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Our workshops

Learn to Weave in Cusco with Master Andean Artisans

Discover the ancestral techniques of drop spindle and backstrap weaving—living traditions still practiced today.
Join a hands-on workshop and begin to understand not only the techniques, but the Andean worldview behind textile creation.

A Note About How We Organize Classes:
Instructors from the different communities that are part of the CTTC teach the courses we offer.

Our workshops

1 to 3 Days

Weaving Course

Learning to weave on a traditional backstrap loom is a challenging but rewarding experience. Children begin learning when they are about 6-8 years old. The first textiles they weave are thin ribbons called jakima. Your instructor will guide you through the ancient process of learning to weave on a jakima, beginning with plain-weave and moving on to simple designs. For those with prior experience, the class starts with more complex designs on larger textiles such as the chumpi, or belt.

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1 to 3 Days

Spinning Course

Have you ever wondered how weavers use a simple drop spindle to produce the huge quantities of thread they need to create their beautiful textiles? How do they keep the spindle spinning, and what really are the mechanics behind it? Learn the answers to all of these questions and more as you practice making your own alpaca thread with a pushka, the Quechua word for drop spindle. Spinning instructors from the different communities one-on-one instruction to help you master the deceptively simple art of spinning.

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