figures on the loom with additional weft threads.
Thursday 9:30am-1:00pm: Continue with pikbil motifs of your choice with supplementary weft threads inserted.
Friday 9:30am-1:00pm: Advance at your own pace. Take advantage of the master weaver's attention -- have your questions answered, be ready to keep weaving on your own.
This is a one-on-one offering. Doña Margarita teaches in Spanish. If you would like interpretation for English, please select that as an add-on.
Looking for a place to stay? Stay at our studio, overlooking the garden where our classes are held. Or check our list of recommended places to stay nearby. If you would like further assistance with recommendations on where to stay, etc. please book a call with Mari.
Want to go to the Chichicastenango open-air market with other textile lovers? Let us know if interested. This is an optional add-on guided by Kakaw staff, and focused on seeing the wide variety of textile traditions in Guatemala.
Please note: Discount codes are not applicable for this experience. If a discount code is used, we will need to adjust your invoice accordingly. This is a non-refundable reservation.
Questions? Ask Mari at mari@kakawdesigns.com
Please select all options.